Finding Love In The Sandpit

A few days have passed since we returned to our newly cemented home, since 2021 in the heart of Dubai, I say heart and that is because we live on Al Qudra Road, where many of the families and committees live.
It’s also very close to the cycling track, and if you don’t already know, cycling has become my new passion.
Previously, since the age of 15 years old, I was obsessed with bodybuilding, training to be bigger and stronger. In 2019 I decided to retire after 2 decades of competition. I continued training but was not training with the same goals, so my training intensity was selectively reduced, to lower the risk of injury, I weighed up the pros and cons.
However, I did not realize how much I loved training for goals, that dopamine release that I was addicted to, that is associated with progression, I just didn’t have.
Yes, I focused my energy and goal-setting on our business, however, it was not physical, so I wasn’t getting that physical stimulation.

So I was looking for a sport I could start from the bottom at and progress again. I thought maybe cross fit, however, there are a lot of injuries associated. I tried many sports to see what tickled my heart and something I was at a base level at, hence why I didn’t want to do powerlifting, as I knew I would Excell due to many already build strength.

I was invited on the 13th of August 2021 to join a group of personal trainers all cycling around the Al Qudra desert, starting at 5 am and aiming for 47km. I put it off for a few weeks, as I had never been on a road bike and never road that far, but one weekend I committed to go. Although the night before was a late one, and only had a few hours of sleep, I turned up and road 50kg in 2 hours and 9 mins.
Since that, I cycled every weekend, bought my own bike and now I am hooked.

Now, I have a cycling coach, I have completed 11 races so far, and I have another 8 for the remainder of this year. And I am training in aim to qualify for the world championship next year.

I have already had a major cycling accident where I crashed while racing at 55km/h, broke my collar bone, and 5 ribs, punctured my lung, spend 5 days in hospital, and had 2 surgeries, which taught me a lot and humbled me more.

Now, I am under no illusion to think I am at a standard to be competitive at this level, all I know is that I love pushing myself physically, and setting targets to aim for.

The feeling I have from attempting things I am nervous about and overcoming mental adversities sharpens my way of thinking and it transcends into my life, my business, my relationships, my emotions.

As much as I loved being away, I love being back, Dubai has been so kind to me, it has led me in some directions I never knew I would lead in, connected me with so many great people, and has given me a platform to share my journey to others.

My message is to you if you want to feel a sense of the fourth filament and you are looking for the next big thing out there that can turn you on.

Look closer, you have everything within, and often enough, if you just set your goals on moving your body in a progressive way, you will receive all the ingredients from within, and get that sensation you have been craving, that’s the truth and it’s spoken with conviction and from personal experience.

Move the body, the heart flow