Realising goals brings its own reward
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Students across Victoria have been inspired by the 500km Gold Medal Challenge to cycle more regularly, and greater distances… A year 8 student, Claudia, has been inspired to progress from short distance cycling to regular longer distance cycling.
After seeing a poster up at school about the 500km Gold Medal Challenge, Claudia registered 
for the event. Claudia’s father Gavin was surprised and impressed with the enthusiasm that Claudia has shown for cycling since commencing the challenge. “This is the first time that I have seen Claudia take an interest in getting fit,” says Gavin.
for the event. Claudia’s father Gavin was surprised and impressed with the enthusiasm that Claudia has shown for cycling since commencing the challenge. “This is the first time that I have seen Claudia take an interest in getting fit,” says Gavin.In the past Claudia has cycled short distances both to primary school and around North Fitzroy, but not on a regular basis. After starting to accumulate her 500kms, Claudia has been regularly riding longer distances on bike paths and at the Brunswick velodrome with her dad. She also rides more frequently around her suburb, and her own efforts seem to have inspired her mother to cycle more regularly!
When asked what it was that inspired or interested her about the event Claudia said, “I was interested in working towards a goal and the reward of knowing that I had achieved something”. It seems that Claudia is more focussed on the internal reward of knowing she has cycled 500kms, rather than the possibility of receiving a prize. “It is great to have something to aim for and I like to complete a challenge,” Claudia says.
“Claudia is very motivated to complete the 500kms and she regularly rides 20kms now,” Gavin says. Claudia must also be motivated to cycle by the role model she has in her dad, Gavin, who does not own a car and commutes by bike. She plans to start riding to secondary school with a friend once they have plotted the best way to get there.
Well done to Claudia on taking up the challenge – her approach to setting herself goals, and her enthusiasm in testing and building up her own fitness encapsulates Ride2School’s philosophy. We wish her the best of luck for completing the 500km Gold Medal Challenge and best of all, for riding towards her own personal goal!