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@Norfolkbound
Today is a bit of a milestone, I'm a third of the way through this challenge. Time seems to fly when living in a world with Covid-19... The more I ride the greater perspective I get about why I ride bikes.
I had a pretty good weekend and did 250km in total with only 35km being on the trainer which was mainly because I had to meal prep yesterday morning for the week to come. On Saturday I did a 5 hour ride with my friend and we mixed it up by doing some tempo etc in it, we also explored some gravel because WTFN and got lost a few too many times... Anyway when I got home, we had ridden 100 miles in just over 5 hours which is massive. I honestly don't look at my average speed and just have the map up for directions as I feel I can enjoy the ride more and this ride was truly epic as we did just have a good OL laugh. I know a lot of people would of pushed to go sub 5 hour to be on strava for the world to see but that's not why I ride. The best thing about this ride was hitting a gravel track at fall gas so I could skid around the corner "to show off" but loosing control and almost going into the river, that's the first thing I told my GF when I got home and everyone else since as I was 99% certain I was going for a swim.
I've committed and sacrificed a huge amount for this challenge and I'm so grateful that I've hit a third of the way. There's been some pretty tough times but I'm feeling my fitness is improving and I don't feel like I'm over training anymore with the volume. This challenge shows what can be achieved while working full time and having life commitments but selfishly it brings me clarity. I've spent over 15 days on the bike this year and I don't regret a minute of it, I'm not trying to break any world records or go 'PRO', I'm just trying to see what I'm capable of.
Speaking to my sister yesterday who wants to start running again but she's struggling to start as a couple years ago she was running half marathons weekly but now she's worrying about running a 5km. I told her that it doesn't matter if she even runs 500m to start, as long as she enjoys it that is what matters. It takes time and commitment to be back to the level of fitness where she was before, not just a 6 week training plan as it could take years. She was comparing herself to what I am doing and feeling down about where she was but I said, I've spent the last 10 years (I'm 27) training on average 5 times a week and it's been hard and with all of this training I haven't really got anywhere. Yes I have won the occasional rowing race and hit some PRs but I'm not PRO. It doesn't matter if all you can do is run or ride for half an hour, have a smile on your face and enjoy every minute of it. People are always faster and people are always slower but only compare yourself to you. Until this challenge I've always had my strava private because of this, I don't like the idea that people are comparing themselves or trying to compete with me, as I'm just trying to be the best version of me.
Anyway 243 days to go!