The Inspiration and Motivation

I think its fair to say that the recent bashing the rest of the world got from us GBR's at the Olympics this year has got a fair amount to do with my sudden change and full whole hearted effort into becoming and professional cyclist, however there is a lot more than just a few blinging medals that have spurred me on.

Its quite difficult to start because there are few moments, parts and people in my life that all have a very important part to my motivation.

School
The backing I got from the school I used to work at when I handed in my resignation stating that I wished to become a professional cyclists was outstanding!!
I was only at the school for a very short while but the bond that I had created with the teachers and students was unreal. I was only there for around six months and not actually realising the impact I had made on the school was to such a great effect. I have made many friends whilst working there, some I shall never forget. My last day there I found ridiculously and pretty much embarrassingly emotional. It was truly overwhelming the support those guys gave me. I left with lots on sentimental gifts, t-shirts, helmets, lube :P, cards and also a whole topic book signed by pretty much the entire school wishing me luck on success and journey into becoming a professional. A DVD was also made and it still fills me with emotion to this day if I watch it.

With the recent crappy weather we have had, whilst out training and suffering from seriously numb extremities and really tired legs I remember the smiles, warm hugs and laughter from my last day and it fills me with a warm feeling and gets me through to low times.

Name and Shame.
Obviously my Mum and Dad are very proud of what I have achieved so far, they have to be, I am an offspring of there's after all.
When I told them I am going to become a professional cyclists they could see the passion and commitment in my eyes that I wanted this to happen. There was no argument about it. Which I funny because in our family we argue about pretty much everything. This was very re-assuring as I felt they had the same passion for wanting me to become professional.

My Current employer at Fungi Fitness, Chris is also a key figure in my inspiration. He took me on  as a work experience student when I was 14, nearly 10 years ago. I trained at the gym ever since to help me with my ice and inline hockey which I was playing at the time. He helped me with my training which I am very grateful for. Probably my first role model I looked upon. I have great respect for the man. The following years passed and just as I was about to start university he gave me a job at the gym which was fantastic. Earning whilst I studied, trained hard and succeeded in my sporting endevours. There was a great group of us down there and still is, We did events such as the Tough Guy which was a brutal race and I actually ended up doing alright in it. I never looked at running and strong point.
After this he got me to enter a few triathlons with his son Matt who is a couple of years younger and at this present moment in time training at Loughborough uni with the GB elite Tri squad. (his commitment to triathlon was ever so slightly stronger than mine :/). So for the next couple of years whilst studying I trained for triathlons. This was where I found my strength in cycling.

I wont bore you with triathlon stories, because somewhere out there is always another triathlete that has a better one. But I was always told I should take my cycling into the unknown and start racing. Bike racing. No swimming. and definitely none of that running bollocks.

The Famous Names
There are of course the famous name in sport that I look upon as role models. There are loads so just going to reel off the household name now;

Wiggo- of course, fellow mod and the best rider cycling has had in a long while,
Cavendish- like Wiggo great british rider and known for his open mindedness and freedom of speech.
Alex Dowsett- not many will know him but he used to ride for the club I am at now and is a top guy.
That's enough of that back to me.

I want to be able to create a life for myself and girlfriend Paula. It is hard for us at the moment with me living in Essex and herself in Suffolk. Before I started my journey into becoming a pro we saw each other every weekend and it was great. Now the journey has begun we are not able to see each other as often as we both would like, its difficult, really difficult. I am racing pretty much every weekend which means seeing her now is a heck of a lot shorter. Paula owns a horse too which also takes a great deal of effort to look after too. She is fully supportive of what I am doing and only wishes me to become professional even quicker so that we can buy a home and create a family. We both know that this will take time and we also know that we are perfectly right for each other. We miss each other dearly when we are apart and I change this pain into energy whilst I train and compete to succeed into becoming the professional I aspire to be.