Riding over 6,300 kilometres in 30 days is a massive physical feat. But what does it actually take to get ready for a challenge like that?
For Amy, it’s been about more than just putting in the miles. It’s about building resilience, staying organized, and keeping things simple.
Training for long days in the saddle
Amy’s training isn’t complicated, but it’s consistent and relentless.
“I’ve been doing back-to-back long rides each weekend and lots of hilly rides,” she says. “And then intervals as well in the middle to get those sessions in.”
She’s been working with her coach, Matt Waterfield, who’s helped her structure her efforts. “It’s just me and him. And obviously my husband, Kyle, supporting me,” she says. “Matt gives me a training plan, and I just follow it.”
Amy’s training also included trips to Spain and Mallorca in the spring, where she racked up solo miles in good weather, a test of both endurance and mental toughness. “I was there on my own,” she says. “That was a good test, because I didn’t have Kyle on the road to support me. I just had to get up and do it.”
Until a month ago, Amy was balancing all of this with a full-time job. “I was getting up at 5 a.m. and training before work, then sometimes after work too. It was doable, but really hard to fit it all in.”
Getting heat ready
One major concern is the heat. The Tour de France is infamous for sweltering days in the mountains and long hours under the sun, conditions that Amy doesn’t experience much at home.
“Heat is one of the things I’m worried about because it’s quite cold where I live,” she admits. “So, for the next four weeks, twice a week, I’ve got to go in a hot bath and have a hot drink. I’m happy with that, ” she laughs.
It’s to help adapt to an increased core body temperature. And of course, she also does a lot of turbo trainer sessions without a fan to get used to being really hot while riding.
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She’s also thought carefully about how to cool down on hot days, borrowing tricks she’s seen from the pros. “I’m taking an ice vest, and I’ve seen them put ice in tights and stuff it down the back of their jersey. I’m going to try that.”
Fuelling the effort
Nutrition is another key piece of the puzzle and Amy has her approach dialled in.
“I’ve always been a person that likes to eat solid food rather than gels and carb mix,” she says. “But because of the amount I’m going to be doing every day, I’ve had to start using carb mix too, there’s just no way to eat enough otherwise.”
Over time, she’s trained her body to handle food on the bike. “Every hour, I eat something. It took a while to get used to, but now my body expects it.”
Her go-to ride foods are simple: dates, bananas, peanut butter pittas, homemade energy bars, and flapjacks. “I like to take little salty potatoes too. You get so much sweet stuff on a long ride, sometimes you just want something savoury.”
In colder months, Amy has even stuffed a hot jacket potato in tin foil in her back pocket to stay warm and fuelled.
Breakfast is a constant. “A big bowl of porridge every morning, homemade toast, and peanut butter.”
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Amy’s energy bar recipe
Amy’s homemade energy bars have become a favourite, and a key part of her daily plan. She describes the recipe like a seasoned home cook: no exact measurements, just ingredients and feel.
“It’s oats, peanut butter, different nuts, cocoa powder, mashed banana, sultanas — sometimes grated carrot or courgette to get some nutrients in — and cinnamon or mixed spice,” she explains. “You just mix it into a thick batter, bake it, and slice it up.”
Simple, nutritious, and crucial for the hours she’ll spend in the saddle.
Building mental resilience
Ultra-distance cycling challenges like this are arguably more about mental resilience than physical fitness. Amy’s mental strategies have been shaped by her past struggles with mental health, and she’s bringing those lessons with her into this challenge.
“My mantra is ‘I can and I will,’” she says. “When I’m going up a hard hill, I just say to each pedal stroke, ‘I can, I will.’”
She also talks to herself, positively and firmly. “Even if I feel like I’m going too slow, I’ll get to the top of a climb and say, ‘Well done, Amy. You’re doing really well. Keep going.’”
For the hard moments, and she knows there will be many, she has a few mental tools ready:
- Singing to herself to distract from the pain.
- Thinking about the end, the feeling of reaching Paris.
- Food rewards, promising herself a pizza or a hot chocolate after a tough day.
But most of all, she keeps her bigger reasons close.
“There’s people out there with real problems,” she says. “I chose to do this. Pain is a privilege.”
And when it gets really hard, she reminds herself: “Nothing’s ever as hard as what I went through mentally before. I’d rather go through saddle sores 10 times over than that.”
About Amy Hudson
Amy Hudson is a British endurance cyclist and mental health advocate who fell in love with cycling just four years ago. Since then, she’s completed challenging ultra-distance events, including the North Coast 500, a 24-hour time trial, Paris-Brest-Paris (1,200 km), All Points North (1,000 km), and Land’s End to John o’Groats – a classic end-to-end ride covering nearly 1,400 km across the UK. From overcoming personal struggles to chasing the limits of endurance, Amy now shares her passion through her YouTube channel, Instagram, and Strava, inspiring others to set big goals – no matter where they started.
