Bike the US for MS: My Virtual Ride

Faith moves. “Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don’t lose faith.” (Steve Jobs)

I was diagnosed with secondary progressive MS in 2003. After a 14 year battle to maintain mobility, I’m now confined to a power wheelchair (Boo!). But with the generous support of Bike the US for MS, I was able to buy this nifty NuStep recumbent trainer (Yay!). It helps me to keep “moving”, stay healthy, fight strong!

Faith moves. “Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.” (Helen Keller)

Since I can’t ride cross-country (my power chair only holds a 25 mile charge), I’m joining the Trans Am team by doing a “virtual ride” using my NuStep. Starting today, June 1, my goal is to log 37,850 steps by the time the team reaches San Francisco on August 1.

Faith moves. “Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” (Martin Luther King Jr.)

Here are my “groundrules”:

• Following the Trans Am route for the cyclists, I’ll NuStep 10× their mileage for each day (e.g. cyclists ride 60 miles/Angela NuSteps 600 steps). To view the Trans Am route, go to http://biketheusforms.org/routes/transam/default.asp. (It's at the bottom of the page.)

• Each day, cyclists ride from sunup to sundown, taking rest stops as necessary. I’ll do the same. It may take me several NuSteps sessions a day, but my goal is to log all the steps between sunup and sundown.

• Acknowledging my limitations with MS, there will be days that my energy will not allow me to NuStep. That said, occasionally I’ll log extra steps in a day to store in reserve for the days that MS gets the best of me.

• Along those same lines, I will do all the NuStepping on my own with no assistance. As tempting as it would be to ask someone to move my arms or feet for me, I’m determined to do this by myself. No guts, no glory, right?

Faith moves. “Without faith, nothing is possible. With it, nothing is impossible.” (Mary McLeod Bethune)

You’re invited to follow my progress on Facebook or by signing up for daily updates on my blog, A Myelin My Shoes (http://amyelinmyshoes.blogspot.com/). Time to get to NuStepping! Ready? Set? Here…  I…GO!

#RideStrong