MS 150 - Great Ride on the Eastern Shore

This was my second year riding the MS 150 and, although it was a hotter ride this year than last, I will be back in 2014. For those of you who have not heard about it, the MS 150 is an annual fundraising ride for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. There as MS rides around the country and I believe there was another one up in the Richmond area. All the riders are required to raise at least $300 to ride and many of them raise well over $1000.

This year's ride was June 1-2 and started in Cape Charles and finished the first day at Camp Silver Beach, the YMCA camp near Exmore. The second day reversed the course and ended up back in Cape Charles. The event offered a 75-mile ride each day or lesser distances. Our team, "Hats Off to Parris" had 25 members, including volunteers. One of our members, for whom the team is named, is diagnosed with MS, but she still rode with us on Saturday. We all met up for dinner on Friday night in Chick's Beach and then caravaned over to the Eastern Shore. We also did a Saturday night dinner at the Island House Restaurant in Wachapreague.

This year's ride was a bit hotter than last year's, with temperatures on Saturday afternoon topping 90 degrees along with a fairly stiff headwind. Sunday was a few degrees cooler, but will a steady headwind through most of the ride.  Winding our way along the back roads of the Eastern Shore was also an enjoyable ride. The team broke into faster and slower groups on Saturday, with the faster group averaging about 17 mph. On Sunday, we tried to ride together as a group with an average pace of just under 15 mph. Our team still rose to the challenge and everyone finished.  To their credit, the MS folks put on a nice ride with well stocked and staffed rest stops.

In the end, our team raised over $9000 and the entire event raised over $400,000 for National MS. Not a bad showing. If you are thinking about doing a long ride, consider an event like the MS 150, where you ride with a team. While riding solo is fine, nothing beats being part of a team.