Good things come to those that wait

I've discovered that injury is bad for me, not in the obvious way.   As I couldn't ride I spent the evenings on the computer shopping on e-bay (nice new charm purchased for my Pandora Bracelet) and entering silly on-line competitions for a laugh.

I also window shopped for a new DH Bike, the problem with this is I got impatient.  I remembered the difference my Yeti made to my riding and know Granddads too big, seeing all these lovely new bikes I wanted one NOW (stamps foot and folds arms across chest)

So my competition entry focused on achieving my inner child's demands.

I forgot good 'things come to those who wait'. 

I should remember this, when I was a horse mad kid, I worked for free looking after ponies, the owner gave me a head collar for Christmas.  It was wrapped with the gift tag saying the above phrase, and on the other side said 'when the time is right it will happen'.  I still have that head collar, I coveted it for a year hung on my wardrobe door awaiting a horse for it to fit, and yes it did happen.  I waited patiently, saved hard and worked hard to prove I was responsible and I got my horse.  So how could 12 year old Gayle do that but 36 year old Gayle was stamping her foot demanding. 

When I was 12 I didn't even have a horse to ride, I used to beg and borrow peoples ponies, when the horse owners on the yard went for a ride I'd follow on my bike. 


So my competition entry proved fruitful, I've won a tube of anti chaffing cream, and was shortlisted for the Nurofen Big Lives award.  This award would give the lucky winner £1500 towards 'living their big life'.  5 People were shortlisted and the one with the most votes on Facebook won.  Being always broke, waving £1500 just out of my reach is really good motivation.  However I decided to check out the competition, OPPSSSS Nurofen marketing are cunning fellas, so there was little me a nobody on a DH bike who's not particularly good but has fun, the 26 year old world champion professional base jumper,  The British team skydiver, the first woman ever to ski alone across Antarctica, and a girl guide leader who wants to Kayak. 

To be honest me and the Kayaker didn't stand a chance against the other 3 who are pretty much at the top of their game. 

What I learnt.

Despite the opposition I wasn't going to go down without a fight, and boy did I go for it I tweeted, blogged and posted on facebook like crazy.  Alas to no avail, but I learnt a lot.

A) read the T&C's on competitions if they are open to all you could be up against Justin Beiber (or what ever his name is)

B) Getting votes is hard work and I hated it, if you are going to enter be prepared to have to nag and sell yourself lots.

C) There are some amazing people out there, I had some lovely messages from total strangers supporting me, and some of my friends were totally amazing getting behind me and touting for votes on my behalf.

D) Google the other people, see who they are and what they do.  I knew about BASE jumping but never knew there was a world championship in it.  And I never knew about the Artic explorer, she has a book out that gets great reviews so next time I'm injured I'll give it a read.

Serious bit, now.

So I didn't win, and I'd never do a Facebook voting competition again.  I probably pissed off a load of my FB friends (Sorry Guys).  But I learned lots, when a persons injured they go through a 'cup half empty' phase.  I sure as hell did, and I looked at the negatives and not the positives.

Now, I have a perfectly good and capable bike, that was a world cup bike in his day and is more than good enough for me to ride.  So why the hurry.  There's no rush, OK he's a bit big and he's too heavy, why don't I simply hit the gym and try and build up the strength, you never know I might grow a bit and sure as hell need to loose a few pounds. I need to learn the patients I had at 12, good things come to those who wait and when I get my new bike it will be amazing.