Going Really Long!

Wednesday 23 June 2010

Final Thoughts

Today dear Mr Grok and I made our way back up the country and are now staying only a couple of hours from home at a very quiet campsite at Tummel Bridge (I spoke too soon we've just been buzzed twice by four F15s - this has however made plane-spotting Mr Grok's day) - we are here until the end of the coming weekend.  I'm really in need of some rest and a chance to switch off completely.  The last ten days have been something of a whirlwind combining emotional, mental and physical fatigue.


Driving back has reminded me of many moments during the ride down as we passed various landmarks and I want to share some of those thoughts now as a final post on this blog.


This adventure started nearly a year ago when I read an advert in Cycling Weekly.  It was only days after my then 17 year old daughter very unexpectedly disappeared from home and moved to England leaving with one year left to go of her A levels and a letter which made it very clear that she would not be returning.  Something about the RAB Challenge called me, and looking back I think it gave me something positive to focus on during the very dark days, weeks and months that followed her departure.  I'd also had a taster of end to ending a few months before when I rode with Peter King on his penultimate leg of his LEJOG; he was certainly inspiring and the seed was planted I guess!


11 months on and I've now completed the cycling Challenge but it has also provided me with a more personal closure too - an unexpected gift.  Living so closely with 700 or so people as they either tackled the challenge solo, in teams or were there supporting those that were, gave me a unique insight into the whole range of what is the human condition. I think this has given me a much more realistic perspective!


On the physical side I'm very pleased with my 'performance' not that it was a race of course, but I was able to ride day after day by keeping in the aerobic zone where possible - my training certainly paid off and that's always a good feeling.  I did develop a sore knee and Achilles half way through but with management through physio and stretching it was OK.  These are overuse problems and everyone appeared to suffer to some degree. Spending several nights in my tent at home certainly gave me a good feel for how the camping side of things would work and taking a camp bed made all the difference although it certainly made the twice daily 'bag drag' somewhat heavy!  But a small price to pay.


On the nutrition side of the house I'm really pleased.  I rode this challenge 'Primal'.  For those that have not been following my story Primal eating means low carbohydrate (ie only from vegetables - not potatoes or legumes, some fruit and nuts), high fat (animal and unprocessed - ie not polyunsaturated vegetable oils) and moderate protein from eggs, fish and meat.  This is how we evolved to eat over 100,000s of years.  I've been eating this way - ie I stopped eating any grains, minimised added sugars and processed foods since the end of November last year.  At home I have less than 100 g of carbohydrate a day and have changed my body composition quite dramatically - I'm now 7% less body fat although my weight has remained the same.  During the RAB I ate up to 200 g a day and didn't have any problems with fuelling.  In fact I felt well, avoided the bug that went around and didn't have the intestinal distress that many suffered due to the sheer quantity of sugars they were consuming following the 'expert's' advice.


My daily eating was as follows; breakfast - scrambled eggs, some fresh fruit (strawberries/blueberries) and where they had provided it, natural full fat Greek yoghurt.  For the designated Pitstops they provided me with cans of tuna, meat and cheese, sometimes some natural yoghurt and apples if I wanted them.  During my cycling I consumed between 4 and 6 Nakd bars - these provide around 14 g of carbs per bar from raw compressed dried fruit and nuts.  At the evening meal I ate the meat/fish dish with vegetables (no potatoes) and salad drenched with olive oil.  On arriving back after each day I snacked on some nuts and very dark (85%) chocolate.  When I weighed myself on Monday morning I was exactly the same weight as when I set off although I've dropped a kg since so I'm busy eating as my body repairs itself.  I've also developed some impressive abs, must be leaner and all that climbing helps too!


Highlights of the route include the spectacular Glen Coe range which we rode in splendid sunshine, great views of Loch Lomond and of particular note I found riding over the Severn very emotional.  I think this was mainly due to the connections I have with the view as I cycled across the vast expanse.  It brought back many happy hours spent on the flight deck of a C-130 Hercules whilst Mr Grok was navigating; the only time I have been able to see him 'at work' as we flew up and down the Severn estuary.  It also marked a turning point on the route where we finally finished heading south and turned right!


Seeing my parents on the Clifton Suspension bridge was very special too, and they surprised me at the end of that stage by being at the Base Camp and yet again first thing the following morning when they were waiting at a junction only a few miles into the next stage from Cheddar to Launceston.  It was lovely to see them so excited, bouncing about like 5 year olds and sharing the buzz of the event.


I really enjoyed riding through Cheshire as well, not an area I know at all and was surprised to find myself in Wales at one point for a few miles!  I think a local was even more surprised when I asked if I was in Wales, I was answered with a rather perplexed 'yes?'!


