Martin White

Zoo2Zoo Training Update – Week 6 of 6

Six weeks complete—and the commitment is still intact. I’ve managed to ride every single day leading up to Zoo2Zoo.

This week’s totals:

• 246 minutes on the bike

• 108 km covered

• Bringing the overall totals to 2,370 minutes and 1,116 km

This was my shortest distance week, by design. It was a tapering week, and while I kept my commitment to ride, I also tried to keep my commitment to my soccer team by not blowing my legs out before our semi-final on Saturday. We lost that game, but perhaps it was for the best—playing in the grand final would have clashed with Zoo2Zoo, and that difficult choice has now been taken out of my hands.

Instead of pushing the bike hard, I enjoyed a few family rides in the sunshine. Those rides made me reflect on the importance of physical activity not just for myself, but for my family too. Time together outdoors, moving, laughing, and exploring, is as powerful for our mental and physical health as any training session. It’s also part of helping the kids grow into well-rounded humans—something far more important than distance or speed.

Tomorrow I head to Dubbo, ready to spend Thursday at the zoo before the real challenge begins on Friday: three days, 410 km, and a ride that means more than just kilometres on a bike.

Thank you again to everyone who has followed along, donated, or encouraged me along the way. Your support has carried me through these 42 days—and now it’s time for Zoo2Zoo itself. 

Together we have raised over $2,500, with time left to donate. Thank you. 

Six weeks down. The journey begins.

Marty

Zoo2Zoo Training Update – Week 5 of 6

Another week down, and just one to go. I’ve kept the commitment of riding every single day.

This week’s totals:

• 510 minutes on the bike

• 250 km covered

Bringing the overall totals to 2,124 minutes and 1,008 km so far.

This was my longest cycling distance week, without being my longest in time on the bike. After 35 consecutive days, I’m really starting to feel the benefits of consistency and incremental improvements.

Most of my rides haven’t been strenuous, but the daily habit has built a strong base. On Saturday I took on a bigger, 78 km on the road, and it felt excellent. My speed was up, the muscles felt good, and I genuinely enjoyed it. The steady, everyday effort is paying off.

It’s a reminder that progress doesn’t always require a “big bang” approach. Small, repeated actions add up, and over time they take you exactly where you need to go. They’re also easier to commit to and stick with. Before you know it, without sacrificing a lot, you’ve arrived at your goal.

The same is true for mental health. Building small, positive changes, whatever they are, if you stick with them, they can have a powerful impact over time. Change doesn’t have to happen all at once.

Step by step, day by day, it can change your life.

That’s why I’m riding for the Black Dog Institute: to raise awareness and funds for better mental health for all Australians.

Thank you again to everyone who has donated and encouraged me so far. Your support makes every kilometre worthwhile.

👉 Donate here

Five weeks down. Almost there. One little step at a time.

Marty

Zoo2Zoo Training Update – Week 4 of 6

Another week down, and I’ve kept the commitment of riding every single day.

This week’s totals:

• 318 minutes on the bike

• 142 km covered

• Bringing the overall totals to 1,614 minutes and 758 km so far

On paper, this was a lighter week. In reality, it was the toughest one yet. Alongside the daily rides, I also played three soccer games, and my legs definitely felt the load.

If anything, this week has reminded me of the value of rest. Every good training program has recovery built in, because that’s when the body rebuilds, adapts, and grows stronger. Without it, fatigue builds and performance drops. When I committed to 44 consecutive days of riding, I didn’t factor in rest days—and this week has shown me just how important they are.

The same lesson applies to mental health. Just like the body, the mind needs rest. Without space to slow down, reflect, and recharge, the risk of burnout increases. Taking time for yourself isn’t a weakness—it’s an essential part of resilience.

For those living with mental illness, rest can be even harder to find. But even small pauses—whether through sleep, mindfulness, or simply a short break—can make a meaningful difference.

That’s why I’m riding for the Black Dog Institute. They’re providing tools, research, and support to help people manage their mental health—including recognising the importance of balance.

Thank you to everyone who has donated and supported me so far—you’re helping me stay accountable through the heavy legs and tough weeks, and together we’re raising funds for a cause that matters deeply.

👉 Donate here

Four weeks down. Legs heavy, but purpose strong.

Marty

Zoo2Zoo Training Update – Week 3 of 6

Three weeks in, and the daily rides are still on track.

This week was a little different, though. The totals were:

• 343 minutes ridden

• 166 km covered

• Bringing the overall challenge totals to 1,296 minutes and 616 km

It was my lowest-output week so far. The legs are definitely getting heavier, and with a couple of soccer games thrown in (which really punished these “experienced” legs!), the bike has seen a bit more active recovery than all-out training.

But that’s part of the journey too. Progress isn’t always linear, and some weeks are about listening to the body, recharging a little, and making sure the bigger goal stays intact.

When I think about mental health, the same lesson applies: not every week is about peak performance. For those living with mental illness, some days (or weeks) are simply about showing up and doing what you can. And that in itself is a victory.

