Credit: @ledavies

I’ve met some pretty amazing women over the past few years. Women who enjoy being active and doing stuff. Women for whom the idea of running a marathon is one to be met with excitement and encouragement. Whose only response to the question ‘Fancy going for a bike ride?’ is ‘Yeah, how far?’

This weekend I spent my Saturday with four other women cycling from London to Brighton. The route was around 100km and involved some pretty big hills. We cycled, we ate crisps and cake, we got rained on, we sweated, we got blown off our bikes by strong gusts of wind and we smiled a lot. Above all else we had fun and encouraged each other.

Unlike the clichéd stereotypes we’re often presented with of women being preoccupied with appearances, being catty and jealous with each other, there was none of that. Just five women out cycling for the fun of it. Not to ‘burn calories’ or to get thinner thighs or a ‘beach body’, just because they like cycling a really long way and taking on a challenge.

Polly was crowned ‘Queen of the Mountains’ for our trip being the first to make it up the hills. But this wasn’t a competition and there was no jealousy. It was just a friendly acknowledgement that she’s strong in this area. She’d guided our ride, waited for us at the top of the hills with encouragement and gave us cycling tips – qualities we appreciated just as much as her speed up the hills.

At my beginners’ running groups, I see the same thing happening. Over the 10 weeks that they’re together, the women I lead form a supportive group that encourages each other, acknowledges that sometimes it’s hard but band together to keep going. They’re quick to tell me that they find it easier running together and that’s no coincidence. Having a positive and supportive group of people around you is the best way to train.

I didn’t know anyone else who ran when I started running. But I found them through running clubs, Twitter and the blogs I read. If you don’t know anyone who does the stuff you want to do – people who climb mountains, run or cycle a long way – go find some. Go join a running club, visit a Parkrun or find them online. They don’t have to be real world connections, talking online with people or reading the blogs of those who do the kind of things you’re working towards works just as well.

Above all, seek out people with the attitude to life that you want for yourself. Surround yourself with people who don’t care what their bum looks like in cycling shorts and you’ll start to care less about your own. Surround yourself with positive people and you’ll become more positive yourself. Surround yourself with people who say ‘yes!’ to adventures, and you’ll find yourself going on more of them.