Mind over matter!!!

[LunaB]

I am 55 years old, about 22 pounds overweight, and got my racing bike (a Cannondale) last autumn. Before that I had done no cycling and no other strenous sport. At the same time I signed up for a famous Swedish sportive, Vätternrundan, 300 kilometers (187 miles) around the lake Vättern. I hadn´t trained much this spring, due to work and bad weather, and the race turned out to be the worst in history, with horrible weather - cold and rain and 25% of the participants quitting due to cold and misery.
But - I made it!!! I started cycling at 02.54 in the morning and after some miserable stops, shaking with cold, I finished in Motala at 22.43 the next night, totally euforic! 19 hours and 47 minutes, out of which probably 14 hours cycling, and I was the happiest person of all 23 000 (!!!) starting. I didn´t do it with fitness or physical strength, but with my mind.
It just goes to show - if I could do it, we all can! The sky is the limit -I am still overweight, not in a very good shape, and older than most cyclists - but I did it. Not fast, not in great style - but I did it, and I am SO happy!!!!!