the weekend that felt a lot like work

we had a weekend, didn't we? 

it was gone before it came, i think.  today, it's back at the office and in a way...it feels good. 

This weekend was our bike ride for the MS 150.  It started out with me actually being less than apprehensive about it.  i knew we'd at least get through the first day...that's all i needed to do, to make it home. 

the ride started at 6 a.m.  i'd say we actually got started at around 6:45.  it was awesome.  we were all feeling pretty good and strong, til the 50th mile.  there was a hill, that didn't look like much of a hill, that killed me.  it was insane.  Then there was this other hill called Horsetooth.  yeah, there was that.  In the midst of this, i started noticing some HUGE, ENORMOUS pain in my hips.  i had never had this before, but it was this aching pain.  i was thinking in my head of what it could be and it dawned on me...i think this is the arthritis that i've never believed i had.  well, after some crying on the ride and t being a cheerleader, i finished.  i was thrilled that we finished at 12:36p.m., right before the rain! 

The next day, i made a decision that i couldn't be happier with.  i decided not do to the second day. my knee is swollen, my hips ached all night.  it was the right thing for me and i was more than happy with the 75 mile accomplishment of the day.  i decided to grab my camera and head out for some cheering! 

the second day was harder, according to t.  they had that dang horsetooth mountain again, at the start of the ride this time, then rolling hills for the rest of the ride.  they were not nice rolling hills, but were long, long, miles of hills. 

i met t at the lunch stop and we almost made a BIG mistake in the midst of the race. i was going to ride with him the rest of the way, but had left my bike at home, not even thinking.  in a snap decision, t wanted me to go BUY A BIKE.  luckily, after doing some thinking and running into a few snafus, we decided against it.  i got to the end to take some more pictures!!!

all in all, a great weekend, but boy, does it fly when you are doing something nonstop.