INSIDE THE MIND OF A MILE-MUNCHER
Transcontinental race winner James Hayden talks to fellow TCR rider Richard Abraham about what it takes to ride and win one of the toughest adventure races on earth
This August James Hayden won his second successive Transcontinental Race, a 4,000km self-supported ultra-endurance race from Geraardsbergen in Belgium to Meteora in Greece. He crossed four mountainous control points in Austria, Slovenia, Poland and Bosnia and made it to the finish in just eight days, 22 hours and 59 minutes, finishing more than a day ahead of second-placed Björn Lenhard.
Not long after Hayden had finished, journalist Richard Abraham’s first Transcontinental Race came to a premature end with injury in Hungary. When both were home and recovering, the two compared notes and reflected on their experiences.
Richard Abraham: What were the physical effects on you when you finished?
James Hayden: Not that bad. In the past I’ve had a partial tear in my hamstring and some big scars on my sit bones and a swollen ankle, that sort of thing. This year that all went within four days. It was quite surprising really, I think it’s just experience. RA: This was your fourth start, so has your body just got used to it now? JH: In the past I’ve just pushed a bit too far — not necessarily overall but on certain days — which has had long-term repercussions. I know where the limits are now, and how to work with them rather than over them. But you did it this year, right? RA: Yeah, I made it to Hungary, between control points three and four. And then I kind of broke down,
physically JH: It’s a domino and kind then of emotionally. thing. The danger is that as soon as there’s one inkling of doubt, or lack of confidence creeps in, because of your mental state it just blows up and you can’t fight it. Would you come back next year? RA: First of all I thought ‘no way’. Then within a couple of days I realised I have to, I have to finish. JH: Yeah, I know that one. RA: You were in the same boat once, you didn’t finish your first one… JH: Yeah, I went out too hard, I didn’t understand about looking after your body so that it lasts long enough to get it to the finish. You can’t abuse it from day one, you have to wait till day four or five before you can start abusing it, or you won’t make it. RA: And what’s your current relationship with your bike now?
JH: Normally I wouldn’t ride it, I’d leave it in the bike box and wouldn’t even look at it. But ITV and BBC wanted to do some news things. I’m not going to say no, it’s really good coverage, so I had to go out and ride around for 45 minutes in the rain. But generally I just won’t ride for a month. There’s no need.
RA: How does the TCR change you, and your personality, when you come back?
JH: Massively, and maybe you realise this too. It’s interesting to have a conversation with someone who’s done it themselves, because they actually understand. You speak to a lot of people and they don’t understand, they don’t get it, and it’s almost impossible to explain.
It really does change you, you know? Because you will have encountered some really testing and tough situations, and that puts a whole new perspective on anything because it doesn’t happen to you in everyday life. The stress and the anguish that you go through… obviously it’s self-inflicted and it’s your choice to be there, but if you come back to everyday life and you encounter a stressful situation, maybe you’re just more relaxed about it. RA: How do you find going back to ‘everyday’ life after the race? JH: It’s an interesting question. People always talk about these kind of postexpedition blues, when you come back there’s nothing. You’ve completed it. Instead of feeling a sense of achievement, you end up getting depressed. Maybe it’s different for the TCR because its shorter, but I’m very much a goal-oriented person so before I’ve even finished the race, I’ll know what I’m doing next and I can already look forward to that. RA: To help you deal with that immediate tiredness, where you feel incapable of doing anything? JH: Yeah, because I am incapable! For the vast majority of the year I’m out riding my bike and training hard. That’s who I am. So, at this time in the year, I can’t be myself, I’m someone else. And that can be very difficult because I lose my entire identity. You need to manage your identity in a different way.
