This weekend I took part in a local charity cycle ride. I’d come across it while searching for cycle routes in the area. Described as ‘off-road’, there were three routes. A short 12.5 miles through to a full on 40 mile ‘challenging’ ride. I checked and the shorter ride would be OK for a road bike.

I’d been out the previous weekend and ran out of energy on the way back from a 23 mile route, so wasn’t sure I’d complete 25 miles. I picked up the route maps for both the 12.5 and 25 mile routes, so I had options. At least I was out on a lovely sunny day and I’d have the rest of the day to relax and enjoy.

At the first refreshment stop on the short route with just a few miles back to the start. I thought … “I’ll just cycle the next road part of the 25 mile route to the next off-road section and then turn around and come back”. I got to that bit, checked the map and thought “Mmmm, maybe I’ll see what the next ‘off-road’ bit actually looks like”. 

I got there and checked with the route Marshalls at the start of the section. They assured me it was mostly dry (I’d been warned it might be muddy), pretty flat – it’s an old railway track, narrow with step sides at the start but then ‘like a motorway’, in mountain bike terms – flat, wide and fast. So off I went along the next section. It actually turned out to be a better, more comfortable ride than the initial off-road sections which had been through bumpy, stony ploughed fields, where I had to go slower.

An hour later, with a slight short-cut and I’d arrived at the next refreshment stop after just over 16 miles. I teamed up there with a local group of riders, who knew the detour to avoid the next off-road section and get back to the finish.

Three hours and 27.8 miles later, I finished. Yes, I was exhausted but I did it! I finished the route and ended up doing far more than I thought I’d do.

Go further, do more

Tips for going further or doing more than you initial intend or think is possible.

• Just get started. Take the first step, build up momentum by taking action. “An object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion stays in motion” – Newton’s first law of motion/inertia.

• Take it in small stages. Don’t get overwhelmed by aiming for a large, unrealistic target. Break it down into shorter stages or different phases. As you complete each one, plan the next one.

• Take one step at a time. Keep moving forward until you stop and see just how far you’ve come. You might not be able to see the finish line from where you are. It might seem a very long way away, but you can see along the road to the next junction you need to take.

• Go at your own pace. Others may be going faster, doing more, getting there quicker but your journey is your journey.

• Enjoy the ride. Avoid continually focusing on the end goal. Enjoy the journey and each step you take along the way. Chat with others, admire the scenery. It makes the time go quicker. You focus less on any pain or discomfort.

• Ask for support. It’s easier if you have others around to support, encourage and motivate you. Answering questions, giving you ideas for shortcuts, holding gates open or just helping to keep you going.

• Have a Plan B. Give yourself options if opportunities come up or your circumstances change.

You never know where you might end up and how far you’ll actually be able to go, once you get going.