Obviously an adventure of this size and duration was bound to have some low points, and I guess that is what provides you with the chance to grow and understand yourself better.  From a cycling perspective a couple of things spring to mind.  Firstly being sent a circuitous route to take in the Long Mynd was really frustrating as it was unrideable by 95% of riders and meant taking in a very dangerous descent as well.  I don't think this will appear on next year's route.  Another frustration was a diversion which was brought in at the last minute which required a huge amount of difficult climbing for several miles to reach the Pitstop only to retrace your steps back to the main route ... practice bleeding as Mr Grok would say and it really knocked the stuffing out of the slower riders - an apology was later offered by the route master at the end of that leg.  To be honest the route to Lands End from Penzance was equally, unnecessarily punishing given we had by that point ridden almost 1,000 miles and climbed in excess of 72,000 feet.  However, I guess it did add to the sense of achievement!  Got to look for the positives.  My only real sadness was hearing from many 'non' cyclists how they never wanted to see a bike again.  I think it's a shame that the route was such that many came away with the impression that cycling was hard, gruelling and not for them. 


The biggest low was Dave becoming ill at the beginning of stage 7.  Having had a day riding solo as he time-trialled stage 6 our plan was for us to ride together again from there on but one look at his face across the room in the breakfast queue was enough for me to know that plan was not to be executed.  He rode solo struggling with the diarrhoea and vomiting bug that made it's way through a number of the riders, staff and volunteers.  He did complete the stage but in a very slow time and was completely unable to even contemplate riding stage 8.  Having spent so much time together over the last few months training together, and having already ridden five stages in each other's company I truly understood how this made him feel.  I guess the silver lining of the added miles the route had taken meant that he was able to cover well over the minimum End to End distance even though he missed riding the penultimate stage.


Stage 9 proved to both of us just what the challenge is really about and it has nothing to do with how long it takes, how fast you go, where you finish in the pack.  It is about camaraderie, compassion, friendship, about overcoming adversity and being the best you can be with the cards you are dealt.


Out on the road and around the basecamps I've met a wide range of people.  Of special note are Michelle who was often out on the road in excess of 12 hours a day but got up every morning and rode again, the Halfords guys who worked their socks off to keep everyone rolling and still found time to be on the finish line to cheer in the last finishers, The Reddish family - Tim, the blind Chairman of Paralympics GB and his wife Jean (thank you so much for the resupplies of nuts and dark chocolate!), and his tandem pilot son and all the volunteers who made life more bearable when you were tired and sore!  Then there were the 'elites'; I can honestly say they are a breed apart, to see them power past you on a hill is something else.  James Cracknell is just the most focused individual I think I've ever met - I guess that's what makes a multiple medal winner and the sight of Rebecca Romero whizzing past me in her white world championship skinsuit will stay with me for a long time!


And then there are the 'Kelda support team', the wonderful Mr Grok who makes it all possible, is always there for me and drove his own JOGLE in Elly to deliver and collect me, my parents who were responsible for raising most of the £700 for Paralympics GB and who made my day by appearing on the Bristol leg, my brother and sister-in-law, equally excited who appeared at Lands End to see us finish - Gavin that striptease was amazing, you are a credit to all Groks, sorry if I didn't make more of it but I had just ridden 1,000 miles LOL!  And of course all my friends who've followed me on this amazing journey - you know who you are!


And a particular mention for Dave - nuff said eh!


I have met a huge range of people during the last few days, observed some selfless and some selfish behaviour and have finally found some peace.  For me, and I think for Dave, we really do know now what matters and will both have a fresh outlook on our lives.


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The motto to take away - don't look back, what is behind you has passed.


Grok on :-)



6 comments:

  1. Wonderful effort K, recover well now!

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  2. A great last post. Sounds fantastic. Chat later.

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  3. Was An Epic Journey for all who did it well done. i agree the reddish family are amazing. working to help them get there bike back on the road was much rewarding. not to mention all the other bike i got to fix and tweak hats off to all ridders.

    John
    (scouse)
    Halfords crew

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  4. Hi Kelda
    Great write up...reading between the lines, there is a wee hint of a solo endurance thing going on in your mind...I would not want to suggest the RAAM at all!! But it is the ultimate challenge! Like I would know!!!! ;-) Worth a thought now that you have hung up your goggles and pumps!! Seeing as I suggested it, can I crew for you??!! ;-) Got some experience of it now! Kidding of course.

    Happy recovery
    Cheers
    Pete

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  5. Hey Kelda!

    Awesome blog you have here! You've been cycling in Scotland I see. I really want to do that. Would love to find out about it from you!

    Here's a cycling post I wrote: http://app4mind.com/madame-its-just-not-that-complicated/

    I think you'll appreciate the little dilemma I wrote about there. :-)

    Best,
    Susan

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  6. you are awesome ........I cant even get on a bike let alone ride one all that way ......xxx

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