As you know on Thursday I was cycling 84 miles with my friend Stuart Kerr who is completing Lands End to John O'Groats (LEJOG) and on Sunday I was back with him doing another 84 miles. Cycling gives you time to reflect on lifes journey as you try and deflect your thought from your sore arse! You see before these 2 spins on the bike I had only another 4 trips on the bike and they were all in the last month and none over 40 miles. So my arse was out of practise!
As "domestique" my job was to do everything to get Stuart to the finish line in the best possible condition. This meant sitting in front of him taking the wind. Normally I'd be hanging onto the back of a bunch of cyclists getting the benefit of the pelaton but not this time. The interesting thing is what it did to my mindset. I had to be the leader and protect the "star cyclist" - after all I was only doing 2 days, he is doing 11. So I gritted my teeth as we headed into the 20mph wind and rain swept Glencoe and just got on with it. And all because I had a worthwhile purpose. It also occured to me that without this to look forward to, my bike would still be gathering dust in the garage.
So as I type this latest activity, Stuart will have finished day 9 and getting into a cold bath before grabbing some grub. He's finishing the rest of the route on his own (as he has done most of it by himself) and it is an INCREDIBLE achievement for someone who only took up cycling 18 months ago. But then he has a worthwhile purpose (raising money for Yorkhill Childrens Hospital) and he determination hasn't wavered.
Perhaps that's something we should all reflect on.
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