What Goes Through The Mind Of A Long Distance Solo Endurance Athlete??

Well the title sounds good – don’t you think? I’ll drop the athlete bit thought – that gives an indication of speed which I definitely don’t do – I’ll leave that to the Mark Beaumont’s of this world (who is in North Dakota as I type this).

Can’t speak for anyone else but in my case the legs are turning, the wheels are spinning but I’m not necessarily thinking about anything, just enjoying the scenery I’m passing through. Of course when you are tired there is that mental conversation between brain and legs – “yes you can get to the top of that hill” / “yes you can do another 10 miles to get to the campsite tonight” / etc. And then every now and again my brain goes into over drive – yesterday was a perfect example (possibly fuelled by a large can of high energy drink). Sane brain and not so sane brain kicked in and I couldn’t shut them up and it went something like this – you’ll figure out which is sane brain and which is not so sane brain.

I think I’ll go to Australia next.

Why?

Cycle round the coast – do you think they have any lighthouses?

You’re 1/2 away across America and you’re tired and you want to go Australia!

I’m planning ahead.

How would you get the time of work?

I could retire!

What would your parents say?

Etc, etc

(And then it got really random)

I could learn to surf.

You can barely swim and have no coordination (I have to agree with this).

I could take more lessons

Both brains are now thinking of a much younger (much more alive in fact) toned and rugged Patrick Swayze in Point Break.

And so sane brain and not so sane brain carried on for a couple of hours.