“The thrill for me has always come from seeing how fast I can go — that will always exist”
RA: This was your fourth start. How do you generate the same sense of adventure, and get the same thrill from it, as your first? JH: It doesn’t really hold any adventure for me any more. I can’t remember the exact definition of adventure — maybe it’s doing things that are unknown or out of your comfort zone — but it’s definitely not. The thrill for me has always come from seeing how fast I can go. That will always exist; I will always want to push myself to the limit, regardless of where that falls for anyone else. RA: Some of my highlights were bumping into other riders. Do you think you miss out on some of the TCR experience by being in front, on your own? JH: I don’t think so. I think everyone gets a different experience, everyone takes away something different. Maybe you take away what you’re looking for. RA: So, turning to practicalities. You’re spending these huge stints riding alone: what occupies your mind and what keeps you going? JH: Nothing occupies my mind. That’s the honest answer! I’m enjoying myself. I don’t need anything to keep me going. I’ve spent years training, I’m just doing what I do. Do you ride TTS? In TTS you just push the pedals and switch off. RA: I get that, but in a TT you don’t have to think about your next meal, or where you can get water, or whatever… JH: But I don’t really think about that, because I know there will be somewhere, and I just stop when there’s somewhere. Maybe that’s just experience. I just don’t worry about that sort of stuff. RA: That’s the secret, isn’t it? There can be so much faff; if you’re not riding, sleeping or eating, you’re wasting your time, and that makes a huge difference. JH: Yeah, 100 per cent. RA: So talk me through a typical stop to get food from a supermarket or a cafe. JH: Don’t stop at a supermarket, don’t stop at a cafe! Stop at a petrol station. They don’t have the most choice, but it saves time. Walk in, get a load of drinks, sandwiches in packets, pastries, some cereal bars or chocolate bars for on the bike. Then maybe a couple of ice creams if it’s hot. Then buy a bit extra. Down the drinks, stuff the food in your pockets, and go. Maybe sit down to eat the sandwich if you’re a bit hot or tired and need five minutes, but otherwise get going. RA: And talk me through the kit and clothing. JH: The bibshorts are Rapha
Pro Team bibshorts; Rapha gave me loads to try and those are the ones I like the most. I like the Pro Team kit cos it’s tight, and the Flyweight jersey because it’s breathable for the hot weather. I took quite a lot of kit compared to others, but the point for me is that I’m trying to get to the finish as quickly as possible, which means I need to ride in any conditions. RA: Some riders had so little. I saw runner-up Björn Lenhard’s kit at the start and I wondered where the rest of it was! JH: Yeah, I asked him the same thing! I joked that it was like some sort of Alice in Wonderland invention, where you open the bag and it goes on and on. RA: Did you allow yourself any luxuries at all? JH: Well, what luxuries do you need? My luxury is music, but I wouldn’t go anywhere without that. I carried a second pair of headphones this year, but they don’t take up any space and weigh 10 grams. A second pair of shorts? I like to change shorts halfway through the race. Everything I take is because I need it. I don’t take anything I don’t need. RA: Talking about sleeping, how on earth did you manage three hours a night in hotels? One place it felt like it took me three hours just to check in… JH: Aah, a secret! Well, it’s no secret is it? It’s just about being efficient, and being direct. There are ways not to waste time. If you walk into a restaurant, ask them if they do pizza, if they say yes then say, “Right, I’ll have two margheritas,” and you’re still standing up, they’re kinda getting the point, and then you say, “Bring it to me quickly I’m very hungry,” and they look at you funny and you just ask them to be quick. Maybe some people would think that’s being rude, but you can be polite and still very direct.
RA: I was riding in Italy and one other rider shared a rumour that you’d had said it was the hardest TCR you’d done. I loved that, the sense of a TCR grapevine
out there on the road. But is it true?!
JH: Probably, while I was swearing under my breath! It’s an interesting question. There are two answers: one’s individual and one’s not.
One person can’t say if it’s the hardest edition or not, because everyone does different routes and everyone suffers and experiences different things. This year there was a lot of climbing almost everywhere and the checkpoints were very tough, there’s no doubt about that.
RA: On the flight home I read a magazine feature about sleep — ironically — and how it is essential for forming long-term memories. When you look back on it, what memories do you have?
JH: I’d say I remember 30 per cent. There are hours and hours lost, maybe because it’s boring roads or maybe because it hasn’t been stored, my brain hasn’t processed the memories and they get wiped out. I have some strong memories
from strong events — I remember the checkpoints, a few things between — but then everything else just doesn’t exist. RA: Do you remember what it was like to finish?
JH: Just about. It was night time, so it was a bit disorienting. It’s the second time I’ve finished at night; I was really trying to finish at sunset, but I missed it by about 20 minutes. Last year I pushed very, very hard to get to the finish, it was sheer suffering. This year it was actually quite… nice!