Ben Wilson, LPC

This summer I rode in the MS150 in Kansas City. The first day I rode 100 miles, a century as it is called.

Last summer when I pondered my first MS ride, and my longest ride to that point was about 20 miles, my friend Gary told me, "You don't have to ride 100 miles.  You only have to ride 10 miles 10 times."

He was right.  Every 10 miles or so there was a rest stop with all sorts of clif bars, pb and j sandwiches, gatorade, water, bananas, orange juice and to prevent cramping plenty of pickle juice (I know, it's a little different).

After those first couple of tens it still felt like a long way home at times. If I thought about the entire ride I wasn't sure I would get there. I'd refocus. I would bring my mind back to the present. "Just ride the next ten," I'd tell myself. One talks to himself a lot on long bike rides.  :)

Congratulations, you've made it to the first rest stop.  Seriously, congratulations. Many many couples don't make it this far. One may not want to try. One may not be willing to end the affair. One may get lost in the pain never really to return.  But you, you are here. Enjoy some refreshment, take in some nourishment. Exhale. You've done good work so far. 

Watch out ahead.  There are potholes, rain storms, loose gravel, texting car drivers and giant hills.  The cool thing about those hills...when you get to the top...the ride down is a fun, exciting, thrill ride. You'll just have to trust me. I've made the ride.  It's worth the risk for the thrills you'll get the rest of your life.

It's time to head out again. 44 posts to the next rest stop.