Mission accomplished…..After months of prep and training we completed our challenge; 413 miles, 29,219ft, visits to 22 offices in 4 counties!
The hours spent in training were worth it, I felt proud to complete the challenge and although this was a tough one, it was also rewarding to know that the legs felt strong and although tired at the end, still work!
A few words below to sum up the 4 days;
Day 1 – 112 miles / 7,100ft
Tiverton – Wellington – Taunton – Yeovil – Bridport – Honiton – Exeter
Everyone was feeling fresh, a flattish first 50 to get warmed up combined with some typical Somerset lanes and then some short sharp climbs. The run into todays finish in Exeter, on familiar roads meant today day 1 didn’t seem too bad.
Day 2 – 97 miles / 8209ft
Exeter – Torquay – Totnes – Dartmouth – Kingsbridge – Plymouth – Tavistock
We always knew the riding around the South Hams was going to be challenge and that it was, up, down, up, down, up down…you get the jist! However, being rewarded by some stunning coastal views made it worth it. A bit of a slog up the cycle path from Plymouth to Tavistock which definitely felt longer than 15 miles led us to our finish in Tavistock, where the weather was on the change.
Day 3 - 100 miles / 6,846ft
Tavistock – Truro – Wadebridge – Launceston
What can I say, wet, wet, wet. I had always earmarked day 3 as the toughest, you have two big days under your belt, your feeling tired and you then have to contend with the Cornish climbs but now not only the climbs but combine that with rain and wind. However, through grimacing face and thanks to some help from Luke Humphreys of Pacenti, who joined us for part, we got the job done. Arriving back in Launceston and greeted by a Cornish pasty, we had ticked off another day – not quite sure it’s the food of athletes but it did the job!
Day 4 – 104 miles / 7064ft
Launceston – Okehampton – Bideford – Barnstaple – South Molton – Dulverton – The Finish, Tiverton
The final day, although wet to start the sunshine came out and the miles ticked by, even a tail wind made an appearance to help us on our way. Before we knew it we were flying back down the Exe Valley into the finishing straight to be greeted by colleagues, friends and family.
We have been overwhelmed by the support received for our challenge and in turn the donations received for our chosen charities and if you too would like to pledge your support, we really would appreciate it; https://www.gofundme.com/f/stags-charity-fundraising-for-cancer
With our challenge over and having banked some miles in this past week , I am now looking to turn attention back to some racing and hope to get on the start line with my 05-03 teammates to continue what has so far, been a brilliant season.
Overall I hope I may have inspired just one or two women to get on a bike. You don’t have to complete 100’s of miles but just ½ hour exploring the roads around the place you live, really is something else. If you don’t believe me….try it!