Tag Archives: Euro City Cycle

Jersey of the day: British Heart Foundation

I am proud to be participating in the Euro City Cycle to raise money for the British Heart Foundation.

On 16th June last year I had a Heart Attack. I was very lucky. I was treated immediately and haven’t experienced any complications. There are lots of people that aren’t so lucky: 1 in 3 people that have Heart Attacks in the UK don’t even make it to hospital. Unfortunately, heart and circulatory disease remains the UK’s biggest killer and affects thousands of families and individuals:

There are around 103,000 heart attacks in the UK each year
There are nearly 2.3 million people living with coronary heart disease in the UK
Nearly one in six men and more than one in ten women die from coronary heart disease
Every seven minutes someone dies of a heart attack in the UK
The UK spends nearly £2 billion each year on the healthcare costs of treating coronary heart disease.

As the nation’s heart charity, the British Heart Foundation plays a leading role in saving and changing lives through:

Investing in pioneering research into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of the heart, which has already saved thousands of lives and improved the lives of thousands more
Supporting and caring for heart patients through our Heart Helpline and over 400 great BHF Specialist Health Care Professionals
Providing vital information, through literature and targeted campaigns, that helps everyone reduce their own risk of dying prematurely from a heart or circulatory illness
Campaigning for change – to improve the lives of children, heart patients and their families.

Find out more at: http://www.bhf.org.uk

Time goes by… so slowly

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When I was at school I was a keen sportsman. I used to participate in pretty much every sport I had the opportunity to. I enjoyed participating for fun, but I really enjoyed competition.

Out of school activities changed a lot during my time at school, as teachers reduced the amount of extra-curricular activities they supported. However, I was lucky enough to have a few years in which we had a full fixture list of Rugby, Football and Cricket matches against similar schools in the surrounding area.

During the shortest days of winter, some matches were held on Saturday mornings, but generally they took place after school. The afternoons building up to a match were the longest ever. Time passed slowly. Double geography passed at a glacial pace. Chemistry dragged like the half-life of uranium. I didn’t do patience well. I would spend the afternoon looking out of the window, excited about what was to come.

I’m not sure where you’d put my day dreams on this scale!

Over the years I haven’t got much better at patience. The bigger the occasion, the worse I tend to be.

This week has been slow!

It’s not that life is dull, but in a week’s time we should be preparing to board the ferry to take us to the continent, the first day of cycling under our belts, on our way to Amsterdam. I’m just excited!

I know it’ll be over in the blink of an eye, but it’s taking forever to arrive. Easter seems to have switched April into slow-motion and the recent cold spell has introduced a dose of suspended animation. I suspect early May will be no better.

I need to dig deep and find five days of patience… wish me luck!

Please wake me up on Tuesday morning!

The unknowns

Just outside Amsterdam

Davina got me up this morning…

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Having lacked energy and enthusiasm, yesterday turned into little more than a “duvet day”. A mid-afternoon snooze set me up nicely for the evening’s golf.

Given there’s a little over three weeks until the start of the Euro City Cycle, I felt a bit guilty about not getting out on the bike. The guilt was exacerbated somewhat by stories of epic training rides and sportives in the sunny south from other Euro City Cycle participants. However, it was a good decision to take it easy, to save it for another day.

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It seems as though Sports Relief has been a real inspiration this year. As well as raising huge amounts of cash for good causes, the feature challenges have set the bar high for those of us looking to do something remarkable ourselves. In particular, the courage and stamina that Davina McCall showed on her “Beyond Breaking Point” challenge (incidentally, when did they come up with that name?) is a real motivator as we each look to “channel our inner Davina”.

I know the feeling… but for me it usually only lasts a few hours!
Photo Credit: Alex Walker / Comic Relief / PA Wire

This morning was very similar to yesterday (bright and blustery), however, Davina’s inspiration was enough to get me out of bed and out on the bike. Cycling is much easier in a group, not least because peer pressure gets you to the start line. Today I was cycling solo.

Fortunately, the hardest thing was leaving home. Any doubts were left behind.

I’ve slowly ramped up the miles over the past few weekends. Today I took on my longest solo ride, at around 62 miles. I also took on the climbs that I last attempted during my “Introduction to climbing“. Having walked on two of them last time, I was keen to stay in the saddle this time.

The view from the top of the Suie this afternoon, the “high point” of my ride.

It was tough going, not helped by strong gusts of wind, but I managed to rattle off the hills without any particular dramas. Four and a half hours after heading out I crept up my final climb and home. The “laziness” of yesterday behind me, satisfied, and back on track for the challenge.

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So, a big thanks to Davina! I’m sure she had a huge sense of satisfaction when she finished her challenge and counted the money, but she should also be proud of her legacy; whether people are raising money for charity, or simply looking to get themselves in shape, she has shown us the way. No excuses!

Epic journeys

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There are just 31 days until I start the Euro City Cycle (London to Amsterdam to Brussels, 300 miles over 4 days) and I’m entering the final stages of my preparation.

