Only the hottest day of the year!

Candy with boys in the bike trailer

So what did you do on the hottest day of the year thus far?

With the temperature 32 degrees and glorious sunshine, but humid, I thought it just about right to do some resistance training for Ride India in just 89 days time!

Chris' office in the forestSo, after dropping Josh and Joel off at school this morning, Chris, Matty, Danny and I, loaded up the car and headed off to Bedgebury Pinetum for the morning. Well actually, Chris took his office (by that I mean his laptop) to the forest, to do some last few editing bits on his almost-ready-for-you-to-read book (see details here chrisgoodchild.co.uk) and I took the boys for a ride for a bit of a change of scenery and terrain.

Up until today all my cycling has been done on tarred roads on a lightweight road bike. Today, I took two little boys weighing a combined weight of about 40kg, a heavy downhill mountain bike, and a bike trailer, out on dirt roads. Let’s just say I don’t think I’ll do that again for FUN any time soon. Wow, that was tough going.

Flat’s were fine, down-hills a breeze, but up-hills were nigh impossible at times, as in order to get enough power I had to stand on the pedals, but that meant I lost traction on the back wheel. It was just slipping and all my effort got me nowhere fast.

I have no idea how far we cycled. Although it only took me about an hour to complete the trail, I was more tired than after I’d conquered the 100km a few weeks ago!

Ultimately though, this whole thing isn’t about me, it isn’t about me cycling short distances or cycling long distances. It’s about giving hope to individuals that you and I will probably never get to meet. Thank you so much to those of you that have given so generously, and to those who have helped to spread the word about both charities we are cycling for.

If you haven’t yet donated and would like to, please click here to make a secure payment at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/CandyG, and as always, please help spread the word by forwarding to friends and family.

If you want to donate as a business, I’m happy to provide you with a confirmation of receipt.

Thanks for your support!
Candy.

Focus on Bereaved Parent Support

BPS Logo

Rather than bore you with details of the time I’ve spent on my bike recently (I’ve not done anything as exciting as the 100km) I thought it would be good to highlight Care for the Family‘s Bereaved Parent Support – one of the two charities that I’m supporting by riding 550km across India later this year.

Losing a child, whether stillborn, as an adult or somewhere in between, is a heartbreaking ordeal. One that I know nothing about. However Care for the Family’s BPS team have all experienced this tragedy and they help other grieving parents find hope, healing, peace and a way forward for their lives.

There are a number of ways BPS helps grieving parents:

  • Helpful and practical articles about living without a son or daughter.
  • Telephone befriending by someone who’s walking a similar path.
  • Bereaved parent support days.
  • Bereaved parent support weekends away.
  • Resources aimed at helping people help bereaved parents

Click here to read more on the Bereaved Parents Support pages of the Care for the Family website.

Don’t forget, you can make your donation securely at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/CandyG and if you are a UK taxpayer, please remember to gift aid it too.

Blessings,
Candy.

106 days to go!

Well,it was over a month ago that I last posted about my progress. I’d hoped to do so a bit more frequently, but looking after four small boys, training, working part time and general day to day chores has not left me with a lot of spare time.

Cycling-selfie
Mark, Linda and me
At 155 days to go I posted about doing my longest ever cycle ride; 40km. I’m pleased to say that last Saturday I conquered 100km! Woohoo! A few wrong turns and a little extra on the end tipped our 99.7km planned route over the 100. A massive thank you to Mark and Linda for joining me on the adventure. I don’t think I would have attempted that distance solo.

The majority of the ride was lovely and flat, and that definitely made it more manageable.

Photo-stop at Dymchurch
Photo-stop at Dymchurch

We set off in beautiful sunshine, and for the most part it stayed that way (I even ended up with a watch tan and panda eyes). It wasn’t all glorious though. At the end of the ride the wind picked up, bringing in a weather front and we finished off in a torrential downpour, with a majestic scene of dark clouds thunder and lightning closing in on us.

I think the most challenging part for me was actually that at about the halfway mark my eyes started itching, and I hadn’t taken my eye drops with me. So for the last 50km I was plagued with itchy, scratchy,  sore, streaming hayfever eyes.
Note to self: take eye drops to India!

old building in the fields
What a beautiful view

A huge thank you to all who have sponsored me so far, I really really appreciate it. Together we can make a difference! Together we can give the gift of hope!

Candy at the end of the ride
A celebratory drink at the end of my first ever 100km cycle ride.
I’m still a long way off my target though, so if you are able to sponsor me, no matter how small amount, please do – every little helps.

You can make your donation securely  at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/CandyG and if you are a UK taxpayer, please remember to gift aid it too.

Blessings,
Candy.

Going for 100

So here’s the plan – next week I’ll be doing my first ever 100km cycle ride, with Mark and Linda joining me for moral support. I’ve mapped out the route. you can view it here.

Ok, it’s only 99.7km but I’m sure we’ll make up the extra 300m somewhere fairly easily.