That’s why I’m proud to have kept the commitment, every single day on the bike, even if some of those rides were shorter or gentler. Because consistency matters, both in training and in mental health.

Fundraising Update 💙

So far, thanks to your generosity, we’ve raised $1,937 for the Black Dog Institute. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who has already donated—your support not only makes a difference to mental health research and programs, it also keeps me accountable to get back on the bike every single day.

I’ve now got 5 weeks to go until Zoo2Zoo 2025, and the challenge is as much mental as it is physical.

If you’d like to support the cause, please consider donating here:
👉 Donate here

Thanks again to everyone following along. Your support keeps me pedalling, even on the tough days.

Marty

Zoo2Zoo Training Update – Week 2 of 6

Two weeks in, and the numbers are starting to add up:

• This week: 534 minutes on the bike and 245.54 km covered

• Total so far: 954 minutes and 449.8 km since starting the challenge

The legs are holding up, but what’s been most noticeable is what’s happening in my head.

In Week 1, the biggest hurdle was the “head noise”, that anxious inner voice trying to convince me to skip a session. 

But over the past seven days, that voice has been quieter. Why? I think it is because the training has started to become part of my daily routine.

It’s a good reminder of just how powerful healthy routines can be. When something becomes a habit, it takes away some of the friction and mental load of deciding whether or not to do it. That sense of rhythm and structure has a real impact on wellbeing. And it has helped me.

For people living with mental illness, establishing and maintaining routines can be incredibly difficult, but also incredibly valuable. 

Small, consistent steps can make a huge difference, and it’s why the work of the Black Dog Institute, providing tools, research, and support, es so important.

I’ve still got 30 days of riding to go before the big event, but I’m already feeling the benefits, not just physically, but mentally too.

If you’d like to support the journey and help fund mental health research and programs, you can donate here:
👉 Donate here

Thanks again to everyone following along and supporting me, it makes the daily rides that much easier.

Marty

Zoo2Zoo Training Update – Week 1 of 6

Seven days down, thirty-seven to go.

This first week has thrown up more than a few challenges (mostly from the weather). With the rain bucketing down in Newcastle, I’ve been stuck inside on my Wattbike for all the rides.

Still, the numbers are adding up: 7 days in a row, 420 minutes in the saddle and 204km covered.

But here’s the thing I didn’t expect to hit me so quickly: the hardest part hasn’t been the legs or the lungs: it’s been my mind.

Almost every day, before I’m due to ride, my brain starts working overtime:

“You’ve had a long day.”
“Don't get out of bed, its cold.”
“Today might be too hard."
"You're legs are sore. You should rest.”

It’s amazing how creative the excuses can be when your body’s tired and you’re comfortable in bed.

That’s where this commitment, the promise I’ve made to ride every day for 44 days, has been powerful.

It’s given me the accountability and resilience to push back against those thoughts and get on the bike anyway.

And while my situation is nothing like living with mental illness, I can see a small reflection of the challenge. 

For so many people, the weight of anxiety, depression, or other conditions can make even the smallest daily actions feel like mountains to climb. The mental load can be heavier than any physical one.

That’s why the work of the Black Dog Institute matters so much. They’re not just funding research, they’re providing tools, education, and hope for people facing those invisible battles every day.

I’m only one week in, but I’m already reminded of the courage it takes to keep going when your own mind is telling you to stop.

Thanks to everyone who has supported me so far. If you can, please donate to help me reach my fundraising goal:
👉 Donate here

One week down, 6 weeks and a lot more pedalling, to go.

Marty

44 days of continuous training (I hope)

In just a few weeks, I’ll be on the bike for Zoo2Zoo 2025.

A 3-day, 410km charity ride from Dubbo to Hunter Valley to support the Black Dog Institute and the critical work they do in mental health research, education, and support.

This year, I’ve decided to push myself a little harder.

From August 6 to September 18, I’ve committed to riding every single day, that’s 44 days of continuous training, as a personal challenge and a show of support for the 1 in 5 Australians who experience mental illness each year.

It won’t be easy. Life, work, weather, and sore legs will all try to get in the way. But that’s kind of the point. It’s a reminder that mental health challenges don’t take a day off, and that persistence, support, and purpose can help us keep moving forward.

Why I Ride

Because mental health affects all of us—our families, our friends, our colleagues.
Because most people facing mental illness still don’t reach out for help.
Because organisations like the Black Dog Institute are creating real change through evidence-based research and life-saving programs.

And because, if a few hours in the saddle can raise money and awareness that helps even one person feel less alone, it’s absolutely worth it.

Want to Help?

You can support my journey by donating through this page. Every dollar goes directly to the Black Dog Institute and helps fund mental health solutions that work.

👉 Donate here

Thanks for backing me and this cause. Follow along as I count down the rides, 44 days, one pedal stroke at a time. 2 days in. 

Marty