LANDS END TO JOHN O' GROATS

1,600km | 4 Days | 2018

It was only a matter of time before the group decided to set their eyes upon a challenge so great, that it not only tested the men’s will and resolve but demanded the best of their hearts and courage. Such a challenge was the 1600km 4-day cycling event, starting off at Lands End, England and ending in John O’Groats, Scotland, which was aptly coined ‘LEJOG’.

The dynamics of this feat were unlike any other the group had undertaken so far. This cycle would take place on uncharted territory, a land of unknown faces and a different culture than that of the familiar hometown Irish. Many months of planning were dedicated towards the major and the minor, from establishing the route the group would cycle on, to how they would be fed and how often, where to stop, where they would sleep, who would answer their every beck and call, support them and keep their spirits high in such a challenging environment. A support group would be needed working ahead of the cyclists preparing meals at designated stops, and another one would be needed to follow the cyclists in case of injury, fatigue or bike problems. This group consisted of Aidan Fallon, Ryan Prendergast, Seamus McDonagh, Brendan Doyle, Elizabeth Conlon as well as her father from Bohola and cousin from London, both named Martin Conlon, which proved to be source of much amusement and confusion during the trip. The amounts raised from this venture would be donated to Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital in Crumlin, Western Care and for the North-West Simon Community.

In order to complete the journey in the set time of 4-days, the group would have to cycle 400km per day. There would be no comforts in this Spartan trial, the group would spend their few sleeping hours in tents on the side of the road each night, never ceasing their exposure to the weather, which was often unfavourable.

During the cycle, the days began at 4:00am, with the support crew waking the cyclists and preparing breakfast, snacks, bikes, first-aid gear, cycling gear and the day’s route. The cyclists would then take off and begin their days journey, while a support crew would collect up the remaining tents and gear and follow the men. After every 75km or so, or three hours of cycling, the group would stop off the road and rest for no more than a strict 15 minutes, have something small yet superbly nourishing to eat prepared by Martin Conlon, fill up the water bottles and take off again. This act of chasing and catching up would be repeated throughout the whole day, until the 400km mark was reached, where the exhausted group could then finally rest, only to start again in a few hours. Everyone involved was committing to a 20-hour day, fleeting moments of rest were grabbed at every opportune moment.

This expedition was demanding not only on the cyclists, but also on the group supporting them. As the group journeyed further North to John O’Groats, the smooth and level roads of England slowly turned into the more taxing and severe hills and mountains of Scotland. The group faced into some horrible weather on day 3 – hours of cold, wind, rain, hailstones etc. but instead of shying away from the challenge however, the group focused on the objective

at hand. Their resolve and commitment only grew stronger despite the long hours, dedication never wavered, and inspiration burned bright within everyone.

Word soon began to spread far and wide about the group of Irish men cycling the length of England in 4-days. Social media quickly began to whirl with tributes to the men on their bikes, with people from all around the world paying respect to what they were trying to achieve through Facebook and Twitter. Donations started to follow suit on an online GoFundMe website, generosity had been inspired as people began to realise that something very special was taking place and that by contributing any amount of money to this worthy cause, they could be apart of this journey too.

With nothing less than a titanic effort, the group found themselves on the final day for the last stretch to the finish line. At this point, every hour was a struggle against the ever- tightening grip of fatigue. The group had fell into an almost sleep-like state of repetition, eat, sleep, cycle, repeat. Silence soon fell upon them as each person began their own internal battle of wills, the rhythmic heavy breathing of exhausted men fuelled by quiet desperation echoed into the long hours of the final push. A memorable effort was made by none other than the ferocious Gerry Boots, who at one point in the final day lay on the side of the road in a state of complete exhaustion. His dedication to the challenge and his constant refusal to accept defeat elevated the hearts of many and emboldened the group to keep going.

On a dull and overcast evening in the North East of Scotland, four days after embarking from Land’s End in the South East of England, the group of men cycled side-by-side at a steady pace as they slowly entered the village of John O’Groats together. What seemed to be an unending cycle of physical and psychological torment had culminated in a matter of moments, there was laughter and champagne, tears and embraces, photographs and smiles. The long-awaited journey home to loving friends and family had begun.

A total of €22,672 had been raised for the collective charities – Western Care, Northwest Simon Community and Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital in Crumlin.