Mental Health Advocacy: Jack's Mission

Riding Beyond the Pain

Jack Thompson's Journey Towards Mental Health Awareness

In this episode on the Ride To Success podcast, Pedro Couto Lopes explores how Jack Thompson , known as "Jack Ultra Cyclist," channels his passion for ultra-cycling into a powerful campaign for mental health advocacy, transforming personal adversity into a drive for widespread change.

Jack has numerous remarkable achievements in ultra-cycling:

• In 2017, he rode 50,000km in a year.
• In 2018, he completed four sequential ascents of Taiwan's KOM, covering 720km and 13,600m of ascent in 56 hours.
• In 2019, he completed three Everestings in three days across different countries.
• He set a Guinness World Record in 2020 for the most kilometres ridden in seven days: 3,505km in Spain.
• In 2021, he completed the Tour de France route in ten days, overtaking the professional peloton.
• In 2022, he undertook "1,000,000: A Space Odyssey," climbing one million metres in a year.
• In 2023, he knocked 5 hours off the exiting FKT: Munda Bidi Trail to claim his seventh world record. 2 days, 12hrs 15min, with just 17 minutes of sleep

Few sports disciplines test the boundaries of human endurance like ultra-cycling. Jack Thompson, known in the cycling community as "Jack Ultra Cyclist," exemplifies what it means to transform personal trials into triumphs through sheer grit and pedal power. His journey from battling depression and addiction to becoming a beacon of inspiration offers profound insights into resilience, mental health advocacy, and the spirit of community in sports.

Starting the Journey: From Darkness to Discovery

Jack's story begins in a place of darkness, where personal struggles with mental health and addiction clouded much of his youth and early twenties. He described how cycling slowly morphed from a physical activity to a crucial lifeline, pulling him from the brink of depression.

Mental Health Advocacy: Jack's Mission

Throughout his career, Jack has not shied away from discussing his battles with mental health. He integrates these discussions into his daily training and public appearances, using his voice and challenges to destigmatize mental health issues. His goal? To make mental health advocacy as integral to his identity as his cycling achievements. "I use it most of the time to talk about my, not necessarily my own struggles, but to talk about mental health as a topic," Jack stated, aiming to highlight the benefits of cycling.

Challenges and Resilience: Pushing Through Limits

Ultra-cycling is not for the faint-hearted. It demands a cocktail of physical endurance and mental fortitude. Jack shared a particularly grueling challenge during the podcast—his mission to climb one million vertical meters in a year. This Herculean task brought him to his limits. "I was tackling this for that entire year, but it probably came to a real head around the halfway point," he explained, detailing how he managed fatigue and psychological hurdles through structured rest and strategic planning.

Business Aspects of Ultra-Cycling: Navigating the Professional Terrain

Transitioning from an enthusiast to a professional in a niche sport like ultra-cycling involves more than just stamina; it requires savvy business acumen. Jack approaches sponsorships with a blend of authenticity and strategic partnership. He looks for brands that resonate with his values—those promoting physical activity and mental health—and offers them tangible returns on their investment, ensuring a mutually beneficial relationship.

I think this is where [I see] value as well for a brand because by getting [coverage though my world record-breaking challenges] in the New York Times or on the Wall Street Journal, it's not about touching existing cycling fans. We're potentially getting more people on bikes and more people riding bikes because of the impact that a bike can have on mental health. And I think that's a really important space to strive towards, not just the low-hanging fruit of the people already riding bikes.

Community Engagement: Building Connections on Two Wheels

For Jack, community engagement is pivotal. He actively participates in various cycling communities, learning from them and contributing to their vibrancy. This engagement enriches his experience and expands his impact, allowing him to share his journey and inspire others, whether they are seasoned cyclists or newcomers to the sport.

Start Small, Dream Big

For those inspired by his journey, Jack offers simple yet profound advice: start small and appreciate the journey. "It's often very easy to pick that crazy aspirational goal. And that's fine. That's the dream," he advises, encouraging newcomers to set manageable goals that lead progressively toward larger ambitions.

Jack Thompson's journey through the realm of ultra-cycling is more than just a series of races; it's a testament to the power of the human spirit. Through his pedals, he narrates a story of overcoming, resilience, and hope—a narrative that continues to inspire and resonate within and beyond the cycling community.

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Discover Jack Thompson's journey as he continues to inspire people within and beyond the cycling community on the Ride To Success podcast with Pedro Couto Lopes.

Chapters:

~ Starting the Journey: From Darkness to Discovery

~ Mental Health Advocacy: Jack's Mission

~ Challenges and Resilience: Pushing Through Limits

~ Business Aspects of Ultra-Cycling: Navigating the Professional Terrain

~ Community Engagement: Building Connections on Two Wheels

~ Start Small, Dream Big

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Links to the podcast:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2XhcMcW28Tuk7Vr4XK47TL

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ride-to-success/id1726829754

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtzjN9DhQi18kpAl-h6fuMA

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Social Links to Ride to Success:

Follow Pedro Couto Lopes: https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/pedro-couto-lopes/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_ridetosuccess/

LinkedIn: https://www.dhirubhai.net/company/ridetosuccess/

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Thanks for listening

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