On the 8th August I’m undertaking a charity cycle ride from Nuneaton in the West Midlands to Teignmouth in Devon via London. It’s one of a number of challenges I have completed over the years. I’m not one for overly planning my challenges, I get an idea, announce it to the world (my world) and then simply get on with it. As well as the pride of completing a challenge there are a number of reasons I love undertaking these.
Meditation on the move
Our lives can be busy and we find ourselves more plugged in than ever. That means it’s hard to turn off the noise and create space in our minds. What really helps me is when I have one focus. Golf is a good example where I find myself zoned in on getting the best score over 18 holes, and hopefully playing some nice shots along the way.
Riding my bike over long distances is another strong focus for me. It comes with the added bonus of stopping to admire the amazing locations you find yourself in. This will be my fourth charity bike ride and I can remember the numerous times I have stopped to simply admire my surroundings. One example is when riding from Lancaster to Kendall following the Northern reaches of the Lancaster to Kendal canal. Not only is the history of the canal fascinating, and the way the M6 scissors it in a number of places, but the scenery is breathtaking. So much so you are simply glad to be alive and grateful for such experiences.
I’m certainly looking forward to a few moments of peace and tranquility in my mind as I cycle from Wolverhampton to Teignmouth. And of course taking time to remember my friends DC and JP who I hope are watching up there somewhere and smiling down.
Exercise
It’s medically proven that exercise is good for our bodies and minds. Sometimes the mind can make it hard for us to get up, get out and exercise but the rewards are definitely worth it. Nowadays I find myself mixing running, swimming, cycling, golf and walking. All are very different in what they give me from a mental and physical perspective.
Cycling is a good way to improve your fitness and heart health. The British Heart Foundation website states that ‘just two short trips to the shops and back each day – about 30 minutes’ of daily cycling – will begin to benefit your cardiovascular system’. With that in mind why wouldn’t you get out for a daily bike ride? Especially when The National Cycle Network now covers 14,700 miles across the UK. I use the app Kamoot for navigation which aims to keep you off major roads. It certainly has given me some interesting routes over the years. One comes to mind as I pushed my bike up the fields of the Mendip Hills to be greeted at the top by a herd of cows including a very big bull! Luckily he wasn’t interested in me so I quickly made my escape and carried on down and into Bristol.
Another plus to cycling is its planet friendly. I recently had a chat with a volunteer from sustrans while riding the Exe Estuary from Dawlish to Teignmouth. She said when she first started volunteering many moons ago there were only 5000 cars on UK roads. Now there are 50000 cars which is just too many for our little country. It’s so easy to get on your bike and make use of the network of cycle paths.
And finally it’s one huge adventure where you never know what awaits you around the next corner. Takes our brains from the normal day to day to retrain for the unexpected. Exercise for the mind, body and soul.
In memory of a friend or loved one
Losing my friend Matt to cancer left a real scar on me. Just to say scars don’t just have to be painful. They can be full of reminders. Before Matt passed he asked if a foundation could be set up to carry on the work he was so passionate about. He had been working for many years devising sporting initiatives for young people in the West Midlands. These were often focused on those young people who had found themselves in the UK from countries around the world.
So as soon as the foundation was set up I started thinking about ways I could support and raise funds. My first challenge was an 8 day walk from Birmingham to Guildford covering 186 miles. Not an easy challenge with some days covering a marathon’s worth of walking and blisters appearing on top of blisters. But with Matt in my mind I carried on step by step even during those times I wanted to stop. I remember times I was on my own walking in the middle of nowhere to times where friends and members of Matt’s family joined me to keep me going.
I have so many memories of the challenges I undertook and events I participated in for Matt and the Matt Kendal Foundation, and I have a beautiful and lasting friendship with his parents and friends.
Last year unfortunately one of Matt’s and one of our best friends JP lost his battle with mental health. He was a shining light for so many people and it’s hard to comprehend how he must have felt over a long period of time to make such a decision. After battling my own mental health illness recently I am able to understand those darker skies John found himself under. I am currently undertaking an online course for my anxiety and depression and a recent video I was introduced to was ‘I had a black dog, his name was depression’. It’s a sobering watch and a reminder to me of how many people suffer from a mental health illness.
I met JP when first coming to University in Birmingham and he was always the glue of our group of friends. Lead singer in a popular band called the ‘Soul’ you would never pick him out as suffering from depression. We lived together at the Blue House and played many sports together including cricket for the Red House. As I type away I’m reminded of how much I did with him and how much I miss him. So the very least I can do is get out on my bike and ride a few miles in his memory. I’m raising money for Mind which is the charity that was highlighted at his funeral.
So there we have it ladies and gentlemen. 9 days of riding covering 370 miles from Wolverhampton in the West Midlands back to Teignmouth in Devon, via London. Stopping in Nuneaton on the first day which is where John grew up. And riding through Guildford on the fourth day which is where Matt was from and where his parents still reside. I’ll leave you with a couple of songs that remind me of DC and JP as music has a way of expressing feelings when words can’t XXX
Underneath the Weeping Willow – Grandaddy – For DC
Crossroads – Don McLean – for JP