Could you tell me a time you felt overwhelmed?

I regularly and always put a huge amount of expectation on myself with the different challenges I set myself day to day and even week to week. In the start of 2020, I was made redundant from a job which, to be frank I wasn't particularly enjoying and really wasn't too sure what way to turn or what actually to do. 2020 was a tough year for so many. Not just me with everything going on.

I love cycling. For me it's a huge escapism, a way to focus and train. A way to batter my body and truly test my limits. I used to work in Architecture and basically quit all of that about 6 years ago now as I could feel myself spiralling downwards negatively, in an incredibly volatile way. I needed to change my life to be able to survive.

After being made redundant, I knew I just wanted to find a way to ride my bike. To go and explore (which I was not so able to do) and try to inspire others to take on their own challenges for worthy causes. I managed to do some challenges thankfully which I'm so proud of how much they have raised for charity.

Being overwhelmed. It's something I struggle with often. Feeling like I'm in too deep, feeling like I'm continually judged for what I'm doing and trying to do. I'm not the most normal cyclist, I'm tall, have a bit of a tummy and struggle massively with my own self image and how others perceive me too.

Sometimes you just have to step back, take a breath and go for a little spin.