It is hard to think that is has been over a year now since Robby came up with an idea of setting ourselves a monthly challenge via Twitter using the #OctGTD hash tag (we now use #gothedist), it allowed us to break down our larger fitness and weight loss goals into smaller bite size goals and to support each other through the months for myself the mutual support has been the best part of this and although in the more recent months I have taken a back seat I often tried to help others. Over time the challenge evolved as did the people involved and soon we were not just recording miles but now things like fluid intake the small things that matter so much that and we have to remain mindful of in order to reach our goals. It also helped us develop the mind too, with self image and positive thinking.
The Year
This past year has been a long and tough one, each month I have set my goals and worked hard towards them some times failing often due to the weather, in my first month I set and reached a goal of 80 miles but by the summer I was doing 150 mile months even up to 200 at on point, through the winter and into the summer I have found it tough struggling against the weather and fatigue as I kept on pushing myself harder and faster, this was to be my undoing in July and what was looking to be my most awesome month of all.
July had started off as a 150 mile month but I was flying by now, I had reached my target for the past 3 months and I although fatigued was really going well, by the middle of the second week I had already reached over 50% of my monthly target so I decided to up the goal to 200, but I had pushed too far and increased my mileage too much over the past few weeks and I was to pay for it over the next few months as over training and exhaustion set in and as my season was almost over I took it easy.
Learning Curve
So what have I gained and learned over this past 12 months? Well quite a lot really, first of all is the friends I have made, the support we have given each other has been great, I know that I would have struggled more with out it, I hope that I have managed to help others as much.
My fitness has grown quite significantly, when I first started I was doing 1 hour rides, now I am able to do 2-3 hour rides happily and even race albeit slowly, I do not think I would have some so far with out the challenge. I also learned several things about my training, although I have rough ideas of where I want to be with my fitness and weight I had no real solid measurable goals so instead of setting smart monthly goals towards them I just randomly pushed harder and harder until my body broke, also that I have to be mindful of all the little things, drinking, stretching just looking after my body allowing myself to train more effectively.
For the Future
Well the next year has realistically started and although I am still healing from the damage to my body, not just fatigue but my shoulder injury I am putting in the miles in, next month being November I will really start my focus on my training and the #gothedist challenges, but this time I am better prepared and more focused than before. First of all with aid of The Cyclist training Bible I have put together a training program to take me through to the spring at which time I will sit down and re assess my progress and adapt my program and challenge goals as and if needed for the next stage of training.
As long as the challenge still keeps going I will be a part of it.
Peace.
Simon.
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