'Completely shattered but incredibly high': inside the mind of an ultra-distance cyclist

The tragic death of Mike Hall, hit by a car in an Australian road race, left a hole in the world of endurance cycling. Craig Cunningham is one of many he inspired to ride an audax and experience the thrill of these most extreme rides

On 31 March I remember waking and looking at my phone to find an abundance of posts commemorating the life of cyclist Mike Hall. Hall was hit by a motorist in Australia and killed, just hours from completing the Indian Pacific Wheel Race which saw contestants ride across Australia unsupported, with the hardest riders pushing themselves for as much as 20 hours a day.

These incredible achievements aren't done for giant cheques or coloured jerseys - the tangible rewards are just byproducts of a more personal journey. Such motives didn't become clear to me until I took the plunge. I only realised the true extent on completing the London Wales London (LWL) audax - a 400km ride with a 27-hour time limit, vicious climbs including Yat Rock. The name alone held gravitas, bringing to mind professional races such as Liige-Bastogne-Liige and the legendary audax events of Paris-Brest-Paris.