Category Archives: Physical Challenges

Of the 3 distances available I managed to complete the 71 mile middle one. I had intended to go for the full 104 miles but a couple of offs, a puncture and the course being a lot more difficult than I’d anticipated meant that I’d run out of time at the point at which I needed to make a decision about final distance. I didn’t think I was going quick enough to complete the 104 miles before the cut off so I opted for the middle distance instead. I figured that volunteers that had been standing around since 6am could do without hanging on past the 5.30 pm cut off for me to cruise in in my own time. Being realistic I’m not sure I could have gone the distance anyway, regardless of how much time I had.

I knew it wasn’t going to be my day when the chain was jumping between gears in the first few miles when I wasn’t touching the gear lever. Luckily a race official came past as I was trying to work out what was going on and he managed to sort it out in no time. It stayed fine for the rest of the day. The weather throughout was truly hideous and there was no way of staying dry doing a 7hr plus cycle in driving rain. I’d definitely underestimated how hard the course would be (despite it being billed as the hardest…), the hills were something else. My first off came when I just didn’t have any more in me to keep going up a steep incline. Wearing clip on shoes meant that when I stopped so did the bike, so over I went and landed in a ditch at the side of the road. The second off was a similar hill induced mishap. Getting cramp in both legs when you’re clipped in doesn’t help your case much either! Both times I came off the bike I was going painfully slowly so I didn’t damage myself or the bike.

My cycle computer also had a hissy fit in the first ten miles so I had no idea what time it was or how far or fast I was going. As it turned out not fast enough! I’d aimed for an average speed of 10mph but at lot of the time I was pleased if I hit this figure at all (cycle computer started working again later on). I did of course make up some time on the descents but the speed I was going unnerved me as much as the hills I had to cycle up did. On one particularly steep descent I hit a pot hole and punctured the front tyre. Inconvenient though this was I was just happy to stay on the bike and keep control. What I wasn’t so happy about was what I kneeled in as I changed my inner tube (not my day at all). I did manage to get it sorted pretty quickly and was glad I’d taken the advice from a websites I’d looked at prior to the event about packing a few spares.

Overall I think this has been my toughest challenge to date despite doing a shorter distance than the one I intended. My body has never hurt so much and my mind has never suffered from so many soul destroying hills (I’ll probably have nightmares about falling over on them tonight). That being the case the event was superbly organised and the volunteers involved did a cracking job. I’m sure I’ll be back again for another go. Even it’s it’s just to see these again:

Not sure if they are scarier or this:

Tomorrow I’m going to attempt to cycle the 104 mile Le Terrier Sportive. It starts and finishes in Lancaster and a map of the route can be found here.

This wasn’t an original challenge but as any regular reader of this blog will know I’m all for signing myself up for opportunities as they arise! Some challenges I haven’t been able to complete because they proved to be so popular I didn’t get a place and others have been difficult from a practicality point of view. So I’ve taken as many opportunities as I’ve seen to make sure I complete 30 challenges before my 30th birthday. This particular sportive appeals firstly because it’s supposed to be one of the toughest, so a genuinely challenging day out, and secondly it starts and finishes in a location that isnt too far away from home. So if the coast to coast alludes me before the 17th of July this particular event should go some way to compensate.

I’m looking forward to this challenge and seeing if I can complete the distance. My furthest cycle to date was 70 miles and that journey was relatively flat. I’ve got from 07.30 until 17.30 to complete the 104 mile course so need to average around 10mph overall.

At the end of it all I will hopefully be able to celebrate after a nice cold shower… (day 7 of the 30 day cold shower challenge)

This evening I cycled for the 25 miles home from work. The first real bit of exercise I’ve done since completing the Sandstone trail challenge on the 12th of May. I couldn’t have picked a better day for it weather wise and it wasn’t long before I realised why I had been enjoying my cycling so much. Leading up to the Sandstone trail challenge I’d been taking it easier and afterwards I’d had to so it was good to be finally out on the bike again.

Part of the challenge over the last few months of challenges 30 is going to be staying injury free to complete the physical challenges I’ve got coming up:

3rd June Le Terrier 104 mile cycling sportive

1st July Mountain Marathon in the Lake District

15th July Birmingham City Triathlon

Part of the reason for completing the challenges over the past year has been to get back into doing the sporting activities I used to love doing but have since started to neglect. I’m definitely back in the game when it comes to participation and I think part of this is listening to my body more and not feeling bad about easing off when I know it will be better long term. I’m also much better at eating and drinking on the move, keeping myself fuelled and hydrated.

I think the problem now will be that I have learned about so many events and sports disciplines that I didn’t know existed that I will have trouble fitting everything in that I want to do even when the challenged 30 year has finished!