Is pulling a tyre for 51Km over the Derbyshire Peaks physically hard?

August 2020 to December 31^st 2020 is the final stages of my physical and mental training before I ease off ready for my 1,000-mile trek to parts of the Yukon and Alaska; unsupported.

I’ve been planning this expedition trek for many years and already had an attempt cut short due to injury; avoiding a spinning car hurtling towards me on a frozen road.

Part of my training is to empower my mind and body to maintain 45 miles a day pulling my pulk which will weigh approximately 45 kilos over unforgiving terrain.

Only 7 months ago I had an operation to repair a ripped meniscus and multiple tears in my cruciate ligament on my right knee. So, I can’t quite put into words at the moment how excited I feel about being able to train at the level I am.

Saturday 1^st August was weekend 3 of my final 5-month training plan. I walked, pulling a large tyre over the Derbyshire Peak district. 51.57km (32 miles) over many peaks, hills, over boulders, rocky paths, tarmac and grass land and old roman roads.

Each Saturday my plan is to increase the distance by 10k until I hit the magic 45 miles (72.5km) in one day pulling the tyre. If I average 2.75 mph or 4.5 kmph, then my time walking with the tyre, attached to me, will take me 16-17 hours with breaks.

As you can imagine these are long days! Yes, you could say they are very tyre-ing, Do I get tyred? It must be tyre-some! I know sounds like humour but after a while you get bored of the comments from other people looking at you weirdly!

72.42 km is my target distance which equates to 45 miles.

On the 1^st August I found my energy levels were fine up to 40k. Whilst planning my route, I knew the section between 40-45k was probably the toughest of all the route I had chosen for that day. My first challenge was to ensure my mind didn’t gear me up to think it was tough.

I could have approached my route clockwise, which meant the section between 40-45k would have been all downhill, but that would have only resulted in me cheating myself.

It is 5k of sheer undulating inclines in hot weather. I’d be lying if I said it was a doddle. It certainly required my mind to take over and I became the passenger on the journey. That way I wasn’t worrying about the incline, just enjoying the journey the best I could, considering the obvious – insanity for taking on such a personal challenge!

You see, it’s easy for anyone to say “think it, believe it and you can achieve it”. But I truly believe you have to go deeper within your mind to understand your “Bear”. If you train your mind in a specific way, then you find you can adjust your mindset at any given point.

People say to me, Jon, you must be super fit, the distance is insane pulling a tyre! How do you gear your mind to take on 50k? I always say, well, I don’t focus on the high number for a start. Yes, I have a plan and I break things down into sizeable chunks at times. That way I don’t get lost in the mist or overwhelming thoughts of tiredness just thinking of the distance that needs to be covered.

I believe, with the right mindset training, if you can run or walk 10k, you can run or walk a marathon. If you can complete a marathon, you can run an ultra. If you can run an ultra, you can run or walk any distance you desire. You just need a plan, strategy and the right state of mind and body for whatever you so desire to achieve. The same applies with life and business. Break it down, have a plan, listen to successful people who have done what you are setting out to achieve.

Please, please DO NOT listen to what I call academic people of life. This may sound negative, but there seems to be an ever-increasing number of people claiming to be specialists in certain things, yet they never seem to actually apply their knowledge in the real world with themselves!

With myself, I will be completing 1,000 miles in arctic conditions with so many variables. There aren’t many people out there that have completed 1,000-mile distances in arctic conditions, so it’s a little challenging to get a mentor to learn from. That said there are plenty of people who are experienced in distance navigation and survival skills; for example, which I have quite rightly spent time learning from them.

Try not to let the fear of the unknown take over if you can’t find a mentor. Many people are conditioned from stages in their life to either fear the unknown, or the fear of not succeeding first time. I say stuff them all! You never know, you may actually succeed!

It’s Friday 7th August as I write this article. I have two more weekends before I hit the target distance of 72.42 kms; with tomorrow being a 60k target training session. Yes, it’s exciting in many ways, but planning and preparing for such a distance, away from as many people as possible, so I can just get on with training, can and does prove challenging. It’s not that I’m unsociable, but I do like to allow myself to focus and be the introvert that I truly am. There is only so many puns you can take during any one given day!

Yes, people are curious, inquisitive which is great, but sometimes you just want to be left alone to get on and train. Also, when your mind is purely focused on your goal, if someone says something to me, I can often come across as if I am ignoring their questions or remarks. It’s not the case. I’m merely just focused on my mind; being free of everything else except my inner self. That’s why I prefer the early morning part of the walk, or even late evening when people have gone home!

So, to come back to my initial headline comment, is pulling a tyre for 51k over the Derbyshire peaks physically hard? At first, yes. But after a while, it becomes second nature and you just “crack on” as they say. Your mind becomes attuned to the motions of just doing it. Just like anything else in life. If you put the effort in, you get the rewards out.

Want to know how to adjust your own mindset for the next stage of your life? Why not get in touch or reach out, maybe register for the updates and blogs which provide hints and tips.

Warmest wishes

Walking With My Bear