5 Weeks to go
Life feels very much on pause at the moment. The phrase, “I’ll do that after the NC,” has become a frequent mantra—and honestly, that’s just the reality right now. From addressing my broken hand (yes, I fell off my bike back in December and will need surgery) to spending time with friends and family, nearly everything is on hold, except for finishing up this year at university—which, if possible, I would gladly hit pause on too.
This week had a small personal milestone: I wore non-cycling shorts for the first time in what feels like forever. Scott sent me a great kit, and after years of dodging it, I finally embraced the “wear the damn shorts” mentality. Despite all my worries about how I might look or how others might perceive me, nothing catastrophic happened. The world kept turning, and I was fine.
On Friday, I traveled to Manchester—by train, no less. Public transport is something that triggers intense anxiety and sensory overload for me, but once again, the world didn’t end—I made it home. I hadn’t taken a train since running from Glasgow to Edinburgh, and you might be wondering why this made it into the weekly update. The reason is simple: this journey reflects the often unseen challenges I face as someone who is neurodivergent. Running 70 km on a Monday doesn’t faze me, but the thought of getting on a train is overwhelming.
The disruption to my routine, the uncertainty around eating while traveling, the sensory overload at the platform—the crowds, the noise, the complete lack of control—all build up. Even sitting on the train comes with its own anxieties: the thought of who occupied the seat before me, the noise in the carriage, feeling trapped. By the time I returned home, I was completely drained despite having “only” sat on a train. After a breakdown en route, switching trains, and enduring a three-hour delay, I had one of the latest Friday nights I’ve had in years—complete with a pounding headache, dirty, and feeling generally unwell.
But it was worth it. The trip allowed for some important physical testing, giving us the final tweaks needed for my strength program to ensure I’m as prepared as possible ahead of the NC500. It was also an opportunity to meet my coach in person for the first time—knowing that the next time we meet will be the day before the NC500 attempt.
The rest of the week has been fairly uneventful—just putting in the work.
I’ve been focusing heavily on my nutrition, sleep, and mental preparation outside of training. There will come a point during the run where it becomes entirely a mental challenge, and I’m doing everything I can now to prepare for that.
The next five weeks will be intense. I can already feel my mind shifting into focus mode, which is making university work increasingly difficult. But like everything else, I’m pushing through and remaining grateful for the opportunity to take on this challenge.
