As many of us are busy making preparations and plans for Christmas celebrations, Kajsa Tylen from Nottingham is counting down the remaining days of 2015 before undertaking an almighty challenge. Kajsa will be setting off on January 1st to attempt to break the current women's record for the furthest distance cycled in a year. This will mean cycling just over 85 miles a day for the entire year, through all weather conditions, to reach a total of over 31,069 miles.
Having heard about the planned record attempt, I spent some time reading about Kajsa and her plans on her website before getting in touch to see if we could chat a little more about the coming year. I was lucky enough to be able to spend some time talking with Kajsa before she sets off on her inspiring journey.
I firstly asked Kajsa about what inspired her to want to undertake such an epic challenge.
"I had read about Billie Fleming and what she had achieved," says Kajsa. "I was driving home from a friend's wedding, it was a six hour car journey and I kept thinking about it more and more. Once the seed was planted it was hard to shake off. I decided I just had to do it."
Billie Fleming was a long distance cyclist who, in 1938, cycled 29,603 miles on a three-speed road bike. Talking more about Billie and her achievement, Kajsa comments: "I like the fact that she would do a ride and then go and speak to women about what she was doing, about women's health. I don't know what it was like in those days for women, in terms of health and fitness."
Kajsa works full time as a business analyst, but will be taking a year out to make her record attempt. I wondered how she could fit in the training, knowing myself how hard it is to combine training alongside a full time job and life's other demands.
"I have been getting up at stupid o'clock, around 4:30 in the morning to be able to do 2-3 hours before work. My training is quite structured and I have a coach, Brian Steel, who has put a schedule together which includes rest too. I have had some discomfort in my quad muscle and so I'm trying to not aggravate it, but still train at the same time."
"There is so much else to prepare, not just the training, but for example where to go, camp sites to book. I have a caravan, which my mother who is retired will be driving. We will be together for the whole year! We get on really well though, so it will be fine."
The plan will be to keep returning to Nottingham, but to be touring around the UK and also other parts of Europe during the summer months. Kajsa's mother will be driving on ahead to then be met by Kajsa when she has ridden the miles for that day, although the plan will be sometimes to do two rides in a day.
The surprising thing with what Kajsa is planning to attempt is that she isn't directly asking for money to do this as a sponsored event, but instead is asking for people to donate their time and make a pledge. "I wanted to support a charity relating to health and fitness for adults," she explains. "When adults go out and make a commitment to get fit, others then look up to them and they become role models.
"There are so many great charities, but none which quite promoted what I wanted to achieve. I then thought about how if not donating money then how about donating sweat. When out on a bike ride I came up with the idea of a sweat pledge. The idea is that people pledge to take part in something they haven't before, so to run 5k - or anything - but just to be active."
Our conversation turns to triathlon. Kajsa plans to ride the cycling leg of the Challenge Roth triathlon in July, with two other friends undertaking the swim and run. I share my plans to enter my first sprint triathlon next year, to which Kajsa replies "It's very addictive!" I can understand how that could be, especially after becoming addicted myself to cycling in such a short space of time! She continues "I really enjoy doing triathlon, there is something special about it."
Finally, I ask if Kajsa thinks she can break Billie Fleming's longstanding record. "There will be doubters I'm sure," she says. "I have come too far now to change my mind about giving it a go. I genuinely think I can do it, and I wouldn't be attempting it if I didn't think I could. It makes sense to do it; if I don't do it now then I won't do it, and I will regret it."
It's clear that Kajsa has the drive and determination to make the best attempt possible, and I'm certain that she will give it her best shot. But whatever happens, it was inspiring to speak to such a modest person but with big ambition. I can only offer Kajsa my full support in breaking the record, and look forward to following her progress throughout 2016 as she gives it her best shot.
Anyone wanting to read more about Kajsa's year long challenge can do so on her website, www.ayearinthesaddle.com, where there will also be links to follow her GPS tracking as she attempts to break the women's year cycling record.
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