200 miles across the country

Summary

Chase the sun is 200 miles on the longest Saturday of the year, Coast to Coast, East to West. There are three locations, UK south, UK North and Ireland. Each location sets off from the same sunrise at 4.30am. The objective, to beat the sun before it sets in the West.

The Ride

200 miles in one day? You must be mad! I probably am, but once you break it up into smaller chunks, it’s actually not that bad. With the right fuelling and mindset, anything is possible. Eat every hour and drink regularly, focusing on carbohydrates and electrolytes. Though, it was probably one of the hardest challenges I have faced. I suffered for a long time on the route. However, my overriding memory of the day was far too much to put down on paper. I always find it extremely hard to process when I cover great distances. My mind is in constant over drive, wide-eyed, trying to take in as much information as possible from the landscape in which I ride through. All of my senses sharpen; smell, hearing, mood, and therefore, I tap into how my body feels and what it needs. This journey forced me to push further than what I was physically capable of and tested me to my absolute limit.

I will always remember the people I shared this experience with. It gave me a significant source of strength, whilst we helped each other through the highs and lows of the day. We were like a small tide of humanity, inching forwards, seeing and experiencing the same feelings and emotions together. Everyone had the same aim, and it made it that bit more manageable when you know you aren’t the only one suffering. It wasn’t until halfway through, as we carved our way through the landscape, that fatigue and tiredness started to set in. There were parts we were in an almost flow state, not talking, taking turns at the front, battling against a constant head wind, and simply riding. I felt like we had created a strong bond between us, which made the ride feel so much more powerful and enriching. It was by riding like this we could beat the sun, finishing on the Ayr promenade at 8pm, hands over each other shoulders, and feeling a huge sense of achievement. It was over.

A challenge like the coast to coast isn’t just for my sense of achievement. I can use this throughout life, too. Having had a brain injury, this can cause my mind to overthink and not get on with that task in hand. When it’s not a challenge but something simply thrown at me by life, perhaps when I have lost hope, I can use what I have learnt throughout these challenges. Providing me with answers, solutions, and helps bring darkness into light. I will never stop pushing myself, simply because it’s what makes me feel alive.

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