MS 150 2007

 The weather was a beautiful 72 degrees with a light breeze.  We were all there in good spirits and started off strong.  The ride was pretty much as Amanda had described it, except for all the hills!  When we asked her about it, she said, "I must have blocked that part out"!!  But they weren't that bad.  Jim Meehan was the fist to get to the first rest stop (about 19.5 miles out).  I (Brian) came in about 15 minutes later, and it wasn't long after that Terry rode in, followed shortly by Amanda and Jamie.  Everybody was in good spirits and after refilling water and stretching, we rode off again for the second leg.  

     The second leg took us to Hamonton Lake Park for a lunch stop (29.8 miles out).  Again, we all arrived in good spirits and took advantage of the free lunch.  We had the choice of grilled chicken sandwhich, peanut butter and jelly or a veggie burger.  Most of us had the chicken, while Jamie braved the veggie burger.  She said it left a little to be desired.  we rested, refilled water again and off we went.

     At the third rest stop ,at 41.5 miles,  our muscles were beginning to ache.  We all had a complaint of some sort, but still with positive attitudes.  We made a few adjustments, were treated with Gatorade at this stop (which was very festive as it had a fifties sort of theme).  I raised my seat a couple of inches and found that that relieved some of my knee pain.  We were past the 1/2 way point, and hoped it was all downhill from here (NOT!!).  We set off a little more slowly for the fourth stop.

    After a  seemingly endless ride (12 miles) to the fourth stop, we finally pulled in one by one.  I was starting to worry about Amanda, but she was going at her own pace, and keeping her attitude possitive.  I was very proud of her.  We were really starting to look forward to the end.  Only  22 miles to go!

     The Meehans left before us, as it took us a while to get motivated to go again.  But we mounted up again and began the short hop to the next and last rest stop in only 9.3 miles!  But we made it.  I was came in to find the Meehans almost asleep on the grass!  I got off my bike and took a few pictures.  I went out to the road and was able to snap a few pictures as Terry, Jamie and finally Amanda came in.  She said that by this point last time she had been in tears, but, no tears this time!!  She was doing great.  We had come 62.8 miles!  The only obstacle between us and the finish line was two gigantic bridges over the inland bay to get to Ocean City.  Amanda had been entertaining us with frightening tales of this ginormous mountain of a bridge and how we would be killing ourselves trying to get up it.  We were all dreading it.  But only 12.9 miles to go, and we could smell the ocean air.  We really were going to make it!!

      The Meehans rode off together and had decided to go straight to their shore house, instead of the finish line.  No problem.  Terry and I rode out together, I let her lead so I wouldn't loose her.  Amanda and Jamie followed, and we had agreed to meet a the other side of the second bridge so we could ride in together.

     Well Amanda wasn't kidding!  Those bridges were killer!!  Both Terry and I were able to ride up them, but my legs were screaming out in agony all the way up the first one.  I didn't know how I was going to make it up a second bridge!!  But Terry and I stuck together and helped urge eachother along and somehow, we made it up and over the second bridge.  HORRAY!!!!  We were going to make it!!!  We stopped on the other side ( a little further that Amanda wanted us too, but that's another story) and waited.  Jamie and Amanda somehow made it to the top of the steep inclines, and we finally met up and rode in to the finish line area.

     As we came in through the cattle chutes, there was Dennis Kelly up on the bleachers waving and snapping pictures!  And then we saw Kit: he was high-fiving us as we came by.  And then the kids were waiting with my mother-in-law Mary Kelly, and Terry's husband Jim (Collins)and their daughter Emily.  And even Jim's parents were there cheering us on!  It was a fantastic feeling to have completed such a challenging ride! 

     We ended the day at a shorehouse the Kellys had rented (Thanks Mom and Dad!!), and after showers and stretching, we enjoyed some well deserved cocktails and had a wonderful feast of lasagna and sausage and peppers with the whole group (even the Meehans)!  Overall it was a wonderful experience, and I am definitely signing up to do it again.  And next year I am going to ride back!!  So we'll be seeing you all again next year at the fund raiser!!  GET YOU WALLETS READY!  Next years ride is scheduled for September 28th!  Anyone who wants to join the team, email us and let us know, we will gladly train with you!

(more pictures of the MS 150 coming soon).

ps:  Yes we are very sore.  Amanda and I sat with Icy-Hot pads on our legs on Sunday night, and Amanda continued with heating pads!!  Poor Jamie had to get on a flight to Washington (state) Sunday afternoon for a job interview.  I haven't heard, but I am sure her legs were very stiff after that flight!!  Hope you're okay Jamie!!  I haven't heard from Terry yet.

 It's not too late to donate1  Check out the National MS society website.

http://www.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR?pg=team&fr_id=2750&team_id=95135     

(You are looking for Kelly's Heroes)

Here are some pictures of the MS150 ride showing Kelly's heroes in action!

On Saturday September 8th, we held a fundraiser to raise donations for the MS 150 City to shore Bike Tour.  Here are some pictures from that:

See More Pictures Here: http://parkfamily6.myphotoalbum.com/view_album.php?set_albumName=album02

COME CHECK OUT OUR TEAM "KELLY'S HEROE'S"!:

http://www.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR?pg=team&fr_id=2750&team_id=95135&JServSessionIdr011=ceo65eoqn1.app10b- MS 150 Website featuring Kelly's Heroes!