A little late I admit, but here is what I have decided I would like to accomplish during 2014. So not exactly New Year’s Resolutions as such, but more targets really.

I first should reflect on what happened during 2013. I said two things back in my post when I came back from Thailand just over a year ago, and they were to try to do 3,000 miles on my bike, and to do complete 6 mountain summits:

https://aquavista.me/2013/01/02/day-9-khao-lak-to-surin-beach-phuket/

Well I can tell you that in terms of my bike, I overachieved on my goal. I managed 3,277 miles last year in fact, and it was a very memorable year, culminating in the Prudential Ride 100 in August finishing on the Mall in front of Buckingham Place.

Too many jelly babies on the way round perhaps?

I finished, for the record, in a time of 5hrs 18mins for the 100 miles, and I’d love to be able to take part in the event again, although I suspect it will be horribly oversubscribed. Last year 20,000 people took part, and the rumours are that over 100,000 people have applied for the same number of places this summer, so we will see. Here is me getting my medal at the end too:

And displaying quite proudly my finisher’s medal 🙂

I also completed around 8 other Sportives ranging from about 60-85 miles, and so all in all a great year on the road. My new Canyon bike (bought at the end of 2012, but ridden for the first time this year) flatters me for sure. It has now been put away for the winter, but I have bought myself another, slightly less ‘shiny’ Canyon bike for the winter months. Any excuse I know 🙂

Now as far as the hills were concerned, I can only call 2013 a total disaster. Of my proposed 6 mountain summits I completed none. I probably walked a total of 10 miles in the whole year, and as far as I can recall, I actually went out twice for any type of walk. My trip to Aconcagua, upon which all my hopes rested, was of course cancelled for the reasons outlined in my last post, but that didn’t excuse my abject lack of trying. I did really really want to do Mont Blanc (and still do), but you have to put time and effort into these things, and I just didn’t. So this year, things have to change……..

2014

So my goals then for 2014 are as follows:

Bike: I need to complete as many miles as I did in 2013 (3,277). To aim for much more is not going to be achievable, and in any case, this is a year to right the wrongs of the last one in terms of mountains, as I will set out below.

I have already in fact signed up for 10 Sportives, ranging from about 70 miles to 118 miles. The best of these will undoubtedly be the “Tour De Yorkshire” in July. At this, I get to ride a bona fide stage of the Tour de France, which of course this year starts in Yorkshire. I get to do the first stage (the so called ‘Grand Depart”) a week after it has taken place, and I can’t wait. I have never ridden 118 miles in a day before, so just completing it will be a big bonus for me, outside of the euphoria that surrounds the whole thing.

My bike riding will also be a big factor in terms of endurance training for the mountains.

Bike goal: 3,278 miles. Subsidiary goal – to do the Prudential Ride London in less than 5 hours (this might be beyond my physical means as it would mean an average of >20mph over 100 miles, but a boy (or an old man!) has to dream).

Mountains:

The aim is to do two of the Seven Summits. I have singed up for Elbrus in August, and barring disasters will sign up for Aconcagua at the end of the year too. I don’t think I can realistically say I will do much more than that (!), as it will take all of my time to train and be ready for them, on top of a few bike rides here and there. I do have a bit of a busy day job too 🙂 I will have to be very fit for both mountain trips, as both involve a huge amount of load carrying, the likes of which I have never done before, and the latter involves trying to get to the somewhat alien and dizzy height of 23,000 feet.

Subsidiary goal: To do the 3 Peaks: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Three_Peaks_Challenge

I’ve always wanted to do this, but have just never had the outlet, or a group of people who wanted to do it with me. But then I’ve never really tried asking either, so back to the above “you have to put time and effort into these things….”.

If anyone out there therefore has a 3 Peaks adventure planned, then you may just be helping me out, that’s all I’m saying 🙂

Happy New Year everyone, and I hope it is a great one for you, whatever (big or small) adventures you have planned.