My biggest learnings
Post race reflection - Honningsvag -Norway
The most frequent question I've been asked since life has almost returned to normal is what my biggest learning from Northcape4000 was.
To be honest, I still don't know the answer. What I do know is that both the body and mind have limitless potential. We won't know what we're truly capable of unless we push ourselves to the limit. This is an ongoing process; it won't happen overnight.
Experiences like this also humble you, force you to learn more about yourself, and, more importantly, make you more vulnerable than ever.
Reflecting on the process and what I would do differently, two other things come to mind.
Expect the unexpected
Riding for almost six days in terrible weather and only having a rain jacket really showed me how important it is to be prepared. If I'd had other gear, like rain pants and shoe covers, it would've been way more comfortable and I wouldn't have been so soaked the whole time. So, the big takeaway is to always be ready for bad weather and pack the right gear.
2. Space Management - make sure we're using our space well and to have an empty space.
Although I tried to manage the space I had, it was very limited, and I could have done better in this area. To address this, I will either add two small pannier bags to the rear or carry a small backpack. Knowing myself, I will likely choose the pannier bags. My winter jacket and rain trousers were always in the cockpit, which was inconvenient and left me with little space to carry food supplies when I stopped for refills.
Now, let’s take a look at what worked for me?
I understood my nature and adapted my pace accordingly. I encountered people who were faster than me and felt tempted to keep up, but I stuck to my own plan and pace. I knew what worked for me and what would drain me. There were days I rode 120KM and days I rode 290+KM. The major factor was the availability of refill stations; after 120K, there were none for the next 180 or 200KM. This meant riding 300K straight and reaching the destination at 1am or 2am, which led to challenges like hotel availability and sleep deprivation. This is something to improve and train for in future training sessions.
There are two sides to the coin. I could have finished the race one day earlier, but the breaks I took helped me manage my fatigue and finish effectively. My only goal was to finish the race successfully within the cut-off time, which I achieved. There is always room for improvement, and Niel and I will have a complete post-race review to discuss areas for improvement and next steps.
Northcape - finish line
I recently came across a quote that I'd like to share as a closing thought.
“The greatest error of a man is to think that he is weak by nature, evil by nature. Every man is divine and strong in his real nature. What are weak and evil are his habits, his desire and thoughts, but not himself.”
- Sri Ramana Maharshi