Three Days to Go Until Our BIG Cycle Challenge from Lands End to John O'Groats

We are cycling the Length of Great Britain in three days time to raise money for The Hunger Project UK. What seemed like an impossibility at the beginning of the year, now seems like it's actually going to happen.  We are all feeling a combination of excitement and nervousness, and general trepidation!

Stefan (EMEA Business Partner, JMJ Associates), Michaela (my wife) and I have cycled between us something like 4000-5000 miles in training, been down the gym more times than we can all remember and we have all lost weight, gained muscle and are feeling much better for it.  However whilst we can now all do 50 to 60 mile cycles in a day,  we have all yet to experience what it is like getting up the next day and doing it again, and again and again for 14 days continuously!

We have also learnt a lot, what works what doesn't, which are the most comfortable brand of cycling shorts, which energy bars are foul and which ones work, which electrolytes to use, how to stretch and recover, how essential cream is, how to be as safe as possible in traffic, how to pedal in the most efficient way, and most of all how to keep going when your body is shouting 'stop'.  I have personally learnt that my theory of a 'burgundy rehydration technique' - i.e. nice bottle of red wine after a big ride doesn't actually work and gives you a BIG headache, but I guess no surprises there….

We have been amazed at the support.  The whole JMJ community has backed us and has been a major part of our fundraising, putting on events and coughing up their own money.  We have had two BBQ weekends at our house in Gloucestershire, a Valentine's Day fund raiser, and a Big Auction Event staring our own JMJ band 'The Possibilities'.  So a big thank you goes to everyone who has helped, so far to raise a massive £9,752, which with JMJ's matching commitment takes us to £19,504, way over our £10,000 target we set ourselves at our Launch in January.  The money raised, will support The Hunger Project in the UK and we expect to raise more and we know another £1000 is on its way.

I will be updating the blog during our BIG cycle challenge and posting photos to let you know how much pain we are suffering (assuming in the evenings I can still operate a computer).  Please feel free to comment and wish us well on our cycle travels.

If you would like to sponsor us please visit our Team JMJ JustGiving page