Yesterday, myself and a few of my riding buddies, (Frank, Merv, William, Rick, Vinod & Jimmy), all completed one of the most scenic cycling road trips there is in NSW, from Sydney to Wollongong.
This was the 38th running of this Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Challenge Fundraiser Ride that succeeded in raising in excess of 3 Million dollars yesterday...
How I would so love to be able to emulate some of that success with our own MPN Cycling Challenge around Australia, seems like I have such a long way to go just to get myself to the Starting Line - Which is set down for Winter 2020... But first I still have to FUND the RIDE...
Yes, it was simply a superb day after a rather poor start when Trains were replaced by buses, and buses would not accommodate bikes... Saw us all racing back to our vehicles and then driving a tad faster to arrive for the designated Start time...
Anyways, all good...
BTW - I read about how Ruxolitinib changed your Quality of Life (QoL) so quickly, and just wanted to say that I concur, as that was exactly how I felt when I made the switch too...
Now I just need to keep my platelets suppressed and all will be well once more...
Great job Steve did ride 100 for bloodwise cancer charity in August 100 miles in 5hr 20mins. Not going to let an mpn get in my way. If you ever come to London and fancy a spin give me a shout be happy to take you for a spin. Great job again.
Cycling is so cool once you're in that groove and just grinding away...
This RIDE, (SYDNEY' to the GONG), is just 82.5kms. However, it is quite a fun ride with plenty of decent climbs and beautifully steep downhill descents...
You can see a RIDE profile here, (just scroll down to and 'click on' the first Strava map):
Below it are a few more of my weekly longer rides too...
One never knows, does one...? If I am ever over there I will definitely touch bases prior to departure, (the idea of a spin would be awesome somewheres in your neck of the woods), and likewise, the same applies for you here in Oz too buddy...
There are plenty of great rides here too... many that I am not quite ready for just yet... but working my way up to them all in the not-too-distant... I just have to keep trying to listen to my body's needs, and remember not to push myself too hard too often... (hopefully I have now learned that lesson), I am a spritely 60 yo after all... [-)
My epic ride around Oz is not set down for actual commencement until Winter 2020, all going according to plan etc...
If you were dead keen, you could always join me for a Leg or two...??? More the merrier... (insurances & PL in hand of course).
You will see from my Strava Avatar, that I am presently averaging around 300kms pw, the next three (3) months I shall endeavour to lift that rate again...
Stay in touch Jason, and do drop in on MATES FORUM anytime buddy... You will be most welcome...
The much bigger, longer and challenging rides are yet to come... This one was just a pure delight really... Could not have asked for a better day really... Perfect!
Having MS is a great deal like having an MPN, in that it is another one of those chronic, invisible illnesses often not perceived by the majority of folk etc...
We can often look and even appear to be completely normal, except for the very real fact that we are not!
For instance, right at this moment, I am having a great deal of stress all because it had taken me such a long time to arrange a complicated dental appointment; and now my Haematologist has cancelled it over the phone, while I was sat patiently waiting in the chair, awaiting a long overdue procedure (extraction) to finally take place...
My specialist did not know I had VWS, (Von Willebrands Syndrome - Type1), and it was I who arranged that Test with my GP because of discussions with one of my MPN colleagues... This positive test result meant that I should not be continually using aspirin because it can cause me to bleed internally... So after that self-made discovery, I advised my specialist and we commenced trialling Methotrexate (MTX) to reduce my Platelets, stymy the Low-dose aspirin (& blood thinning), to enable me to finally have an extraction and tooth replacement... The rest you already know...
But this stress that is caused tends to make me so reactive, and so frustrated, and eventually quite depressed, because between my doctors & dentist, they are both so concerned about litigation (should one of them cause me to bleed out), and meanwhile... I am forced to undergo further unnecessary periods of pain and wait ever longer while risking infection... AAaaaarrggghhh! [-(
Sooo annoyed!
Hot money is on my tooth removing itself during this coming week...
Meanwhile, and once that occurs, I will be struggling to get back in to see my dentist anytime soon... It will then likely have a period of days+ without a tooth in my face... Meaning I will not be seen out of doors until that becomes resolved... Making the management of my Fundraiser that much more difficult to arrange dates and times for my Fundraiser Stand...
Obviously, I will simply need to put on my mask, take a chill pill, and just get on with it...
Thanks for listening to my petty problems... I really struggle with stress these days...???
Congratulations on your ride Steve. You know what they say "life wasn't meant to be easy", when they introduced free vaccinations for seniors against shingles I couldn't have it because I was on hydroxy - guess what? You're right! Came down with shingles two weeks ago. Luckily so far not much pain so hope it stays that way. All the best to you, Cheers Sandra
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