When I originally signed up for the event it really was a stretch target. No-one was in a position to tell me I would be able to do it. I was still in Cardiac Rehab. The medical professionals weren’t going to encourage me to push myself too hard, and the rest of us had no idea what I’d be capable of. I really was heading into the unknown. To be honest, it would have been considered a challenge even without the Heart Attack given my lack of physical activity.

Committing to the event was scary too. It set a hard deadline. If I hadn’t been able to do it due to medical concerns it would have said something about the impact my Heart Attack was going to have on the rest of my life. It would have been much easier for me to “wait and see”, to only to commit to something I knew I could do, but that’s not really me, and certainly not how I want to live.

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Yesterday’s cycle served as a reminder of how far I’ve come…

Having got a solid winter’s training under my belt, primarily inside on the Turbo Trainer, I’ve been slowly building the distance outside. Yesterday saw a big jump to 80 miles! If the truth been told, it was probably too big a jump (from just under 60 miles). We weren’t really monitoring the miles, we just followed a route. It was a tough ride, but good to complete!

A few weeks ago I took on “proper” hills for the first time. My initial hilly cycle resulted in me walking for part of two of the three main inclines. I hadn’t considered that I would need to develop a strategy for hills, to learn how to cycle up them, but that’s exactly what was required. Now I’ve got to the point where I enjoy a good climb. Each one represents an honest, visible and tangible challenge, laid out right in front of me.

Over time I’ve also become less obsessed by my Heart Rate. I constantly monitor it, but I’m more relaxed. The last time I visited the Cardiologist he was comfortable with me cycling and was happy that the medication would prevent me from pushing myself too hard. It’s therefore become less of a concern for me, less of a constraint.

The drugs are working. My short term recovery is amazing. It’s a combination of the medication and my improving fitness but, after having pushed myself hard, my Heart Rate can drop off by 30 beats per minute in a couple of minutes. I feel it too. I enjoy regular breaks to eat / drink, but I don’t need long before I’m good to go again.

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Having completed yesterday’s epic cycle I’m going to take a few days away from the Road Bike. Instead, I’ll have some fun on the Mountain Bike, a machine that has been horribly neglected over the past few months.

There are just four more Saturday outings before I head south for the Euro City Cycle itself. It’s just a milestone on my rehabilitation journey, but it’s an important one. My key goals at this point are to stay fit and healthy. Fingers crossed!

Spring forward

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Changing the clocks to British Summer Time seems to be more significant this year than just the loss of an hour’s sleep. For me it feels like it marks the beginning of an exciting new phase.

Hopefully this isn’t your first notification!

The fast approaching Cycle extravaganzas are a big factor. I’ve been working on my preparations throughout the winter, primarily putting in the miles on the Turbo Trainer. I’ve already been getting outside regularly over the past few weeks, the time change and the lengthening days will hopefully make this an increasingly frequent and pleasurable occurrence.

The countdown clock for the first event, the Euro City Cycle, will soon tick down to days rather than months, As it gets increasingly closer it’s going to be difficult to contain my excitement! I am really looking forward to it! (Did I mention that already? 🙂)

It’s nice to be reaping some of the rewards from the hours of training over the winter. As the saying goes, “It doesn’t get any easier, you just go faster.”, but at least I’ve established a solid platform for the summer’s activities.

We’ll be heading off to a Holiday / Activity Centre for a few days during the Easter break. This time I’m really looking forward to the things I can do rather than thinking about the things I can’t. This is a big change from the last time we went away as a family. I really enjoyed our time away, but my Heart Attack was still a major factor, both psychological and physical. It feels very different now.

OK, so there may be some activities that I won’t be doing!

It’s all a little bit more “normal” for all of us. We all have much more confidence in what I am capable of doing and my lifestyle choices are no longer “strange”. It should lead to a much more relaxed time away, albeit active! Again, I’m really looking forward to it!

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I’ve generally tried to maintain a positive outlook on life since the Heart Attack. I’ve never really found this difficult to conjure up, but sometimes it was more to make me feel good rather than because I was feeling good.

At the moment it doesn’t take any effort at all. Life is good and there’s lots to look forward to!

E-Minus 50 (days) and counting…

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Crikey! Doesn’t time fly! It seems like only last week that I began to seriously start thinking about the Euro City Cycle and prepared my comprehensive “To Do” list. Today it’s just 50 days until the challenge starts. Definitely time to take stock and plan the finishing touches…

I really want to avoid any last minute panics. I recognise that whatever I do, life may throw me a curve ball, I may hit an unexpected hurdle, or a good old fashioned screw up will make things more interesting than I’d want them to be. However, I still have plenty of time to address any shortfalls so hopefully I’ll avoid any crises.

Logistics: Done! Well, as much as I can do in advance, I think.

I have (return) train tickets booked for myself and my bike between Aberdeen and London. I’ve paid a few extra pounds to go First Class so I should have power and Wi-Fi to allow me to be productive while en-route. The tickets were cheaper than I was expecting. I watched the website closely so I was quick off the mark when the tickets were released – they could have got eye-wateringly expensive otherwise. (For the record, a request for assistance from the Train Company in the way of subsidised tickets was politely declined)

Pre- and Post-Cycle hotels are also booked, so the big ticket items are in hand.

