Out on the bike for the first time since the Maggies Event.
Ciaran and I headed out along cycle route 7 to the bottom of the runway at Prestwick Airport. It was nice to be out but I noticed that the bike didn't survive the ordeal of the Maggies event quite intact. Firstly the cycle computer's battery is done, probably been switched to scan while in the house. More worrying is the broken spoke and buckle in the rear tyre - I will need to get those sorted before too much additional damage is done.
23 May 2010
04 May 2010
Monster Killer
After 5 months of training we finally had our Maggies Monster Bike and Hike last weekend. This was the 30 mile cross country bike ride followed by 8 (Bronze), 22 (Silver) or 43 (Gold) miles hike along the Great Glen from Fort William all the way to Inverness for those Gold challengers. The money raised is for Maggie's cancer caring Centres. As a company this is our 5th year of participation (and only the 7th for the event).
There were 10 of us in the end - 4 doing Gold, 4 doing Silver and 2 doing Bronze (though 1 was unofficial and was tagging along with his dad), and our support team of 3.
After leaving the office with our 2 vans we had a fairly uneventful drive up to Fort William (only 1 wrong turn and I wasn't even driving). We checked into the B&Bs, went to registration, attended the Pasta Party and the safety briefing. We then bought some beer and headed back to the B&B to prepare for the next day. The plans were made, the instructions isued, breakfast ordered and beer drunk. So we headed off to bed.
Saturday morning was somewhat damp while we were having our 0700 breakfast. The Golds were starting at 0830 so they were already gung ho and chomping at the bit to get started. Since I wasn't starting til 1000 I wished them luck and then went back to my room to shower.
All too soon Ken and Walter were back to collect us and bring us down to the start line. Since the Gold starts were hoping to complete the bike run in 2 hours, Ken and Karen couldn't wait with us for the start as they had to get to Fort Augustus in case the others did hit their target time, but Walter took good care of us.
The weather was a mixed blessing - it was cool and overcast for the cycle (it actually rained on the earlier starts, some of the showers quite heavy) but would clear and brighten for the walk; but get cold overnight. The problem was the wind. It was a cold northerly breeze which would be in our faces for the entire event and cause wind chill overnight temperatures of -10C. Personally, it was the in our faces bit that really bugged me - apparently its only the second time that the wind during the event has not been favourable.
Finally it was time to head for the start, and with a piper leading us off, we started.
Almost immediately I had a problem - the strap from my helmet had worked loose and I had to stop and fix it. This dropped me back to the last person on the road, but i then hooked up with Mike and Bob who despite working with the organisers, were tacking the event. between the 3 of us we were able to work our way up the field as it was spreading out until I could catch June and John. Gayle had already been left behind and Colin had headed on ahead. As this was what we had expected we accepted it and settled in for the remainder of the cycle.
The cycle started out quite well. The first 6 miles were flat along the canal, and despite the headwind it was the sheer number of other people that limited movement. We then were on country road up until the first water point at about 10.5 miles. After this point we were on forest track. It wasn't great quality surface - rutted earth with hard core where the holes were too severe to cross. The main concern was how wet it was. Although it wasn't raining the earlier cyclists (about 600 of them - there were 961 in total) had churned up the surface quite badly. There were more climbs this leg (about 150m in total) but the descents were the real issue. At one point I was descending with brakes applied to control my speed. I soon noticed that both wheels were locked in a river of mud and I was still accelerating. With a nervous shout i let go of the brakes and went whistling past June and John and was able to recover before hitting anything. The final section was the worst however. It was proper off road cycling. A dirt path about 2 feet wide with rocks hidden in the deep mud. This was what they never told us about. This is where we walked especially on the first bit with switchbacks and impossibly tight corners. My road tires really couldn't cope and unless I got a run at it it had t walk up and I was slipping. The constant on and off was then causing my calves and thighs to cramp.
At least we had the final 5 miles in along the canal. This would be easy and normally it was. For us it had a headwind and we struggled to make any progress at all. At least my legs felt OK but by now my toes were numb and I had to take them out of the toe clips. It was also about this time that i regretted not buying that gel over seat for my saddle.
