CHALLENGES
Age will not wither us
Age is just a number to these two local athletes who are at the top of their game despite their advancing years
Alison Lilley, British National Masters road race champion LAST YEAR AGED 50, cyclist Alison Lilley had an outstanding year racing winning her age group for a third time at the Tour of Cambridgeshire Gran Fondo World Series event and becoming a British National Masters road race champion. Her third goal for the year, to win the Gran Fondo World Championship in Poland, looked like a real prospect as she was in the form of her life. “Disaster struck whilst I was sitting in third place in my age group racing along at 49/50kph. A massive crash just ahead brought me down leaving little skin intact and a bike with one fork and no wheel. Game over! Strangely I didn’t feel upset as I knew I’d done everything right in the year’s preparation, and on the day. It was just a waste of great form. “Looking forward to wearing the National Masters Champion’s jersey this year was a huge motivator during winter training. I do some pre-season solo training in Majorca but this year within 24 hours of arriving the world changed and the place was in lockdown. “Coming to terms with the news left me in a state of limbo for about two weeks. Most of my goals were gone as racing, my biggest motivator for riding, is suspended until at least July. Online racing like Zwift and Strava simply doesn’t interest me so for now I’m riding much less but have increased my free weight training sessions instead. Utilising strategies to overcome adversity in training and racing have helped too. “Yoga is a new thing for me as I can barely sit cross legged without wincing! We have to make changes as we age to ensure we stay mobile.”
“Yoga is a new thing for me as I can barely sit cross legged without wincing! We have to make changes as we age to ensure we stay mobile.” When she’s not racing Alison is a cycling coach training adults and children, from beginners to talented aspiring athletes helping them achieve their cycling goals. She runs balance bike sessions, learn to cycle lessons and cycle sport coaching as private or group tuition including for nurseries and schools. Having worked for British Cycling as a Regional Development coach for over 12 years Alison established Lilley’s Cycling to bring her wealth of knowledge and
experience to the Peterborough-StamfordCorby area. “As I sit in my home I’ve seen loads of parents and children cycling by which is fantastic but I’m always critiquing their riding and bike set-up. I need to get out and help them!” To contact Alison ring 07856 718884 www.lilleyscycling.com
34 June 2020 / theactivemag.com
34-35 challengesokKM.indd 34
21/05/2020 16:49