SEE KIMI, IT IS ALL ABOUT ME!

I am in one of my vague moods but I promise there is something worthwhile in here. In March I wrote a blog entitled “Life Happens.” After my amazing weekend with the MS 150, I realized my point of view was somewhat wrong. Life does not “happen” to us. We happen to life. Let me say that again. WE HAPPEN TO LIFE. You see, it is how we handle the things that are placed in our path that defines who we are and how we move forward. It defines how we are viewed by those around us, whether we leave a favorable impression on them and on society. It defines, as Jim has said, our legacy. We can allow the bumps in the road of life to cause us to stop moving forward or we can jump them and keep moving on. Sure, some bumps are larger than others. Just move back in the road and gather steam to jump them! So don’t let life happen and make you stagnant. Happen to life! Really this is a clever way of setting Kimi, Nathan, Jim and Mush straight when they tease me that it is always “ALL about me.” I can say "You are damned right Skippy!" I am happening in my life! KEEP DREAMING OUT LOUD! -Trace

THESE PICTURES ARE WORTH A MILLION WORDS

Visit www.facebook.com/teaminspiration and check out pictures from our amazing weekend at the 2012 MS150 from both a rider and a patient's perspective. And... KEEP DREAMING OUT LOUD! -TRACE

WOW. JUST WOW! MY WEEKEND-THE MS 150

I am going to try not to forget to thank the many people that made this weekend truly one of the best weekends of my life. If I do, please forgive me. I am still kinda high from an amazing experience. Also, forgive me for the Academy Award acceptance speech tone of this post. This all needs to be said. First of all, thank you, thank you, thank you to Calvin Pollard, Mindy LeBlanc, Debbie Pope and every single person with the NMSS for creating a SPECTACULAR event involving the coordination of a mind boggling number of people and services in too many counties to count from Houston to Austin. Coordination of the seemingly flawless ride was nothing short of Herculean. I am a lawyer. If they don’t give you at least 2 months of paid vacation after this call me. We will talk. Seriously, you are amazing and as both a rider and a person with MS, there is no way to adequately thank you. Thanks also to everyone involved with the Bubble Bistro, a series of tents set up at the finish line in Austin where patients can comfortably watch their supporters cross the finish line. Our patients from Houston enjoyed the wonderful hospitality of the Bubble Bistro and I thank you so much for that. Thanks to Kimberly Cutchall and Accendo International, Mush Khan and O’Rourke Petroleum and Shell for sponsoring Team Inspiration, not only our riders, but our patients’ experience as well. That is what put this weekend over the top for me. A special thanks to Mush for, well, everything you do for me. For arranging the tandem and for constantly validating me. Thanks to Cara Baez and the entire team at HP for letting our little rag tag team join your group and for making us all feel so welcomed, particularly in the tent in LaGrange. I can not imagine being made to feel more at home and we were so proud to wear the HP jersey. To Kimberly and Emerson Cutchall (the most amazing sister and niece in the history of mankind), Bob Meyer and Lynn Maki, our Team Inspiration volunteer core for making this work for both riders and patients and for taking such amazing care of me every step of the way. Lastly and importantly to our riders – Nathan Beedle, Jim Harrington, Igor Cherches (my neurologist), and my super jocks – Brandon Loughridge, Travis Wells and Joe Trainor. You all made the ride absolutely amazing. Yesterday morning when I encouraged my super jocks to ride ahead and finish they insisted on staying with me. They said “we started this together. We are finishing it together.” These are truly amazing young men. I want to especially thank Nathan for keeping me steady as the captain of our tandem. There were many times that I think he was worried my stability would be our end, particularly when negotiating a downhill on a narrow course going over 30 miles an hour. He kept The Beast in line and kept us safe. You are my hero, Nathan. Once I get them all collected and get my act together, I will post pictures from the whole weekend. They are pretty amazing.

Boys and girls, this weekend was a vivid reminder of the importance of dreaming out loud. Since I was diagnosed with MS in 1999, I have always wanted to ride the MS 150. I did not share that dream with others until last year around the time of the triathlon. Jim shared a dream of involving patients in our experience and as a result, 20 patients and their family members were taken to Austin from Houston on a Team Inspiration bus and were able to experience some of what we, as riders, experienced. So, I guess what I am telling you is to KEEP DREAMING OUT LOUD! -Trace

THE VICTORY WITHIN

Ever since I was diagnosed with MS in 1999, I have dreamed of riding in the MS150.  As my disease progressed, I worried that that dream was becoming more difficult to achieve. Please notice that I did not say impossible. Nothing is impossible.  In 5 days I will ride in my first MS150 and it is so special to me for so many reasons.

I will be riding on a tandem with Nathan thanks to the generosity of my dear friend Mush.  She is affectionately known as The Beast and Nathan and I took her on her maiden voyage yesterday. My only complaint is that there are no footholds for me to rest my feet as Nathan hauls my carcass to Austin. Guess I will have to pedal. In addition to Nathan, Jim, my doctor, Igor Cherches, two of our super jocks, Brandon and Travis and a friend Joe are all coming home from college to ride.  For me, the weather will be a major factor.  I may not be able to ride the full way but who cares? Two years ago before the great adventure with the triathlon started, I could not ride a bike even a mile.  The way I see it, if I ride 1.1 miles, I have achieved a major victory.

Saturday, my niece,  Emerson Cutchall, and her Girl Scout Troop 18360 set up a lemonade and cookie stand to raise money for the MS150 on behalf of Team Inspiration.  In less than 2 hours, these amazing young ladies raised over $400 and learned so much about MS and the beauty of compassion towards others.

Perhaps the biggest victory this weekend will be that Jim's vision of patient involvement  will become reality.  Thanks to the generous support of sponsors like Accendo International, O'Rourke Petroleum and Shell, Team Inspiration has chartered a bus and will take patients from Houston to the finish line in Austin where they can cheer on the riders and express their gratitude.  It promises to be a beautiful weekend all around.

If you would like to donate to my MS150 ride fundraising efforts, you can go to ms150.org. Then Team Resources, Then 2012 Team List and click my name. It is that easy. Any amount is greatly appreciated!!!

So, the victories this weekend will be plentiful.  You can start enjoying your own victories if you

KEEP DREAMING OUT LOUD!

-Trace