The three of us finally made it into Fort Augustus with a total time of 4:39:38. My trip computer recorded it at 4:12:51 which of course takes into account the 2 water stops and me fixing my helmet. After meeting our support team and hearing about the gold and Colin we three got something to eat and I went for a massage and soon we were ready to head out for the walking part of the day.
At 15:45 we headed out for the 8 miles to Invermoriston. I was concerned about keeping up with June and John but we had earlier agreed that they wouldn't wait for me as they were going further and had to consider that. Still i was concerned that after a few minutes we hit our first steep climb and i was being left. As I climbed my calf muscles would cramp slowing me. At the top of the climb they had to adjust their packs and I soon caught them. Having forgotten my route map I wasn't quite sure how far we had come and was disappointed to find it was only about a mile. We soon headed off together and as we came to our first descent my thighs began to cramp.
Soon June and John were ahead of me again and were slowly leaving me. The rhythm of the walk then started - I could walk easily on the flat but my calves would cramp on the climbs and my thighs on the descents, each time slowing me until I got onto the flat again. I could see J&J ahead of me, never too far ahead. The walk was not that bad an experience (apart from the cramps). I was concerned about my feet but they were fine. My major disappointment was the scenery - we were in forest for most of the time and I really counld see much of anything - but I knew what was just on the other side of the trees. Forget about seeing the monster I was lucky to just see the loch! Luckily just past mile marker 35 the were some felled trees and the vista opened up. Now that was more like it:
Sadly by now I was beginning to suffer. I thought there was a water station 4.5 miles in on the walk. I was certainly past that and there was no sign.Luckily I only had to get to marker 38 and I had already passed 35. Finally around a corner I saw the water station with the notice 35.7 miles covered, 4.2 to next station. Someone's math was not right and the marshals at the water station knew it. Its only another hour and a half they assured me. June and John had just left a few minutes before I arrived. After refilling my bottle off i went on the last 4.2 miles. After another hour walking I came across the first bench on the entire walk, being used as a cheer point by another marshal. He assured me that there was barely 1.5 miles left, but I decided to sit for a few minutes anyway before heading off on the last little leg. Having seen the map and knowing where I was boosted my speed and in 30 minutes I was approaching the Bronze finish.
Naturally, there was a ramp up to the finish but by now I was feeling quite elated, especially as John and June were still there, just about to leave. i was able to wish them well for the next 15 miles.
My official time was 3:40:20 for the 9 mile walk giving me a total time of 9:26:14 for the entire event (including a 1:06:16 bike/walk handover stage)
I went in for another massage and my calves were quite sore by now. I went in for a massage and told the masseuse my number, 501. She then asked my name and as my elation hadn't quite passed, I replied "Levi's" to which all the others started to laugh. When she realised she'd been had she reminded me that a massage could actually be quite painful. Sadly for my my calf cramped while she was massaging my leg and she ended up spending about 20 minutes sorting it. She later declared that my legs were "very angry", presumably with me.
Since Invermoriston is a self supporting station I had to get the bus back to Fort Augustus where Walter was waiting. He had news of Gayle - she had a particularly bad cycle and came in dead last but quickly changed and headed out on the walk. She was still planning Silver but probably wouldn't be allowed to start due t the time of day. We would go back to Invermoriston and wait for he to come in. There was a little bit of confusion over who was still out walking but finally everything was sorted and Gayle arrived in at 2130 with her total time being 11:24:28.
The three of us then headed up to Drumnadrochit for the Silver finish and Gold start.
Soon after we arrived the 4 Gold team were heading out for the final 17 miles. They seemed in good spirits but wee John (yeah we had 3 Johns and a June) was in a little discomfort but wanted to continue.
This was at 23:00 for them after 14.5 hours. I wished them well because I knew that as soon as Colin came in we would be heading back to to East Kilbride.
After some false info Colin did make it in at 23:48 for a total time of 13:46:04. By now it was pitch dark and the orange route arrows were not really visible any more. Having considered this the organisers arranged for glow sticks to mark junctions. Sadly local 'yoofs' decided it would be cool to move these causing some problems in the dark. Following Colin's problems we contacted J&J and advised them to be careful.
