After completing the UK End2End Lands End to John O'Groats Cycle challenge, James Jones, from Robinsons of Bawtry writes:
So, my ride is over, 9 of the hardest and most physically painful days in my life so far.
An average day consisted of being awake by 5.30am, packing down the campsite, having breakfast and then being out on the bike from 7am until around 4pm or 5pm, doing up to 125 miles per day for 9 consecutive days.
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Just before setting off from Lands End
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Arriving in Wales
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Standing in a Welsh Valley in front of an old Abbey
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Quick facts from James' Garmin bike computer:
- Total distance cycled : 968 miles
- Total time on bike : 65.39 hours
- Top speed : 45.8mph
- Avg speed over whole ride : 14.4mph
- Total elevation gain : 48,169ft
- Calories burnt : 61,610 cals
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During the ride my knees, lower back, upper back, shoulders, ankles, quads, calves, arms, hand, fingers, neck all started to ache like I've never felt before, I ended up having to take pain killers and anti-inflammatory tablets throughout the final 4 days just to be able to keep going.
But, whenever I felt like giving up cause it hurt too much I kept thinking about Joshua Rose and the other children like him that aren't given the choice, that don't understand and can't explain or communicate the pain they feel from the illnesses and treatments they must undergo.
Joshua was my friends' Sam and Shaun Roses' son, at 7 months old Josh was diagnosed with a rare form of Leukaemia, he fought it for 10 months undergoing various treatments but in the end it got the better of him, he spent his final days in Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice.
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Arriving in Scotland
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A Scottish Loch
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They don't volunteer for an illness and no one can explain to them why they're feeling constant pain. It's just put upon them and the trauma they and their families must go through is devastating and heart wrenching.
Today, Thursday 7th June 2012, is one year since Joshua died, having fought for 10 months Joshua spent the final days of his 17 month life with his family in Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice.
If you haven't already please donate to support families that are in the most awful of situations, the work that Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice do is so important yet they rely on donations to keep going.
http://www.justgiving.com/jj-end-2-end
At the finish in John O'Groats
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