Having turned 50 in February and with the lock down rules in place preventing a big party, I wanted to do something memorable to celebrate my half century. 

With so much change, restriction and in many cases isolation caused by the pandemic, a significant amount of people have suffered with their mental health.   This illness can remain unnoticed to the outside world but has a massive impact on those people who suffer with this. 

Having seen the impact and damage that this illness can cause and also the complete lack of support, I wanted to make a difference, so I set myself a challenge to bike the equivalent of 50 marathons on a spin bike over 50 consecutive days aged 50.  The 50 fifty Fifty spin bike birthday challenge was created.

I completed this challenge on the 10^th April and some of my so called friends encouraged me to keep going.  They said if I got to the equivalent of 107 marathons that would see me complete 2,800 miles which would take me from the East Coast to the West Coast of the United States.

I completed this on Sunday 6^th June.  A total of £3,245 has been raised and will be split between Mind, The Samaritans, Rutland House Counselling and Psychotherapy, and Action for Aspergers.

Reflecting on what the last 107 days taught me, five things stand out.

1. You can achieve far more than you expect. 
   
2. Especially, if you link that goal to a bigger purpose.  The bigger purpose for me was that I was looking to raise money and help other people who are less fortunate than myself.
   
3. It’s the day to day activities (habits) that help you achieve your goal.  It can be incredibly hard work, but put in the work, grind out the miles even when you don’t feel like it.  At times I didn’t feel like spinning, but I knew if I let it slip by just one day, then I would have had to make the distance up on another day and that would make the challenge significantly more difficult.
   
4. Habits are incredibly powerful and therefore making the habit as easy as possible to do, increases your chances of success.  Having a regular time, set aside to complete the ride and also having my cycling kit easy to hand, made the challenge easier.
   
5. The power of support.  People have been incredibly generous and have supported me through this challenge and a big thank you to everyone that have supported and donated.  
   
   June 21