This is the 1st time I’ve raced up at Lee Quarry and I don’t tend to do shorter races so my speed isn’t great and something that needs to improve so no better way than racing.

a few photos show how great the course is..

the course was great today, nothing like any other course I’ve raced on with berms and technical bits! I think I finished around 8th, results will be out in the next few days to confirm!

great result from Amy, here is her race report!

Another weekend and another race. This time the shop was represented by me and Chris. He went up the night before and set the Gazebo up before camping. Since I only entered on Friday the evening was spent fixing punctures, buying food and packing. So at 5:30am I set off for Gisburn Forest, the day was already getting warm and I hoped I had enough bottles of magic juice with me.

Getting there I soon had my stuff in the Gazebo, my kit on and my bike ready. Down to the pub for race briefing and it was off on a half mile run back to the bikes. I’m not good at running anyway but it bike shoes it feels impossible. I didn’t want to kill my legs off from a short run as I had twelve hours of riding ahead. I kept in touch with Chris on the run, getting to my bike just as he was leaving. This was the last I was to see of him for a while.

I hadn’t pre-ridden the course so had no idea what to expect, as it turned out it was a really nice course. I was losing time on the fireroad descents (riding singlespeed not ideal here) but the singletrack was really enjoyable and the technical down we had been warned about great fun! After a few laps I found out I was the only one in my category (turns out other girls are too sensible to ride solo) so I needed a target to keep me going, 100miles was what I decided in my head. The next lap was spent trying to work out if this would be 13 or 14 laps.

Lap five and Chris lapped me, he was sitting in 3rd at this point and looking strong, he pulled away on a fireroad climb and left me wondering if gears is the future? As it was hot by this point I was riding with a camelbak and a bottle, this also meant I didn’t have to stop and switch bottles every lap which saves a bit of time when you are riding self-supported. Chris passed me again on lap 5, said he was finding it hard now but he was still in 3rd. By this point I was walking the last hill but due to a nice low gear I was finding everything else ridable.

Lap thirteen and I was expecting to see Chris but there was no sign, I cam back into the start/finish to be told time for another lap. I had my 100miles but headed out again. This was my slowest lap but I was determined to get round. The last hill felt so long pushing up it, but the cheers at the finish made it worthwhile.

All that was left was to get everything back to my car then up to the pub for the presentation, I missed the free food so will have to try harder next year. I finished in first, unsuprisingly, and Chris ended up in 5th.

A great event and just up the road! Results are online here: http://www.epicevents.org/downloads/MTBEnduro2010Results.pdf

It was my first attempt at a 24hour race and I chose the inaugural national championships, to say I was nervous was an understatement. My bike had been checked over in the shop and Shaun and Chris shared their horror stories from previous races. I still had a last minute rush to get things sorted but we arrived at Newcastleton with plenty of daylight to set up our tent and I tried to get some sleep. Morning came quickly and I got the bike ready and my box of stuff for my pit crew and wandered over to briefing, there were a lot of very fit looking people there. I wondered if it was too late to change my mind. But no I had to get down to the Town for the official sign-on and then a neutral start; it was almost like being a pro!

Up the hill and round the first lap, the sun was out and I was chatting. Second lap and things were fine, third lap and the wheels came off, how could it happen so early? I dragged myself out for a fourth but I’d had enough, I announced I was retiring and on finding out a lot of the elite men had as well I felt justified, it was just too hot. I had forgotten all about my instructions to Ali and although she let me stop, once it cooled down she sent me out again, I really didn’t want to. But I started working out how many laps I could do, I came up with a figure of 10 – double figures sounded good! So I had to keep going. Through the night was actually quite enjoyable although I could tell I was getting tired the previous flowing singletrack now seemed like a bunch of sharp corners I could barely get round.

The dawn lap was stunning and I was thinking of eleven laps, maybe even twelve. Coming in for the last longish stop after a faster lap I realised that thirteen might just be a possibility if I pushed. So change of clothes and out I went. Back with 1hr 50mins left for the last lap, should be fine, but I was slowing again with the heat. In the end I finished with at least 15minutes to spare. I was now a 24hour soloist.

I finished 34th overall, 5th Open Female, 6th Singlespeeder and 1st Female Singlespeeder. Oh and yes I want to do another one!