26th June 2014
So just over a year out of treatment, I found myself craving
a challenge, wanting something to work towards, something to occupy my waking
thoughts that doesn’t start with C……well, okay, maybe I failed on the last bit
because the challenge I set myself was a Coast 2 Coast mountain bike ride. Run
by the lovely Purple Mountain team and raising money for Marie Curie I couldn’t
think of a better way to get back out there and back to living and enjoying my
life. All booked in for the C2C ride,
150 miles, from Grange Over Sands on the West coast to Scarborough on the East,
over 3 days, with some pretty hard core climbs thrown in for good measure, I
began my training!! Around Easter time I
got out on a couple of hilly rides and began to doubt my ability to actually
make it from one side of the country to the other in one piece! However, I
persevered and with plenty of miles but a lack of hill training under my belt I
set off at the crack of dawn to Grange over Sands on the Friday morning.
I arrived and made my presence known with lots of squealing
and hugging of people whom I hadn’t seen since Rob & I did this ride two
years previous – with them all knowing what a year I had had, they were all
pleased to see me alive and well enough to be attempting the challenge! I went to register and was given the number 1
–‘Wow!’ I thought, all these people and I’ve been given number one – that was
the first time of many times that I was made to feel special over the weekend! After
the obligatory photographs and ringing of cow bells we set off. The morning passed easily enough with me
chatting to and catching up with different people which seemed to pass the time. I was ready for the lunch stop when it came
and thought that I was doing okay.
However, as we began to ride again after lunch I realised that my energy
levels were beginning to dip dramatically.
We had be split into smallish groups with a guide each and I found
myself struggling to keep up with my group.
The further into the distance I
saw them disappear the more worried and upset I could feel myself getting, my
heart was sinking and tears were threatening to well in my eyes. Had I bitten off more that I could chew? Was
I trying to do too much too soon? Was I actually going to make it? (not making
it was never really an option and I think I would have crawled across the
country on my hands and knees if that’s what it took to prove to myself that I
am still able to do the things I want to do despite what has happened!) So at
the next refreshment stop I had a stern word with myself – (crying at this
point in the proceedings would really not be good!) and I moved myself down to
the next group, who were equally good, as fast and accomplished cyclists but
didn’t have quite the same blood-thirsty hunger for ploughing along flat out
the whole time!! I struggled steadily up
Dent Fell – totally in The Zone – I hope nobody tried to speak to me, as I
really didn’t want to (couldn’t) speak, I just kept focused on the task in hand
and plugged away. We eventually made it
to the hostel for the night and I lay on the grassy bank reflecting on (and worrying
about) how totally drained the day had made me and how much further I still had
to go!
However, I woke up the next day after a meal and a night’s
rest (I’m sure I got some sleep, but really don’t sleep well in unfamiliar
places) feeling that actually I could get back on my bike and carry on and so
off we set. I found Day 2 a little
easier, with fewer hills and more road. I
got into my stride and even managed some of the day with the ‘we’re not stopping
or slowing down for anything’ group! There was one rocky climb after the first
tea stop, but I just found a little space on my own (still don’t want to talk on
the hills thank you – focusing on keeping the pedals turning one gruelling revolution
at a time!!) and made my way up. At the
end of Day 2 Rob was there to meet me as I climbed up the last hard hill into Osmotherely
and it was a real boost to see him.
Day 3 – I thought it was all going to come undone on the
morning of Day 3. I have bowel issues
left over from radiation damage and when I woke up on Sunday morning my bowel
was in spasm – after my sixth visit to the toilet in the space of 10 minutes I
began to wonder if I was actually going to be able to get off the toilet long
enough to actually ride anywhere. Fortunately my bowel began to calm down just
before the off. We set off up a long,
hard road climb and as I began climbing Rob rode up beside me! He had got up early and driven to Helmsley
(which was due to be our lunch stop) then he had biked back to Osmotherley and
was now going to ride with me back to Helmsley again, where he would load up
his bike and drive to Scarborough to see me finish. It was just the boost I needed and I settled
in to a morning of hard hills and tired legs.
Day 3 seemed to go on forever and towards the end of the day I felt very
drained. However, the feeling going along Scarborough sea front in a massive
yellow peloton following a van with its horn blaring was an unforgettable and
wonderful experience. I knew getting to
the end of the ride would be emotional and I tried in vain not to think about
how far I had come since finishing treatment the previous year and then promptly
burst into tears (& that was pretty much the theme for the rest of my
night!!)
The after party was fantastic and I was presented with the ‘Best
overall rider’ yellow jersey for making it across the country despite my previous
troubles. I was so relieved that I was
able to do it and that the cancer hadn’t taken away my ability to do the things
I love doing and want to do. I found the
night very emotional and when Vicky did her lovely speech about me and what I had
achieved it turned me into a blubbing, emotional wreck from which I never
completely recovered – (although I did not blow my nose on my yellow jersey – contrary
to what has been suggested – ha ha!!!) I had such a blast with an amazing group
of people – and if any of you guys are reading this – you guys truly rock! Thank
you! xxxxxx
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