This year I am striving to complete two bikepacking races. These are races done on a mountain bike with no support. One must carry all the food, water, camping gear, and extra clothing that one needs. The first is the Allegheny Mountains Loop, a 400-mile route in Virginia that I plan to do in late May. If that goes well, in July I will attempt the Tour Divide, a 2,700-mile mountain bike race that goes along the Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico. It is a big goal and will take a lot of time and effort just to get to the start line. The race is very difficult. I have doubts and worries. But I’m going to give it everything I’ve got.
Come with me on this journey. What have you been dreaming about doing? It could be an athletic event or an artistic activity, but whatever it is, it should be something bigger and tougher than you’ve taken on before. Something that will stretch you and will require planning and a lot of work and sacrifice.
If you’ve never done something like this you can use the outline below to get started.
1.) Choose a project.
It should be something big, but something attainable within a four to six month period. Be ambitious, but be reasonable too. For example, if you’ve never ridden a bike before, then taking on something like the Tour Divide might be a bit much. A more reasonable goal that will still be tough might be a twelve-hour mountain bike race. Or, if you want to write fiction but you’ve never even written a short story, then writing a 900-page novel might be over the top. Perhaps the goal of finishing several short stories would be more appropriate. Your project can be collaborative, so if you’re working with a group like a musical ensemble or a team, then find something that will be a reach for everyone.
Be careful about choosing goals that are purely number-based or victory-based. (For example, “I’m going to win the race,” or “I’m going to get a perfect score on the big test.”) When choosing a big project it’s best to have some room for varying results as there are a lot of things beyond your control that can affect the outcome. And when tackling big projects it’s best to stay focused on the process, not the product. It is the discipline of working hard and striving that is most important.
2.) Find a mentor.
Nothing big can be accomplished alone. A good mentor is important, no matter how old you are. I have a whole bunch of coaches and experienced athletes helping me prepare for this race. You will need a mentor to keep you on track and help you stay organized. Perhaps start with one of your teachers or parents or siblings. Look for someone who is knowledgeable about the subject, but also positive and encouraging. You need to be around positive energy when you’re going for something big.
3.) Get organized.
To accomplish a big goal you need to organize your preparation. I have a fairly detailed training plan that specifies the miles I need to cover each week, plus instructions for learning how to fix my bike, nutrition guidelines, and information about when to get various other pieces of equipment. The plan isn’t set in stone. I make frequent changes to the plan depending on how things go, but it is there to guide me.
Once you’ve chosen a project and found a mentor to help you, then you can start making your plan. Write it down. Post it up somewhere visible. And make space on it so that you can make notes detailing your progress. Be prepared to make changes as you progress. See my training plan for an example. I also have a few templates you can download and adjust however you need to for your project.
4.) Integrate.
Everything is connected. How can you connect this big project with the other areas of your life? If you’re attempting a big artistic project, how do you integrate that with athletics and academics?
5.) Stay in touch.
Feel free to post on this website as much as you want with information about how your project is going. Share your struggles and victories with this community of people trying to push beyond their limits to reach new goals.
