pollardfamily

MS 150 2008 Despite very little training this year, mama and dada agreed to do the MS 150 bike ride from Houston to Austin. This is the fourth year one or the other has participated. The first year they both rode; the second year dada rode alone because mama was pregnant with me; the third year mama rode alone because dada tore his hamstring. It was rough going with the training for dada because his hamstring is still sore and mama just couldn't get her groove on. She paid for it!
Paw paw did all the driving and beverage providing. He was awesome and mama and dada can't thank him enough. He posed with Justin at Baker Hostetler's tent in LaGrange. Here is mama and Justin on Day 2 of the ride during lunch. Mama is forcing that grin, I can tell.

But she's not forcing this one. Here she is after just crossing the finish line. She says that that is the best feeling in the world: seeing people hold up signs that say "I/my dad/my mom has/have MS - thank you"; having people ring cow bells; and sing congratulations. There is just no feeling like it. That's what makes her come back year after year.
Posing with Justin after the finish. Relief! Dada's hamstring was so sore this year because there was a 20 mile an hour head on wind all day the first day that he wasn't able (aka mama wouldn't let him) do day 2 of the ride. If he sat at a desk all day it would be different, but there are lots of kids and adults that rely on him to teach taekwondo. So, dada did the smart thing and rested his leg.
Mama posing with Matt, Allison's husband. Allison was mama's ride partner last year, but she is due to deliver my buddy Luke's little brother Davis in early May. Allison's doctor told her that that unless she wanted to deliver Davis in Austin, that she'd better stay in Houston. We missed you Al!
WOW! Look at that sunburn. Mama swears she put on sunblock, but it certainly doesn't look like it. Note the "two layers" of sunburn. The first layer on the upper thigh is from the bike shorts. The second layer on the calves is from long leg warmers that mama wore the first day up until the second to last rest stop. Mama said this look is going to be particularly pretty during bathing suit season.

The absolute worst sunburn ever, even worse than Florida Spring Break 2004, is on mama's back left calf. Look at that puppy. Mama walks gimpy because of it -the skin is all tight and when she stands up the blood rushes to it and it feels like pins and needles. Kids - WEAR YOUR SUNBLOCK! LOTS OF IT!