The only segments of the trip that I haven’t organised in advance (and probably won’t) are the transfer between stations in London, and the final leg of the trip to the hotel in Brentwood. There are a few options available to me (including Black Cab in Central London I think – Have any of you ever taken a Road Bike in the back of a Cab?), so I’ll just play it by ear.

I don’t think either of the outstanding legs of the journey are very long, so I will make sure I can comfortably carry my kit and manoeuvre my bike at the same time so I can walk if necessary (I am definitely not planning to ride in Central London with a rucksack on my back!).

Having taken some advice from hardened distance cyclists, I have come to the realisation that my life may have been spent subconsciously preparing for this trip; I don’t have many clothes, I travel very light and I’m not a fan of “stuff”. As a result, packing should be a doddle. I’ll wear the only clothes I’ll take with me on the journey down, carrying my cycling kit and a couple of extra pairs of pants. Simple.

Kit: I say I don’t like “stuff”, but I have been slowly accumulating cycling accessories over the past few weeks. I now carry spares and a repair kit with me everywhere I go. I still need to get myself a medical kit and an array of essential Pre- and Post-Saddle cycling creams (Thanks for the advice!). It feels a bit optimistic, but I also need to think about sunscreen!

As far as the cycling kit (clothes & food supplements) is concerned, the man from Wiggle is becoming very familiar with where I live. I’ll have a final push in a couple of weeks, but I think everything is under control as far as kit is concerned.

Incidentally, if anyone has any further advice on essentials I should take with me (other than “don’t forget your bike” and “take lots of creams”) I’m keen to learn!

Fundraising: I have decided to broaden the scope of this action to “Fundraising and Awareness“. I have paid for the ride myself. As a result, all the money I raise will go to the British Heart Foundation. I will continue to raise as much money as I can over the Summer, but focus my efforts more on awareness. After all, I have little control over whether people decide to sponsor me or not, but I do have some control over the messages:

Everyone can personally take action to reduce their chances of experiencing the effects of Heart Disease; and
There is hope after having a Heart Attack. Life goes on. You can still do things. You can even do new things!

So, I’ll focus on the messages and hope that sponsorship will follow. (http://www.justgiving.com/heartattackwaitingtohappen)

Fitness: I’ve been able to get outside regularly over the past couple of weeks, which has been great! I’ve slowly ramped up the mileage of each ride to my target distance (50 miles). Now I think I just need to do more of the same and, in the process, avoid hurting myself.

There’s more work to do, but things are progressing well. I’m increasingly confident that the cycling won’t be too much of an issue for me. I guess the big unknown is the back-to-back mileage. Realistically, I’m never going to do 300 miles over 4 days before the Euro City Cycle itself, so I’ll just have to rely on the Training Guidance I’ve been given.

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In addition, I think it might also be a good idea to get my bike serviced before I head off. After all, it’s going to play an important role in the trip! I know I should learn to do it for myself, but one thing at a time! I suspect that if I did try to do it myself at the moment it’d result in an expensive bill for someone who knows what they’re doing to fix my “fixes”!

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So, all in all I think I’m in reasonable shape! I’m sure the next 50 days will fly by. I’m getting increasingly excited about the event, to the extent that I’m really happy I’ve got other events to look forward to after the Euro City Cycle. I suspect it’ll leave a bit of a hole in my life when it’s done!

Surf’s up!

Back in the saddle

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I’ve been out of action for three days since my toe trauma*. I’ve been fighting through the pain, hobbling from place to place, putting on a brave face. Sympathy has been hard to come by. It seems that comedy toe injuries demand laughter rather than sympathy, sniggers rather than tears, giggles rather than concern. So be it!

Time to “Man Up!”.

I’ve been getting lots of sympathy from the ladies in my life!

After three days of enforced rest, today was the day to get back in the saddle…

Over the past week I’ve “connected” with people doing both the Euro City Cycle and “Ride the North” events. It’s all feeling a lot more real now. There’s less than 3 months to the start of the Euro City Cycle. Time to start getting focussed!

It’s clear from early interactions that people are at different stages of readiness and very different levels of experience. I guess that’s always going to be the case. Everyone will be starting from a different base level of fitness and stamina, Everyone’s preparation will be different. So I’m expecting a real mix of fitness levels for the event.

Personally I’m keen not to hold anyone back on any of my rides over the summer. I also want to make sure I’m fit enough to enjoy them. This will obviously require me to be able to complete the events without pushing myself too hard, or putting myself in any physical danger.

I’ll be seeing my Cardiologist on Monday. It will be our first meeting since I was discharged from hospital in June (technically it’s my 3-6 month check-up). I’m looking at this to trigger a change in focus for me from “laying the foundations” to “getting ready to ride”. I realise I need to spend more time on my bike, and get outside.

My preparation approach is:

Start now. Don’t delay any longer.
Build up slowly; there is no need to go nuts. It’d probably do more harm than good.
Don’t panic!
Make a preparation plan. Set targets. Do your best to meet them.
Re-plan if necessary. There’s still time.
Enjoy it!

Personally, I’m really looking forward to the switch in focus. Bring it on!

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* I could show you, but you may find it too distressing!