I woke up early on the morning of my cycling adventure, feeling excited and nervous. I had trained hard for months, and I was finally ready to put my skills to the test. I had a big bowl of pasta the night before, and for breakfast, I had my new favorite pre-ride meal: two fried eggs on a bagel with a side of porridge and coffee. I was feeling fueled and ready to go.
The first 25 minutes of my ride were a breeze. The morning air was crisp and refreshing, and I felt strong and confident. But then, I had a few problems with my Garmin. It eventually took me off route, which added an extra 20 kilometers to my ride and caused me to miss the first checkpoint by 10 minutes.
At first, I was frustrated. But then, I realized that this was an opportunity to explore a new part of the countryside. I rerouted my Garmin through the Forest Way, a 10-mile gravel path that ran from East Grinstead to Groombridge. It was a beautiful, traffic-free experience, and it ended up being one of the highlights of my day.
After the Forest Way, I realized that I was lost. I couldn’t get phone coverage, so I stopped at a cafe, I had a delicious Greek salad sandwich and coffee. While I was there, I figured out that I was about 8 kilometers away from where I was supposed to be.
I set off again, and I eventually made it to the first checkpoint. I was about 10 minutes late, but the volunteers were understanding. I took a quick break to refuel and rehydrate, and then I headed towards the coast. The route to the coast took me through Rye, then down to Camber Sands. I followed the coast to Dungeness, a strange and otherworldly place. I was fascinated by the little huts and the flat, windy, eerie landscape.
From Dungeness, I headed to New Romney, where I grabbed a sandwich and flavored milk at a supermarket. I was still feeling pretty good, and I had plenty of energy.
I headed back inland, and after a while, it started to rain. At first, it was just a light drizzle, but after a few hours, it got heavier and relentless. I was wearing a merino base layer, which was a godsend. It kept me warm even when I was soaked.
About 45 minutes from the next checkpoint, I started to run out of energy. I regretted not eating more at the previous two stops. My fat oxidation has improved on previous rides, but I still need to make sure that I eat more than I think I need to.
When I finally reached the next checkpoint, I was relieved to see a pizza van parked next to the village shop. I ordered a veggie pizza and a drink. I ate the whole 12-inch pizza pretty quickly, and then I got going again.
The next stage was the worst part of the ride. It was wet, lumpy, and I had stomach cramps from the pizza. But after a while, the cramps passed and I was able to push on again. I eventually made it to Pease Pottage Services, where I had a toastie and coffee.
The last stage back to South West London was a bit of a blur. I was so focused on navigating the nondescript suburban streets that I don’t even remember much of it. But when I finally crossed the finish line, I was happy. I had done it!
I didn’t average as fast as I would have liked, but I felt strong, fueled well, and I coped with the horrible weather. That was a huge success in my book.
I made a few mistakes along the way, including getting rerouted/lost and eating something that didn’t agree with me. But I learned a lot from my mistakes. I also learned that I’m capable of more than I thought I was. This was my last endurance ride before PBP. I’m already looking forward to my next cycling adventure in France!
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