As we head into Christmas and more importantly the New Year, many people will be setting resolutions and probably breaking them pretty quickly afterwards.
So I thought I would share some of my learnings over the last few months as I prepared for my journey across Africa.
I am not a big planner when it comes to cycling trips. My general approach in the past has been ‘how hard can it be’?
It is a standing joke that I pretty much agree to do anything, pay my money, show little attention to the route and then wonder why I am blowing heavily and totally out of my comfort zone about 30 mins into the event. Perhaps joining the What’s App Group before I climb the steps of the plane, might have helped a little?
I realised for this event having such a blasé attitude might not help me too much. So this time I had a rough plan from over 12 months out. But with so many variables still unknown up until the summer, it always felt a little difficult to fine tune.
However, once I knew it was highly likely I could make this plan come to life. The layers of the plan really got broken down so I could continue to make them reality.
One of the questions I get asked regularly is ‘how do you train for this? As of course unless I gave up work for 18 months I can not replicate the experience.
For the physical elements I have worked with both a cycling and strength coach. I can now honestly say I am the fittest I have ever been. In addition I have focused on nutrition and strategies to keep me going along the way. Having a few intolerances, I am conscious I needed to get this right.
Outside of this I have tried to keep my approach pretty streamlined linked to a few key areas and principles.
Firstly, Will It Make The Bike Go Faster?
Unashamedly stolen from the book, Will It Make The Boat Go Faster by Ben Hunt-Davis.
The principles of this really resonated with me, when I read it earlier in the year.
If I didn’t feel something was adding too much value to my goal, I stopped doing it. Perhaps extreme, missing out on events and parties, but this event is also pretty extreme.
Have a plan but, but it has to be realistic.
The build up to heading off in January has been like a massive roller coaster at times. Periods of constant work travel, tiredness (both mental and physical) can really de-rail you if the plan is off the scale and not realistic.
To date I have not missed one training session I planned to do. I may not have executed them all to perfectly but I started every single one.
Which shows consistency is key. Someone asked me only last week ‘do you think you have done enough’. My reply was simple, ‘do I think I have done what I could with the time available, yes absolutely’. I head to the start line knowing I couldn’t have done more.
You have to be able to get bad sessions go, as progress isn’t linear. If you can hit the consistency button regularly you will see the results.
Don’t worry what other people are doing, focus on what you are doing.
I have been fortunate to go on some super cool cycling trips this year which pushed me so far out of my comfort zone.
Along the way I met some incredibly strong female off road riders. Much better than me, I could have let this smash my confidence to bits. Instead I asked and understood their backgrounds, gathered tips and ideas and added them to my knowledge base. From this I became a better cyclist. Surrounding yourself with people who can help is key.
Finally, tune into yourself and what works for you.
None of the above might apply to you, but it might help signpost you to what does work. Use it as a tool rather than an absolute given, and adapt accordingly.
It is your journey make it right for you. If you really want to do it you will find a way.
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