From Saturday 1^st of June to Saturday 8^th of June my daily Strava activities were fairly boring red lines. They went from bottom to top with very little turning. Over 8 consecutive days I got to ride a mountain bike through northern Queensland with an awesome bunch of new people, for a good cause.

What was I doing and why was I doing it, I hear you ask? I was riding for mental health.

I was part of a charity ride run by a non-profit organisation, TourXoz.

TourXoz was founded by 3 friends and through a personal experience they are creating awareness and funds for mental health research and are now partnered with Black Dog Institute.

The 2019 group of riders were made up of a mix of people; previous TourXoz tour participants (there have been 5 tours) employees of sponsoring companies, keen mountain bikers and others who have been affected in one way or another by this crippling illness.

I was fortunate to have this experience through working at VMware, a software company who were 2019 sponsors of TourXoz. VMware are strongly focused on diversity, inclusion and giving back to the community. I was one of four VMware riders who were lucky to go on this adventure. In essence I was a pro cyclist for 8 days; I was still getting paid.

So…how far did I ride? How many wheelies did I do? Did I stack it? How fast can I pack up a tent? Were you stung by a paper wasp?

670kms. None. Multiple times. The speed of light. Yep – thankfully didn’t swallow one and have my throat stung like one guy.

It was an adventure and an incredible one at that. We got to: visit sacred sites, learn about rock art, learn peoples phobias…or that they’re pyromaniacs, auctioned off Sagan’s green jersey, be part of a traditional smoking ceremony, eat legit campfire damper, pedal through very soft deep sand, see Gunshot creek, ride the entire Telegraph Track, do a double-take in the middle of nowhere and realise it was Elle’s dad cycling the opposite direction! Take indigenous kids to school on bikes, ride some unforgiving corrugations, experience next level saddle soreness, race down an airstrip that had to be cleared of wild pigs, camp at homesteads in the middle of woop woop, camp at rangers stations, showered in spectacular waterfalls, learn that everyone has a story, identify people by the back of their helmet, karaoke at the sExchange Hotel, get really good at getting changed lying on your back, enjoy not having phone reception for 5 days in a row, consume more Natural Confectionary lollies than I ever wanted too, see our support 4WD get bogged, get excited every time the photographers drone flew past, push people up hills whose chains snapped and I even snagged a QOM and got awarded the yellow jersey!

Living with 60 others and only being separated by a tent wall for 9 days very quickly builds friendships. To me, this experience made me realise how strong a team bond is and made me treasure friendships even more, regardless of them being 9 days old or 30 years old.

The 8 days saw the 55 riders cover the below:

Day 1. Hann River to Musgrave Roadhouse, 63km

Day 2. Musgrave Roadhouse to Coen, 109km

Day 3. Coen to Wolverton station, 88km

Day 4. Wolverton station to Moreton campsite, 116km

Day 5. Moreton to Heathland station, 90km (start of Telegraph track)

Day 6. Heathland station to Elliott Falls, 63km

Day 7. Elliott Falls to Loyalty beach, 76km

Day 8. Loyalty beach to Cape York – the most northern part of Australia, return, 62km

Whilst on this journey we got to be involved in a world-first study, led by Dr Simon Rosenbaum, Senior Research Fellow from UNSW and Black Dog Institute to study how mood changes over the course of such an event; a multi-day endurance event and the relationship with overall mental health. This is an extension of findings from the 2017 TourXoz, which showed that symptoms of depression or anxiety can impact on how a participant responds to such an experience and adds to the relationship between exercise and mental health.

Data (riders’ moods and sleep habits) were collated via completion of a pre and post ride survey and sleep data from Fitbits.

I feel so lucky to be part of something to help what is unfortunately growing within our society. It’s sad that in 2019, mental health is regarded taboo. There is a stigma about mental health and we have a long way to go to have people talk about it openly. Knowing I am part of a group that is making, even a tiny breakthrough in understanding about the disease, is something I’m proud of.

I am also truly lucky I, nor my immediate family have suffered mental illness however I know people that have or who do. Unfortunately, statistically everyone within Australia would know someone going through tough times. One in five (20%) Australians aged 16-85 experience a mental illness in any year. This experience has taught me to seriously try and be reminded to stop and ask loved ones how they are doing. Most importantly, keep your eyes and minds open to what others may be going through. Don’t assume you know – people go through it differently. If you can’t help and provide medical advice, at least be a pair of ears for someone.

I was hesitant to write this race report because it’s not running, it’s not a race and I didn’t have to pin any bibs on but the support and encouragement the HuRTs group, in particular the HuRTs committee gave me, demonstrates just how much of a community we’ve created. To have a team spirit as strong as ours through something as simple as lunchtime running, speaks volumes of the good-hearted people it attracts. Thank you to everyone that supported me to do this. HuRTs is a special group, I’m privileged to be part of it.