So every year (since 2010) Rapha have challenge riders all over the world to complete 500km from Christmas Eve to New Years Eve! 8 days, 500km sounds easy enough! You can read about my experience in 2016 here.
So here is a photo recount of my 2017 experience:
Day 1 – Ride 1 – 127km/500km
This was a roll south from home toward Jacobs Well through the cane fields, I was invited to join the Sharkies on this ride and it was a real hoot! We absolutely ‘CANED’ this ride!
Day 2 – Christmas Day – 127km/500km – No riding today is all about family time, cause SANTA came to visit!
Day 3 – Boxing Day – Ride 2 – 228km/500km – Cognoscenti rides again! These guys are responsible for my active lifestyle now. They got me back riding a bike in 2010 after years of inactivity! They helped inspire me from getting back into a super sprint triathlon all the way through to Ironman! This is becoming a bit of a traditional, annual ride, I hope we can stick to the tradition!
#festive500, day 3 – Ride 2 – 228/500km
Day 4 – 27/12/17 – 228km/500km – No riding for me today, as I had my coaching hat on and had a blast putting the squad through a 2km swim followed by a 5km run session!
Day 5 – 28/12/17 – 228km/500km – No riding for me today, as I had my coaching hat on and put the squad through a 3.2km swim set! We had a range of abilities and ages & I thrived on tailoring the session to each and everyone’s abilities! We finished the session with a fun filled multi age (& ability) relay race!
Day 6 – 29/12/17 – 331km/500km – this was an early morning loop with a few adults from the squad, followed by a short solo roll to bank the 100km! I also took the kids to see a movie ‘Coco‘ by Disney Pixar! They also spent the rest of the day shopping spending their hard earned pocket money!
#festive500, day 6 – Ride 3 – 331/500km
Creeping toward the total!
Day 7 – 30/12/17 – 432km/500km – Today was a roll either side of parkrun! We had a group of about 10 people meet up and bank 50km up to 60km before the run. I didn’t run, I chose to volunteer and encourage all the runners!
#festive500, day 7 – Ride 4 – 432/500km
Day 8 – New Years Eve – 31/12/17 – 547km/500km – It is finally done. 8 days, 5 rides and over 500km banked! Today was an epic club ride, where we invited the ‘draft legal’ juniors and all abilities to join us for a 50km loop! We then headed out in sticky hot humid weather to bank a second 50km taking the ride to a total century and for some well over, up to 120km!
#festive500, day 8 – Ride 5 – 547/500km
So my family have supported me again in my crazy attempts to complete these awesome challenges set by Rapha & Strava. The Festive 500 is definitely one of my favorites! This is the fourth time I have complete this challenge, the first time was way back in 2013, I did it again in 2014, 2016 but missed 2015!
It is always a challenge that tests the stamina, fortitude and mental strength. Backing up day after day is tough work, but the benefits are enormous! This set up 2018 really really well, with an epic base!
Stay tuned for my 2017 wrap up and a the plan heading into 2018!
If you’re not active at the moment & need some inspiration, follow me on Strava, Instagram and like my facebook page and let’s get back out there swim, bike or running. The biggest regret we can have in life is to not TRI!
Till next time build consistency, keep smiling and live to Tri!
SO, YOU WANT TO BE AN IRONMAN? 
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