On Thursday 7th January, I should have been cycling for 24hours attempting to break three world recordsā¦ but just two days prior, the British Prime Minister announced a national lockdown and the event I had been training and preparing for twelve months couldn’t go ahead.
ā
I felt a flash of frustration – how could something outside my control prevent my static cycling challenge? Having a team of sponsors, friends and supporters who had all committed time and energy for my record-breaking attempt, it also didnāt feel fair for them to have the day taken away from themā¦ or maybe they felt relief that they could avoid staying awake supporting me through the cold night?
I went to bed disappointed and deflated, yet slept well.
Waking up, I knew I needed to do something to celebrate the past year, I wanted to do something to honour the sacrifices I had made to get me here. My partner, Kieren, and I decided to host a one-hour record attempt: Could I switch my āmarathonā training to a ā200m sprintā? And, could we do it within national lockdown rules?
We didnāt know if Guinness would count the attempt as official, but we knew we needed to try! So, the morning of the 7th, Kieren carried my bike outside and set up some computers to track my cycling on tables we borrowed.
Two neighbours offered to watch the cycling from their lounge windows – respecting social distances – and act as witnesses to the record attempt.
As I started cycling on the bike, I could see the frost still clinging to the grass and my breath forming clouds of warm air lingering in the sub-zero temperatures. It was far from great conditions to be attempting a world record!
Within 15 minutes, I could feel my lungs tighe with the sharp, cold air and my throat tighten in pain. I was struggling to breathe and take in enough oxygen for the effort I was producing.
Time was dragging and I tried to focus on my pedalling – consistent strokes on the pedal and maintaining a higher than usual speed. Distracted by Kieren, who was now responsible for everything to do with the record attempt (apart from the cycling!), he was trying to take photos and record video content of the record, checking in with the witnesses and also ensuring the Livestream was still functioning.
I sensed the pressure he was holding – if the record was unsuccessful due to a technical issue, it would be on him. I didnāt want him to feel this, but barely being able to breathe, I couldnāt say this. We both had done our best, and this is all I could expect and ask for.
As I neared the 60-minute mark, Kieren started sharing the wonderful comments rolling in. Hearing āYou got this!ā and āKeep going!ā spurred me to push hard and as the time clicked over the one-hours, I fell to my handlebars, proud and happy that we overcame so many obstacles!
I cycled 23.9miles, an extra 2 miles than the previous world record!
We are still waiting to hear if Guinness will confirm it as an official record, but regardless if they do, I am so happy and proud that through all the challenges and reasons to stop, I found a way to complete at least one record attempt!
