Detours, presented by Albion ā”
When I first started working with the folks at Albion in August of 2023, I distinctly remember sharing my vision for Detours. At the time, it was just the seeds of an idea, but they immediately celebrated it and rallied behind it. Their belief in meāand in the showāwhen it was still just an idea gave me so much confidence and belief that this show was on to something.
Fast forward a year and a half, and Detours now has listeners tuning in from around the globe. While I speak directly to women, these stories resonate with everyone. I firmly believe the world is craving more stories told by women, for women, and Iām more motivated than ever about getting more of us on bikes, on adventures, and on start lines. Albionās support in this mission means more than I can put into words.
Thank you, Albion, for believing in me, in Detours, and in this bigger goal of more women on start lines. I canāt wait to see where we go (and the Detours we take) together š«¶š¼
HT550 was not at all what I imaginedā¦ but then again, when are these things ever?
So many questions swirled around in my brain going into this and I feel grateful to have found many of the answers. The punches came rolling thick and fast before the race even began. The most major: a mechanical failure within the first 30 minutes that saw me returning to the start. There was never a scenario where I didnāt go back out, but Iād be lying if I said I didnāt feel shame for being āthat personā having problems so early on.
24 hours behind everyone else, once I was back out there, there was no sense in fighting my way through, only surrendering. Letting the feelings and obstacles roll through just as the storm clouds did. Intense, all consuming, fleeting. Staying open, and curious; remaining soft when everything wanted me to harden. In surrendering, I found peace and freedom on the other side I didnāt know existed.
Half way around, a crash on a loose rocky descent saw me into a ditch, landing directly on my right leg, cutting my time short. Of course Iām sad to not have been able to carry on, but Iām proud, and oh so grateful.
They say people who do this kind of thing are either running from something or running to something. I think I fall into both camps. Running from the noise of emails, constant deliverables, people pleasing. Running toward myself, my dreams, some kind of clarity, and the person who might be waiting on the other side.
Without the stimulus of everyday life and the infinite things competing for my attention that feel so urgent, so important, so end-of-the-world in the moment but shrink with perspective, I found the version of myself Iāve been wanting to meet, waiting for me. So much crystallised out there that had been simmering quietly in the back of my mind. The kettle is screaming now, and thereās no going back to before.
I feel infinitely lucky for all the love and support and look forward to sharing more in time. For now, I need to rest and reset because t-5 days until Hellenic Mountain Race duties š«”
En route to Scotland for the start of HT550 and oh boy, lots of feels. Itās been two years since I last lined up for a race!
I remember writing my email to Alan to apply for a spot back in the fall, listing out all my āfailuresā (i.e. scratches) and thinking āoh god, what business do I have even trying?!ā ā¦but I fired off the email anyways. Itās been a long and ongoing process of undoing that narrative, and gotta practice what I preach!
A move across the world. Working multiple jobs. Life absolutely lifingā¦ itās simultaneously felt ridiculous to squeeze this in and also just the thing I need. Time to be alone out in the wilderness with my thoughts. To cry, to laugh, to learn something new about myself, to feel fully alive and immersed in brand new landscapes and the simplicity of eat, sleep, ride, repeat.
Over the past 7 months, Iāve found a new perspective on what it means to me to ārace.ā For the first time, I have no time goals, and while I donāt want to be out there forever, above all else, I want to move with purpose every day. I donāt want to rush, but rather to savour this āmeā time. To be present and kind to myself when the going gets tough. To focus on the small joys that every day will bring. Easier said than done, as Iām sure there will be many points that Iāll be wishing I was back in Tyndrum, but challenge accepted!
There are plenty more thoughts swirling around my mind, including a lot of nerves, but above all else I feel so dang proud of myself for giving this a shot and grateful for all the support from loved ones and partners to make this happen. Dotwatching kicks off at 8:30AM local time Saturday May 9th and you find tracking at the link in my bio.
š· @harvey.waller
Still lovin my weekly shit posting :)! Week 18 we polished off April and welcomed in a new month, annnndd was the last full week of ānormalā life before being engulfed by the ultra bubble
A lovely week 17! Not pictured were the multiple 12 hour work days and feeling positively zonked š but truly a lot of really gooooood stuff goin on and keeping the focus on that āØšøš
Week 16 āØ well that was a reaaaalllly big one š„²
It canāt be understated how good it feels to be in our own place. After 5 weeks living out of suitcases, applying to houses while doing 8 million other things, weāve arrived āhome.ā My whole body has relaxed, mindset completely shifted, basically a big ole sigh of reliefā¦ Itās crazy how much things can change week over week. It feels like our adventure is officially beginning and that feels really cool.
15/53 š¦ some things Iāve saved over the last few weeks to help navigate this season of change.
A month over seas has simultaneous gone by in the blink of an eye and felt like an eternity. Itās not all sunshine and rainbows but it is beautiful.
Lucky no 13 šāāļø
- finally made it to the knitting shop and they gave me this free tote bag and oh boyyyyyy am I thrilled about that
- Ringo doing werk and shining in the form of focaccia
- stevie is getting real brave
- moooooore stickers
- i will always try on my projects at every stage and could taste the finish line with one sleeve to go on this cardi!!!
- Jake has been an absolute hero being the point of contact for all our apartment/house viewings I.e. his phones been ringing non stop booking things in
- š«£
- suuuuuunnnn and wearing clothes that hid in my closet in Vancouver
- so happy there are still palm trees here and just canāt get over all the buildings
- the best way to get to know a place is by bike
- š mail with an early birthday present in the form of nannyās original artwork š„¹
- we have a finished project!!!!
- coming to the end of my strength block and feeling really emo about it because Iāve loved the process so much
- espresso setup has all come together ft some cutie cups Jake found left out in the neighborhood for free
- THRILLED to have my morning milky drink back on the program
- made it to the final ride of whatās been my biggest training week in a long time. Reaaallly didnāt want to get out for that last ride but we did it and Iām feeling proud of not just sitting on the sofa āØ
- starting to get the admin for ht550 rolling including finding a hole in my sleeping pad
Soooooo much in motion these days and pretty amazed at all weāve managed in just 3 short weeks š¤Æ
12/53! and our second full week in the UK
time is weird and nature heals all šāāļø
- soooooo many lovely sounds. Think I need to spend some hours just sitting in the forest with a mic
- I love all the ads over here
- TDF mugs making anywhere feel like home
- Stevie constantly creeping
- THIS š WAS HUGE
- a steal of a deal on marketplace (but now we wait 5-15 business days for a proper espresso grinder šāāļø) @_jakecullen_ my hero for the driving / marketplace scouting
- obsessed with all the colourful houses
- death by VO2 but also so satisfying????
- tbh I love that Jake is unemployed because we can do everything together right now including daytime rides
-ššš
- reunited with my MTB and my gooooooddd Iām happy
- so much variety in the riding around here but I donāt think āgravelā exists
- š fight!
- more creepin
- MTB so close to home! And nothing scary?!?
- creep!!!!
- Ringo back to life and putting in the werk š
