Ships log: "Character Building and the Dawn of a Dubious Ambition"

It began, as many regrettable human endeavours do, with an innocuous conversation and an ill-timed sense of optimism. Years ago, a school friend had completed Chase the Sun—200 miles of relentless pedalling in a valiant attempt to outpace the Earth’s rotation. Intriguing? Certainly. Practical? Not so much. At the time, I was somewhat preoccupied with the minor responsibility of keeping a new-born human alive. Then, of course, the world shut down for a while. Convenient excuses all around.

But time passed, memories faded, and the human brain—never one to learn from history—once again began seeking challenges. Enter Boxing Day 2024: a bleak, midwinter ride through conditions best described as “character-building.” Midway through, I found myself at a coffee stop, chatting with a fellow cyclist. I mentioned the Chase the Sun event in what I foolishly believed to be a casual, throwaway remark. And that, dear reader, was my first mistake.

Because then the thought took hold. Why not give it a go?

Of course, reality had a few logistical hurdles to throw at me. Spaces for the event were disappearing fast, and securing accommodation for the night before was another delightful puzzle. But in the end, I signed up. Partly for the challenge, partly for something to look forward to—since failing to get Glastonbury tickets meant I needed a new and equally exhausting way to suffer.

And so, with my fate sealed, all that remained was the small matter of actually training for it. Which, I suspect, will be an ongoing exercise in regret, stubbornness, and an alarming intake of carbohydrates.

Simple right?