On the 15th May Beth Woodward took part in a 40 mile cycle ride in the Cotswolds in aid of the British Heart Foundation. She admits that she has a hate-guilt relationship with exercise and in an effort to feel noble and good, signed up for the sponsored cycle ride. The idea was to have a goal to train towards. The reality was that she and her friend spent 45 minutes every Sunday meandering round the lanes and woods of Bedfordshire whilst chatting. It wasn’t really the intense training she had intended. Two days before the event she spent a pleasant hour on the exercise bike watching Breakfast at Tiffanys. Plan B was to use a combination of determination and chocolate to get round. She hadn’t expected it to be so hard. It was really hilly and her legs are still aching days later. The 1st 10 miles weren't so bad, but the next 5 miles was up mountains. There really are mountains in the Cotswolds - try cycling there and you will agree. On the 2nd huge hill Beth had to resort to tactic number 2 by stopping to eat chocolate and admire the view. After 20 miles, she saw with joy that there was a refreshment stop. Beth had ordered a ploughmans lunch and it was dinner time. Unfortunately she found out that she needed to cycle another 10 miles before she could enjoy it. Fortunately Mars Bars were on sale. 10 miles later it had begun to rain but finally she got lunch. Beth had been warned that the ascent back to the starting point near Cheltenham was a killer, so she pointed her head in the direction of the rain and cycled on, uphill, but expecting worse. As she and her friend approached the end they realised they must have climbed the last hill without realising it. Beth is not sure if that signifies she was finally getting fit, or was simply beyond her pain threshold. Beth’s highlights were a mile-long very steep descent which she took very fast, and eating mars bars at the end! And she is very pleased with her kitschy flowery panniers that exuded so much more style than lycra ever could.
Beth raised £265 for the British Heart Foundation.
