06. Winter is coming…
So as summer 2024 ended with celebrating my mum finishing chemo; the wetter and darker weather started to creep in. I had made a start with swimming but how do I now start running and cycling on top… and work, and kids and everything. I was feeling slightly overwhelmed thinking about September 2025… I felt like I had a mountain to climb and not enough time to get up it.
“September was my Everest - with short days and dark nights rolling in how do I find the time to fit everything in”
I hadn’t really spoken to anyone about the challenge I had set myself but eventually started to talk to a few people at my Triathlon Club. A fabulous lady in my swim lane, Esther, really encouraged me to get going with running. Now, I’ve run before and completed a number of half marathons. However, I am not a natural runner, certainly not a long distance runner and I had not run for years! I made a commitment to her and just went out and did it. The next day I was out and managed 4km. I went out in the week and managed another 4km. The following weekend it was pouring down with rain and I still headed out and just kept going, it felt great and I did 8km. I even started to take my running kit with me when I was going away for work. I didn’t actually manage to do a run but the fact that I thought to pack stuff and take it was a positive step forwards from a mindset perspective.
Talking about the challenge was helping me to build my commitment to finding time, to removing barriers that we can all put in place;
It’s raining, it’s cold, it’s dark, it’s too hot
I only have 20 mins, I’m too tired, I’ll do it tomorrow
The laundry/ironing/cleaning/shopping - insert any house chore - needs doing
The dog needs walking / I have the kids / I’ll just clear these emails then go…. oh it’s now too late
I was starting to try and carve out time, and remove excuses, to work towards my commitment. Cialdini's principle of commitment is based on the idea that people want their beliefs and behaviors to align with their values and self-image. Personally, this really speaks to me. Over the years my big mouth has led to tattoos, piercings and all kinds of stuff… I’d said it out loud - it was a commitment… it was going to happen. My Triathlon challenge in September was no different… I need to talk and share more.
“Over the years my big mouth has led to tattoos, piercings and all kinds of stuff… I’d said it out loud - it was a commitment… it was going to happen”
With this energised commitment a few key milestones were achieved over the winter months of training…
I got this website up and live with all the information about my challenge, locations, routes and sponsorship link. I even started sharing links on social media!
I got my first donations - it was so exciting. I continue to be excited and so grateful every time an email pops in to say - you’ve received a donation. Thank you everyone for your continued support of me and the amazing causes this is supporting. If you’re reading this… go on, click on this link, and donate a few pounds… every penny counts and is going to such worthy causes!
I called swimming pools and lidos at the locations to make bookings. Some pools were closed for winter season but I had made contact with them all - it was a start. The scale of all the logistics and planning that was going to be needed to get this sorted was starting to become real. That’s a whole other blog in itself!
In mid-December, nearly a whole year since my Watt Bike and Wobble Board was delivered, I got on and did my first ride. I really enjoyed it and continued to work hard on my own and joined group virtual cycle sessions. I’d started all 3 disciplines - just needed to keep it ticking over and build slowly.
I made another public announcement about my challenge when I stood on stage at my company conference and shared with over 400 people about my challenge. The support from colleagues has been overwhelming and lovely. People are so supportive, interested and kind about it. A few colleagues have even committed to join for one of the days or just for a bike ride or run. It feels wonderful to be building momentum and support.
I got to meet the one and only SIr Chris Hoy! I was privileged to be able to sit down with him over coffee and share all about my challenge. He was very supportive and also shared all about his incredible Tour de 4 movement to change perceptions around stage 4 cancer. We talked about how the morning of day 3 will probably be when I 'hit the wall’. For this moment and really from now and throughout the most important thing I can do is stay in the here and now.
“You wake up, don’t think about the whole day and all you have to physically do - just think all I have to do is get dressed and ready. Then all I have to do is get to the pool. Don’t think I have I have 60 lengths to swim… you get in and swim and when it feels hard you say I can do 5 more lengths. You do those 5. Then ask, can I do 5 more - yes I can and so on an so on. Just stay focused and stay in the here and now” -Sir Chris Hoy.
He’s also got me Googling GBR ice trousers and wishing I could take my mattress on tour with me…. What a human, what a family man, what an athlete, what an inspiration, what a guy.
Lastly and most exciting, I shaped a core team for the event. So who are these amazing humans that over the next few months will help me make this challenge happen but who are also taking part in different ways…
Claudette: Lead swim coach and member of my triathlon team - she is doing all 5 events with me and I’m so pleased to have such an experienced, strong and positive woman by my side throughout. I know I’ll be motivated and inspired by her. We’ll get through this with laughter and fun even when it feels hard.
Trevor: My village hero - salt of the earth, no nonsense, ex forces dude. He has committed to take time away from his own business to come on the road for the full event to support with logistics, van driving etc AND he will start to train to do the 10km run every day for 5 days. His wife keeps reminding him that he’s in his 60’s…. legend!
Darren: An experienced triathlete and all round active guy - also Claudette’s hubby. He’s on the road with us for the duration doing all logistics, van driving etc like Trevor AND when the plans allow he’ll be joining in with the cycle rides.
David: The bike guru and logistics brain. With 30 years experience of logistics in the Air-force, now a bike expert running his own workshop No Two Cycles and does sport massage… I cannot think of a better person to have in the team. Setting plans and keeping our bikes and bodies on the plan in September.
My Husband: Who is taking on so much of the kids stuff to enable me time to train. He’s a very active person himself and I know he is making sacrifices to support me. He’ll have the kids throughout the challenge but we hope he can join me for the bikes and runs on 1 or 2 days - most certainly the last one!
My Mum: Well, she’s my mummy…. the inspiration, alongside my dad, for this whole crazy challenge. My mum will be with us for the duration helping with logistics, chief cheerleader and hopes to get involved somehow in the last event in Newcastle… maybe join the run for cheeky last 5km and finish line moment!
What a team - incredible humans in heart, in mind and in physical ability…. can’t wait to
go through this journey with them…. and you!
I’ll leave you with some winter training highlights (photo/video montage coming). You know you’re dedicated to training when…
You are heading out in the dark, snow and ice in flip flops at 06:00 in the morning to go swim training
You are running around fields with a head torch to see where you are going and its only 17:00 (and get lost and end up in a pig sty on a farm!)
You go out in white socks with trainers for a run and you come home, take your shoes off and your white socks are brown
You are laying on your back looking up into a grey raining sky having slipped over in the mud for the 4th time that trail run
You don’t have enough clothes to keep up with all the layers needed
Saddle chafing from your static bike is real…. all those 22:00 Box Hill rides
Come on spring and summer… bring on your lighter, warmer and longer days… we need more hours in the day to fit in all the training and planning!
