Having recently completed the Gibraltar Race 2021 , I sat down on my return to ponder why I do such absurd things to myself and my motorcycle . I ’ m not sure I found the answers but did discover many aspects of life .
Although the locations would suggest otherwise , these races are not a part of a holiday , they are not relaxing or easy . Returning home , I ’ m never refreshed , but broken , both mentally and physically .
As I don ’ t have a lot of money , a funny thing happens when I spend so much on something like this ; I end up taking it seriously , preparing properly and ensuring I really apply myself . Holidays don ’ t do this for me .
For the boring bit , I stripped down my 2015 XT660Z Tenere ( the precursor to the now wildly famous T7 ) to make sure she was ready for the task and packed plenty of spare parts and tools . For myself , I continued to run three times a week , managed two online Pilates classes a week , and for the final 4 weeks pre-race did two gym sessions with a personal trainer to be ready . That may seem over the top , but if you ’ ve ever done a race like this , you ’ ll know it ’ s not .
When I am on a race - I am simply away . There is no time or energy for emails , social media , or any of the daily modern day toss we find essential at home . Global news and events simply cease . All conscious worry and concerns about daily life disappear , and there becomes only one relentless focus : the track . Of course , this involves the state of the bike and my physical health , but only in service of the key overriding goal : the track .
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