I woke up twice while dozing off after the two complimentary beverages. Once to a group of children playing kickball outside my tent – relative term for sleep quarters donated by Mike. The second time I woke was per my swollen bladder.

I fell asleep bloated from drinking copious amounts of H₂O, knowing that I had reached an age where I figured my body had gained control over unconscious accidents. I also knew in the back of my mind that the water would eventually have to be released. I was too tired to go then, so I concentrated until I was on my way to REM and hoped for the best while I slept – this may become more difficult with age.

Eventually, the surge woke me…and, I’m not talking about that crappy Coca-Cola™ product which made a brief cameo circa 1997. (I know some people will argue my previous claim – especially those that pay through the nose on eBay for the late, mis-marketed competitor of Mountain Dew.)

The forty-yard hike to the Porta Potty did not keep me in the slumbered state, which I was enjoying three minutes prior. The walk, however, did not wake me up as much as the donations from other guests of the same stall added to the stagnant sanitary sludge.

When I returned to the three person tent holding my three bags, I fell asleep quickly. No, I don’t pack like a girl, I had two bags and one contained a tent and sleeping bag, which I also considered the third bag – technically it is. OK, enough with the jargon and on to the good stuff.

I hit and surpassed my fund-raising goal! So, in good form, (Hook), I’d like to thank my sponsors. The following list of individuals helped me reach and surpass my $500 goal…big thanks to each of them.

Ashlee Bressel
Ruth-Ann Clurman
Steve Clurman
Rebecca Coffindaffer
Cathleen Connealy
Anne Damico
Patsy Feller
Florella Fisher
Erin Groover
Natalie Irwin Kersten
Michael Mackie
Peggy Mall
Justin Meyer
Kerrick Ray
Mike Schwakopf
Andrea Wagle
Kymberly Zauratsky

At 4:30 a.m. I put on my second Lane4 jersey, board shorts, shoes and emerged from my sleeping quarters. The brisk morning air coupled with a realization that my tender tush would be on a bike by 7:30 a.m. woke me up. We, the Cowtown Bike Team, turned in our baggage and retrieved our bikes, had a delicious pancake breakfast, courtesy of Chris Cakes and rode to the starting line where Brian Busby gave us the weather for the day, (after I washed the side of the arena where we ate with the three bottles of water I had already consumed).

After waiting in line for about thirty-two minutes, we were back on the road. Contrary to what you may think, I found the second day much less difficult than the first. Maybe because my lower half was slightly numb to pain and I found that hovering over the seat when riding on rough patches led to much less pain in the rear.

I was on a mountain bike, so my MPH was much lower than those around me on road bikes. For this reason, I rode past the first and second stopping point and paused briefly at the third, (about 30 miles from the starting point) before passing a fourth rest-stop to get to lunch (about 40.5 miles).

I ate a lead sandwich (think periodic table of elements), a turkey sub from Quizno’s, a bag of Lay’s potato chips, a chocolate chip cookie and a banana. The fifteen minutes of resting in the grass was plenty. I took two Aleve to help decrease the amount of pain currently radiating from my right knee and got back to riding.

I skipped over the next two rest stops and only paused momentarily at the last stop to get two more Aleve, thus putting me over the maximum recommended dosage within a 24-hour period. At the last stop, our team took a few pictures and refilled water bottles. I only stayed long enough to devour my last energy bar and pop my pills.

The final stretch was the easiest by far because I began recognizing the scenery, smells and with a mile left, I could see the finish line. As I crossed through the endpoint and reached out my hand to grasp my participation medal, I felt that sweet tingle of accomplishment in my body. That feeling + four Aleve concealed the pain until I got home that evening and unpacked. When I finally sat down on my bed to do work, my legs started whining again.

Two more Aleve and straight on ’till morning.

It has been a great week and I’m already looking forward to my next MS-150.