When Ashley asked me to post my proudest healthy moment so many thoughts went through my mind. I love living a healthy life and each time I finish a race or a new sporting event I feel so proud. From finishing my first 5k in high school, my first 10k in law school, and my first 1/2 marathon when I was 25, I've always felt so proud of what my body can accomplish. Although I run about 4-5 races a year, my proudest healthy moment would have to be what I accomplished on my bike.

My senior year of college my mom bought me a new bike, and I started into a routine of biking a lot. My new found love of biking and the fact that my best friend's mom was diagnosis with MS convinced me to sign up for a MS 150 bike ride from Altoona, Pennsylvania to State College, Pennsylvania and then back to Altoona. In most MS 150s, you ride 150 miles over two days. So roughly, the ride is 75 miles a day.

The first day went pretty easy and my legs didn't get too tired until the end. Although I enjoyed day 1 of the ride, I was happy to get to my hotel room, enjoy a great dinner and relax before my 6am start the next day. The 2nd day of course was harder and the last 20 miles on the second day seemed to go on forever - my legs were killing me. Riding into the finish line, I received a metal from a woman confined to a wheelchair because of her battle with MS, and instantly I forget about my pain.
Lesson to take away from this healthy moment: Love your body for what it allows you to do. The next time you don't feel like going to the gym, think of it as a privilege that you have legs that allow you to work out, because there are some people that are not as lucky to be able to.

I enjoyed my first MS 150 so much that when I was dating my now husband, I convinced him to complete an MS 150 with me. We really hope to sign up for another one soon, and I highly suggest you check out the MS 150 website. There is no better way to see a part of this earth than by riding a bike. You can stop and take pictures and enjoy the landscapes in a way you may not if you were just driving by in your car.
In case you wondered about my bike, today I have a road bike that is light weight and made of carbon, during my MS 150 I used a cheap, heavy hybrid bike. My husband rode the MS 150 with a very cheap Wal-mart mountain bike. So any bike can work, although a road bike would make it a lot easier.


- Healthy Lawyer Aimee

3 comments

1. Kaolee Hoyle on July 9, 2009 11:55 AM

   "Lesson to take away from this healthy moment: Love your body for what it allows you to do."
   
   So true!!!

    
2. Andrea of Care to Eat on July 9, 2009 1:37 PM

   Ashley - thanks for letting Aimee share her story!
   I'm a huge supporter of the MS chapter here in Oregon and did a ride a couple of years ago after my friend's husband passed away from the disease. Doing the ride in honor of him and meeting other riders who were battling the disease was so inspiring! It totally taught me to "Love my body for what it allows me to do!"

    
3. burpandslurp on July 9, 2009 9:40 PM

   I've never heard of this! It sounds like such a beautiful thing to do, not just for yourself!