Racing for fun (The first time – Ten Under the Ben)

I entered my first mountain bike competition in 2008 at the age of 44 and it was truly a baptism of fire. It was one of a series of three endurance races based in Scotland … 10 Under the Ben was the innocuous name of the event meaning a wee ten mile circuit in the vicinity of the Nevis Range and Lochaber Rural Complex to be ridden continuously for 10 hours. Now this event could be entered as an individual or as a team and originally the idea had been to enter a team of four so that the biking could be shared out – there being no possibility of me being able to mountain bike for 10 hours straight! But when it came right down to it there was only Mark (husband) mad enough to enter with me and so we found ourselves in that lonely category of mixed vets - a total of eight I think.

We drove up to Ben Nevis on the Friday night after work and it was still Friday when we arrived but only just. We had booked a place at the ‘campsite’ which turned out to be your bog standard field completely crammed with tents. I swear there were not more than two blades of grass together without camping paraphernalia squashing them. This was apparent from inside the car but things got much worse when we actually got out. The reason for the strange head gear several individuals were wearing became immediately obvious – the midges were wicked!!!  Luckily we had brought an ancient and tiny two-man tent that was quick to erect and we found a space of sorts between the guy lines of more deluxe models. We then proceeded to try and grab a few hours kip before the rigours of the next day. It was one of the stranger nights I have spent. Conversely, for Scotland, it was extremely warm and in the humid, pitch dark it felt like we were in an unfeasibly large bed full of hundreds of strangers. Different conversations and jokes bombarded us from every angle, despite the fact that I was wearing a fleece over my head in an attempt to sabotage the midges’ plan of attack. All in all the perfect preparation for my very first race!

The next day dawned hotter than ever but fortunately in the daylight the midges had abated so bare legs could be risked otherwise I fear heat exhaustion would have been a real likelihood. Many people had registered the night before but as we hadn't made it up in time we went and signed in as 'The Cobbles' and got our electronic tags and race numbers - this was a first in itself. The fact that we were in a team event meant I could watch the start which was just as well because I was feeling somewhat intimidated by all the lycra encased testosterone roaming about the place. Once the start was over it was an hour before the leaders completed their first circuit so there was plenty of time to get into the atmosphere and chat to other competitors - I was rapidly coming to the conclusion that I had well and truly jumped in at the deep end of mountain biking challenges.

If I'm honest the first circuit was heart stoppingly scary, I had never even been on a bike in Scotland let alone ridden in a competition. The circuit was totally unfamiliar so the only way I could approach it was to tell myself I could and would cycle whatever was round the next corner. With hindsight this was probably not the most sensible approach and neither was it the right approach to getting the fastest time - sometimes its quicker to get off and run. But by now the fact that I was in a race was eclipsed by the need to prove to myself that I could do the route, all of it, on my bike. Two years later all I can remember is the heat, the effort and the adrenalin. The second circuit was better in that I knew what was coming and that I had already done it without killing myself but it was also worse in that I knew what was coming .... And the third circuit nearly did kill me, the thought of some horrendous fall began to seem very attractive compared with other option of continuing to keep the pedals moving. I knew there was no way I was going to make a fourth lap not unless it would save the world or at least a child or two ... we haven't yet been back to take part in more of the '10 series' but we will. The sense of comradeship between the competitors and the feeling that everyone who took part was a winner are memories for life; and it was the first of something that continues to be a source of great enjoyment and fulfilment to me.

Other mountain biking challenges and races that I can recommend include:

• Grizedale mountain bike challenge
• The Altura Whinlatter mountain bike challenge
• British Mountain Bike Series
• The Nutcracker MTB XC series

It's great news that there is now a mountain bike series in the north in the form of the nutcracker series - so if you live in the area get involved. The first race was in April but there are another five to come and if I can do it anyone can!