CW 5000 Mile Cycling Challenge
Complete a 5000-mile (8047 km) cycle indoors, outdoors or combination of both within a year, proof required, Easy you say? lol
For some individuals, this experience is merely a top-up to the mileage tank for the year, a simple yet rewarding endeavour. However, for many other mere mortals, it can be an overwhelming, daunting task that feels relentless and presents itself as a massive mountain to climb. Once you finally complete it, though, it transforms into a considerable achievement, one that you can proudly tick off your list on your journey to tackling bigger, better challenges that lie ahead.
To be fair, this year will mark my third consecutive completion of this challenging endeavour, and in doing so, I have decided to significantly step up the challenge by setting a goal to complete an impressive 10,000 km for the entire year well for me at least. Now, in saying this, you may think it doesn't sound that difficult, especially since I have already successfully completed a solid 8,047 km for the year. However, it's worth noting that this mileage was achieved by the end of October, which leaves me with a mere two months to cover, let’s say, an additional 2,000 km before the deadline of January 1, 2025. Oh dear!! I can’t help but feel a mix of excitement and nervousness!
But the point of the challenge is to successfully complete it, to have a clear goal to aim for and to build a healthy habit in the process. It’s all about making that important start and being consistent with your cycling, allowing you to chip away at the grand total and whittle it down into manageable, bite-sized daily cycles that easily fit into your lifestyle. The challenge tends to serve as a long-term goal for most because, let's face it, life can occasionally get in the way of training and tackling challenges at various times. Responsibilities like work, family commitments, holidays, and more often vie for our attention. And yet, despite all this, we frequently find ourselves looking for reasons to back out, to quit, and to create any excuse to stop when things get tough or when we feel like we're falling behind schedule. These are exactly the moments when you need to dig deep and find that motivation to crack the whip and get ahead of the game.
Healthy habits, which I discussed in one of my previous blogs, truly align with the seven-step plan that I utilized when I initially attempted to complete this challenging endeavour. In my journey, I faced numerous setbacks brought on by the lingering effects of sepsis and the arduous process of my recovery. It was only in the second year of attempting this challenge that I finally achieved my goal. The experience was incredibly tough, and at times I found myself having to push against my own reluctance to get on the bike. I was engaged in a fierce mental battle along with my physical struggle—while my mind was eager to forge ahead, my body simply wasn't cooperating. There were moments when I felt frustrated and angry, often redirecting that blame toward myself for my previous illness and the sense of failure it brought. Yet, amid all this emotional turmoil, I discovered the strength to push through and ultimately complete the challenge for the very first time.
My year was a rollercoaster ride that year, filled with ups and downs, as I continued to navigate the journey of recovery. I found myself constantly battling this overwhelming fatigue, a very special and lingering gift that sepsis often leaves behind along with a entourage of other special gifts presented to you by this bloody sepsis . Each day presented its own challenges, but I remained determined to push through and regain my strength.
I had to cycle on the indoor trainer, but outside in the shed as there was no space indoors and did not want to annoy my loving Wife, it was December 2022. The cold weather had settled in, with snow blanketing the ground, and here I was at 2:30 AM, pushing myself in the shed, tearing up those kilometres on Zwift. I was determined to squeeze in a solid 40 kilometres before heading to work, which started bright and early at 5 AM. Then, when I finally returned home later that day, I aimed to smash out another 40 kilometres, or even more if I could manage it. I felt the pressure mounting as the days left to complete the challenge were rapidly dwindling. It was Christmas Day, and despite the festive occasion, I found myself out in the shed, driven by a sense of purpose. This had to be done, and nothing, absolutely nothing, was going to stop me from achieving my goal.
I completed the challenge the end of December 2022 and added a few km on 8584km ok it was more that than a few 500km but who was counting anyway, and that was my drive my habit my plan and the goal. I was delighted! I was all alone in the shed sweat dripping of me it was late afternoon and daylight had gone as I got off the bike and opened the shed door the cold air bit into my chest and brought back the memory of me getting loaded into the ambulance that fateful night of sepsis. I did it I bloody well managed to complete this bloody challenge and there was no-one to celebrate with, just me the shed the freezing cold and my bike.
And that’s exactly the point of these types of challenges; it’s all about your personal journey and how you manage it. The goal is clearly set, and ultimately, it’s up to you to put in the effort to get it done. There is nobody standing next to you, cheering you on and praising you for even attempting to complete the challenge—no! It’s just you, your time, the bike, and the hard work required to make it happen. Once you cross that finish line, it’s the incredible sense of achievement and empowerment that washes over you, reminding you that you not only can, but you did complete it. And of course, as a lovely bonus, cycling weekly kindly sends you a medal for completing the challenge—a cherished keepsake that serves as both a memento of your hard work and a motivator to conquer the next year’s challenge as well.
What has this incredible challenge given me? It has provided me with a profound sense of achievement, a renewed focus, and developed a strong habit that has become so deeply ingrained that I now feel a twinge of guilt if I don’t ride my bike at least once a day. I take very little time off my bike these days, and this is a clear reflection of the CW 5000-mile(8047km) challenge, which has instilled and upgraded a different mindset regarding my overall recovery and training practices. As the years have progressed, I find that completing this challenge has become easier for me, and I often choose to exceed the set distance, viewing this as an excellent foundation for base training. This approach is now setting me up for other cycling challenges I have planned for 2025 and beyond, further enhancing my readiness for what lies ahead.
At the end of the day it is ultimately the carrot at the end of the stick that keeps you going and the tricky part is what form this carrot will take on for you and how it will motivate you to complete this challenge so that you can have that sense of achievement while you stand sweat ridden next to your trusty steed( the bike) with your cape flowing in the wind of your fan on full blast graciously accepting the hordes of applause form thousands of people for completing the challenge in your little wee shed in the garden.
I have added the link of the CW 5000mile challenge below where you will find all the necessary info about the challenge as well as tips and advice on how to complete the challenge. Cycling Weekly in general is a great website for cyclists with news and advice about cycling, cycling products and good sound reviews, I challenge anyone to give this challenge a go and unlock a path that might lead you to bigger challenges in the future.
https://www.cyclingweekly.com/cw5000
Keep going don’t stop!
