2022 Challenges

So we are just about at the end of 2022, the world has changed so much.  The Queen passed which in my opinion was a huge loss, she was such an iconic figure.  Covid vaccines have been had by most of the UK population, using cash seems to have almost disappeared, the only time I seem to have it is when my MIL gives it to me for something we have paid for on the card.

My challenges for 2022 changed totally. The Breast Cancer Charity Night Ride and the North Coast 500 (aka NC500). A 500 mile bike ride around Scotland in 7 days, starting and finishing at Inverness.  

Mixing the training up is quite interesting and throws a whole new light on things. Core & Weights, different cycling types; Road (my Favourite), Gravel, Turbo, Velodrome.  

Running; Heart Rate Zones, Sprints, Tempo. The variety is making life a lot more interesting and strangely improving my overall fitness levels without increasing the amount of hours. 

From a swimming perspective, I now really don't like the pool, swimming up and down a 25 meter length seems quite pointless and uninteresting.  spending 10 minutes getting ready to get into a lake (I only get in with a wetsuit, gloves and swim shoes when the water is cold), which measures a surface temperature of 6o (approx.), (spending 2 minutes getting rid of brain freeze or ice-cream head, a good remedy for this is to put your tongue on the roof of your mouth!) then swimming for 20 minutes, followed by 30 minutes getting changed and warming up is preferable to swimming in a pool.   

If you are training for something, swimming is much slower when the water is cold, I'm not quick anyway, so I don't suppose it makes much difference to me, but I do see people looking at their watches disappointed with their times. The speed will increase as they stay in longer and the temperature improves.   It's like everything else, when it's cold it is that bit harder.    

There is something quite wonderful about swimming outdoors, the scenery is always changing, the wildlife changes by the minute, clouds scurry across the sky, the rain, snow, getting hit in the face by the waves when its windy. 

So back to the challenges completed in 2022, Riding the Breast Cancer night ride Windsor Castle to Buckingham Palace and back, with a lovely lady, was amazing approx. 3,500 - 4,000 women dressed in various pink costumes riding through Central London in the middle of the night was incredible. The atmosphere was superb, lots of people out cheering, perfect weather (no wind or rain) it was very cold, but we finished and got our medals.

The ride around Scotland was simply superb, the scenery was so wonderful, it's difficult to describe how breath-taking it is, all I can say is if you have not been to the West Coast of Scotland, put it on your bucket list.  I took a day of in the middle of the week at Ullapool and went out on a boat trip, we saw baby Seals, Dolphins that swam alongside of the boat, Guillemots along with a whole host of other wildlife. Simply stunning.  

Cycling up Bealach Na Bar to get to Applecross was no mean feat, going from one passing  place to another, sometimes the Vehicles would wait for us, at other points we had to wait for them.  It was truly superb, the feeling of elation and accomplishment at the top is hard to describe.  Going down the other side was actually scarier than going up, my brake pads certainly suffered on the way down.  

At one point, I'm not sure where, there was a single lane straight road with passing points, down hill for approx 3 miles, nothing was going to stop me!! I got into the most aero position I could, put my head down and went for it, I was stopping for no one or anything.  A bit irresponsible really but what the hell sometimes you just have to go for it.  😁 

What can you say about the NC500 that has not already been said, lovely people, wonderful food, fabulous scenery, breath taking views, superb wildlife, just truly spectacular!  

Thank you for reading, a very Merry Christmas to everyone!