Will ride for coffee. And cinnamon donuts.
As athletes, mental toughness is something that we constantly need to work on. Developing, training, testing, so that it's ready for when we need to call on it. So how do we work on mental toughness during lockdown in a pandemic? Spoiler alert: the answer may not be what you think.
I've often wondered what cyclists who race do for the rest of the day. After all, they are only racing for an hour or so. I now know the answer. They fall over and die on the floor. Or maybe that's just me.
It’s not often (okay, it’s like never) that I let people see into what I refer to as Wonderland... which is my own personal madness. So this podcast is way outside my comfort zone. But it’s an important conversation to have. Because mental health doesn’t discriminate. And we all need to work together to break the stigma. So have a listen... and please be gentle with your feedback.
Gulp. Here it is... 🎤🎧🙈 As you’ll get from the podcast intro it’s pretty ... real. Before recording this I'd had feedback from other athletes that no one really talks about the gritty stuff. So here’s the gritty. Ps: it’s not a race Pps: use headphones
Sometimes in order to heal what's broken you need to get back in the saddle again. Literally. So I rode another 1200. And instead of losing it all, I found myself again.
One of these days I'll say something clever and articulate when being interviewed. But not today...
Making someone face palm mid-interview is a gift, right? Questions in this video included: why do you ride a bike? What's the deal with white wine vinegar? Will you ever come back to racing? What was it like having your family with you during PBP? And of course: What's next?
I must admit it was pretty cool when the press got wind of what I was doing and asked to cover my 'Road to PBP' story. Now? I'm not as sure now as some of the 'facts' aren't how I would tell it. I guess it's always strange to hear how others describe me. But I'll leave it to you to decide.
When considering a 1000km ride over three days, one could be overwhelmed by the distance. Disheartened after two days of never ending headwind. Demoralised with the hours and hours of rain squalls. Or one could consider how many stories and dad jokes one could fit into all that time on the bike. Always look on the bright side of life!
And now for something completely different. "Settle in and buckle up; this is a fun, deep, long and laughter filled episode of Sparta Chicks Radio."
