training: strength + cycling
How’s training going?
The question people keep asking.
It’s going.
Between working, writing, and interview preparation it’s tricky. Time and motivation have been the two main challenges. Finding big enough periods of uninterrupted time during the week, and being motivated through cold and wet weather has made me evaluate how I organise and drive myself.
To grapple with time challenges, I start the day early to workout pre-desk job. My calendar and setting timers throughout the day helps me keep up with other responsibilities, and splitting my training into smaller sections that can be done throughout the day helps me balance work.
This splitting also keeps me motivated. Two smaller workouts feel less daunting than one big one. Cross-training complements this by keeping my body balanced and my brain entertained with a range of activities (e.g. running, weight-lifting, climbing, and yoga)
Supportive folks who join my workouts, make me smile at the gym, and remind me that even a tiny bit of training is better than none has been invaluable. However, even more motivating than these stars has been the knowledge that every moment I train now will make my cycle across the US a tiny bit easier.
But what does my training look like?
Generally a combination of cycling and the gym. Across a week it looks roughly like this:
Monday: Upper body in the gym + sprints + indoor bike
Tuesday: Lower body gym + indoor bike + 1hr30 outdoor bike ride
Wednesday: Upper body + indoor bike + sprints + 1hr30 outdoor ride
Thursday: Lower body + indoor bike + 2-3hr outdoor bike
Friday: Mobility in gym + indoor bike + run + other fun active thing
Saturday: Rest + maybe a little bike ride/walk to loosen up
Sunday: Looong bike ride + other fun active thing (hello climbing <3)
Alongside training is planning.
Planning which bike I need, the exact route I’ll take, where I’ll sleep and eat, how I’ll contact people in emergencies, how I’ll avoid these emergencies. A handful of very experienced and generous people have helped me with this - and for that I’m endlessly grateful.
I’m realising the challenge I’ve set myself is bigger than I first thought. Sixty days of cycling across America sounded like an adventure, and it still does, but this adventure will be really hard.
The personal strength I’ve gained in reaction to the trauma of rape is a silver lining here. The determination that pushed me to wake up every morning and attend therapy helped me develop a deep resilience. This resilience and determination is what enables me go running when it’s so cold my breath freezes on my eyelashes, cycle in downpours, and drag myself to the gym when staying in bed is irresistible. It’s this side of survivors I want to highlight - the side that shows we’re stronger than the perpetrators who hurt us.
But this strength is hard to build without support. Rape Crisis enabled me to access therapy, feel supported me through the police investigation, and reconnect with reality - these steps made me stronger. By funding Rape Crisis we support others to regain their own strength.
So to support me and other survivors donate to my JustGiving page or click the button below
