A ten hour mountain bike race in Leachan Forest in the shadow of Ben Nevis. yes and it is as painful as it sounds. I signed up in a post new year haze on the assunption that it would motivate me to do some training and finally get rid of that winter blubber. Needless to say that the training never happened. Just one desperate week of mad riding on the Coast to Coast to teh amusement of everyone at the last minute.
The race started in pouring rain, which stopped shortly afterwards and was swiftly replaced by a swarm of midges intent on sucking my blood! And that was the good part! No in all seriousness the course was absolutely fantastic, interesting throughout with just the right mix of singletrack and blessed fireroad.
Organisation was first class so a big thank you to the organisers for a first class event and especially to the marshall at the wall who was beseiged by midges non-stop for 11 hours.
How did I do? i certainly didn't excell myself - 6 laps (60 miles) in 9:18 and 67th solo overall - but i did have a fantastic time and the atmosphere was first class. I am already in training for next years event and more specifically Relentless - the 24 hour event in October on the same course - see you there.
