My Invisible Peloton and Team Car
If you haven’t read Jenny Graham’s book Coffee First Then the World, you should. Jenny is something of a local legend in the highlands, but a few years ago she became a Global cycling legend when she set a new world record as the fastest woman to cycle round the world.
During her trip, one of the things that kept her going was her Invisible Peloton. People who were important to her that she visualised riding with her for the tough bits of her 124 day expedition.
I've got to know Jenny a wee bit in recent times and consider myself lucky to call her a pal. She completed Celtman last year, and having bailed out of my own attempt, I watched her finish in characteristic Jenny style... with the biggest grin on her face and the most joy you could imagine after powering herself around the 250km course.
And so that became my goal for Celtman: Finish With Joy.
Speaking with Jenny briefly a few days ago got me thinking. We're a week away now: who will be in my invisible peloton?
On race day, in one week's time, I'll have the spirit of all of the people who have been important to me in my Celtman journey. It's been three years now since I first started considering the idea of actually giving it a go: first the Solo Point Five, and then Celtman itself.
My Invisible Peloton:
Up front, the work horse taking the wind for me over the last year would be Alan Cardwell, arguably the best and most experienced XTri coach out there. Over the last year, Alan has been sensitive, takes-no-shit-stubborn, funny, committed, adaptable and just, basically brilliant. He's opened my eyes to what XTri really means and requires, and changed the way I view myself. Without him, I simply wouldn't be in the shape I am now, ready to stand on that start line. And frankly, he wouldn't allow anyone else to be up the front.
Behind Alan, Mark Brown and Kate Rowley. Mark (with Riof along for the ride) - it goes without saying - has been there through this whole journey, supporting, accompanying, and generally putting up with the mountain of stuff that comes along with training for an event like this. Since Kate and I met the year I did the Celtman Solo Point Five, she has been a pillar of support, advice, encouragement and motivation. On race day itself Kate and Mark will be my support crew, and I couldn't be more grateful.
Behind them, I'll have a little rotating gang of amazing invisible riders who have all played significant parts in my Celtman journey:
Laura Ballantyne, completing the Solo Point Five the same year as me, and Celtman last year, sharing the training journey with me and cheering each other on. Ross Creber and Claire Weller, showing me just how fast it is possible to be, whilst also being wonderful, approachable and inspiring people, training through full time jobs and family commitments. Mike Lawrence and Paul Soltys, Claire Ford and David Fook, and Ann McKinlay, all of whom I've shared bike sessions with online and in person, and who have supported and encouraged me while I've trained. Lee Staples, an inspiration and font of knowledge who made me believe I could get faster at riding my bike in the first place. And last but maybe most importantly in this final little group, Jenny Graham. I'll be sitting on her wheel in the headwind.
But of course not everyone involved in this journey rides a bike, does triathlon, or is even interested in doing so. So I'm also going to have a team car along for the ride, with a few important people in it.
Celtman is very much a team event: on the day, you're not allowed to do it without a support crew. But in common with all events of this nature, the preparation, the training, and all of the stuff that goes with being able to do something like this, means the team is much bigger than even just the crew on the day. All of my Invisible Peloton and Team Car (and probably a few more besides) - all of You - will be travelling round the course with me in spirit - and I couldn't have done any of this without you.
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