This event was done with my 2 older Cousins. I was dreading it completely. 3 weeks prior to this event I'd gotten myself a crappy £90 bike! I know. Talk about cutting it short for training. I've never really been a good cyclist. I'll tell you a little story... Relating to how my introduction to cycling was disastrous...
As a family, on my Mum’s side. Before going abroad, we use to go to Centre Parcs for a week. Where we'd hire out the bikes, and cycle through the different parts of Forrest. Usually, I would be in the little cart and let my mum tow me along. On this occasion, I was finally old enough to hire out a bike of my own. When we'd go on bike rides, I'd trail behind. I’d complain and cry to my Mum, Stepdad and Cousin, complaining that it was too difficult. Being a chubby, unfit child of the day, my mum would shout and curse at me. Saying I was just plain lazy. At the end of a not so brilliant holiday, my stepdad come to find that my brake pads were stuck together on the wheel. Ahaha. So I'd been working effectively, 10x harder than I should have been. My guilty ridden mother apologised for her behaviour towards me and all was well. So there you go. It's safe to say a cycling career was out of window for me!
Leading up to this event, when I'd finally got my bike, I went out only once or twice with my cousins doing about 13-15miles. The event came round the corner so quickly that I doubly doubted myself! But all in all, this event was primarily in memory of my Nan. I thought, even if I am unfit. Even if it's going to take me 5 hours to complete, I will find the will power to finish it. My will power prior to this had been my driving force when my training and when my initial fitness had lapsed.
So the day had come. I'd met my Cousins at the start in a rural area of Warwick. I'm not going to lie. I was fairly intimidated by all the road racing bikes and people in professional looking cycling gear. Here, me and my two cousins had shown up on mountain bikes... Worth no more than £100 each! These people looked like they meant business!
We gathered some nutrition bars, emergency contact information and pinned our race numbers to our shirt and off we went. The first 5miles were fairly pleasent. Then we nearly got lost at one point due to there being a 16mile route (in blue arrows) and our 32 mile route (in red arrows). Me and my cousin Shannon, had by this time lost my cousin Ciara as she powered ahead of us. We both said well if we have done the 16miles, we'll have to go around twice due to us raising funds for entering the 32mile. As you can tell. It was sort of turning into a nightmare. Luckily my Aunt and Uncle caught up to us in the car, along side the very encouraging Aunty Dotty, who cheered us on and said eveything was fine. We were on the correct route. Thank Christ!!
We gathered some nutrition bars, emergency contact information and pinned our race numbers to our shirt and off we went. The first 5miles were fairly pleasent. Then we nearly got lost at one point due to there being a 16mile route (in blue arrows) and our 32 mile route (in red arrows). Me and my cousin Shannon, had by this time lost my cousin Ciara as she powered ahead of us. We both said well if we have done the 16miles, we'll have to go around twice due to us raising funds for entering the 32mile. As you can tell. It was sort of turning into a nightmare. Luckily my Aunt and Uncle caught up to us in the car, along side the very encouraging Aunty Dotty, who cheered us on and said eveything was fine. We were on the correct route. Thank Christ!!
After around 20ish miles my knees started hurt badly due to my seat being too low, but I carried on all the same. At this point, I was absolutely knackered. Dying even. I thought I was doing better than I thought on milage. I was wrong. I underestimated how hilly the route actually was.
It's safe to say on our shitty mountain bikes, me and my cousin finished near the bottom of the pile, but guess what? We did it! It took us near on 4 hours. All of which were felt like blood, sweat and near on tears. But we did it, Ciara completing it about 20 minutes to 30 minutes faster than us- so proud!! I think If it wasn't for the thought of my Nan being in my mind and hoping that she was proud of us from up above, I'm going to be honest with you now, I probably would have given up and pulled out of the whole event.
Feeling exceedingly proud, we got some well earned food in our bellies, packed our bikes and left feeling absolutely enticed with success. Unfortunately, due to the small BHF team that put on this event we were not provided with any medals/certificates. But all the same, my race number as a memory, like all the rest have been stuck onto my wall, next to a portrait of my Nanny!
Feeling exceedingly proud, we got some well earned food in our bellies, packed our bikes and left feeling absolutely enticed with success. Unfortunately, due to the small BHF team that put on this event we were not provided with any medals/certificates. But all the same, my race number as a memory, like all the rest have been stuck onto my wall, next to a portrait of my Nanny!
This event proved to me that your mind is a lot more powerful than you think. If you can convince yourself by putting the fatigue and lack of energy at the back of your mind. You should be able to surge on until you pass that ultimate finish line. Never underestimate yourself. People, after all, are their own worst enemies. Unfortunately, I'm not going to put the images up due to not getting, at this present moment in time permission to do so off of my Cousins.
To finally conclude this short narrative of my bike ride, I'd like to thank the BHF of Warwick for this wonderfully designed family event. It brought us closer as a family unit, in the respect that in a team effort like this, you will accomplish and achieve like never before. In a way, it's sad to learn that it takes a ringlet in our family chain to break off, before we truly realise the real meaning of word (family). I'd also like to acknowledge that I am indeed, exceedingly blessed to have healthy and supportive family, whom I love with all my heart. Forever. Always.
To finally conclude this short narrative of my bike ride, I'd like to thank the BHF of Warwick for this wonderfully designed family event. It brought us closer as a family unit, in the respect that in a team effort like this, you will accomplish and achieve like never before. In a way, it's sad to learn that it takes a ringlet in our family chain to break off, before we truly realise the real meaning of word (family). I'd also like to acknowledge that I am indeed, exceedingly blessed to have healthy and supportive family, whom I love with all my heart. Forever. Always.
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