Colin, Walter and I then got into the support van and headed back to EK, finally getting back down about 0500. I then had to re-attach my bike rack and load up finally getting home about 0600.
By this time i could barely walk.
The Gold team would continue until 0530 Sunday morning before finishing the Gold Challenge together with total times of 20:58. Wee John however didn't make it that far and had to be stopped on medical reasons at one of the check point through the night. He was hospitalised to observation and released later that night.
June and John continued with the Silver challenge finishing at 01:45 sunday morning for total time of 15:43
There were 10 of us in the end - 4 doing Gold, 4 doing Silver and 2 doing Bronze (though 1 was unofficial and was tagging along with his dad), and our support team of 3.
After leaving the office with our 2 vans we had a fairly uneventful drive up to Fort William (only 1 wrong turn and I wasn't even driving). We checked into the B&Bs, went to registration, attended the Pasta Party and the safety briefing. We then bought some beer and headed back to the B&B to prepare for the next day. The plans were made, the instructions isued, breakfast ordered and beer drunk. So we headed off to bed.
Saturday morning was somewhat damp while we were having our 0700 breakfast. The Golds were starting at 0830 so they were already gung ho and chomping at the bit to get started. Since I wasn't starting til 1000 I wished them luck and then went back to my room to shower.All too soon Ken and Walter were back to collect us and bring us down to the start line. Since the Gold starts were hoping to complete the bike run in 2 hours, Ken and Karen couldn't wait with us for the start as they had to get to Fort Augustus in case the others did hit their target time, but Walter took good care of us.
The weather was a mixed blessing - it was cool and overcast for the cycle (it actually rained on the earlier starts, some of the showers quite heavy) but would clear and brighten for the walk; but get cold overnight. The problem was the wind. It was a cold northerly breeze which would be in our faces for the entire event and cause wind chill overnight temperatures of -10C. Personally, it was the in our faces bit that really bugged me - apparently its only the second time that the wind during the event has not been favourable.
Finally it was time to head for the start, and with a piper leading us off, we started.
Almost immediately I had a problem - the strap from my helmet had worked loose and I had to stop and fix it. This dropped me back to the last person on the road, but i then hooked up with Mike and Bob who despite working with the organisers, were tacking the event. between the 3 of us we were able to work our way up the field as it was spreading out until I could catch June and John. Gayle had already been left behind and Colin had headed on ahead. As this was what we had expected we accepted it and settled in for the remainder of the cycle.
The cycle started out quite well. The first 6 miles were flat along the canal, and despite the headwind it was the sheer number of other people that limited movement. We then were on country road up until the first water point at about 10.5 miles. After this point we were on forest track. It wasn't great quality surface - rutted earth with hard core where the holes were too severe to cross. The main concern was how wet it was. Although it wasn't raining the earlier cyclists (about 600 of them - there were 961 in total) had churned up the surface quite badly. There were more climbs this leg (about 150m in total) but the descents were the real issue. At one point I was descending with brakes applied to control my speed. I soon noticed that both wheels were locked in a river of mud and I was still accelerating. With a nervous shout i let go of the brakes and went whistling past June and John and was able to recover before hitting anything. The final section was the worst however. It was proper off road cycling. A dirt path about 2 feet wide with rocks hidden in the deep mud. This was what they never told us about. This is where we walked especially on the first bit with switchbacks and impossibly tight corners. My road tires really couldn't cope and unless I got a run at it it had t walk up and I was slipping. The constant on and off was then causing my calves and thighs to cramp.
At least we had the final 5 miles in along the canal. This would be easy and normally it was. For us it had a headwind and we struggled to make any progress at all. At least my legs felt OK but by now my toes were numb and I had to take them out of the toe clips. It was also about this time that i regretted not buying that gel over seat for my saddle.
The three of us finally made it into Fort Augustus with a total time of 4:39:38. My trip computer recorded it at 4:12:51 which of course takes into account the 2 water stops and me fixing my helmet. After meeting our support team and hearing about the gold and Colin we three got something to eat and I went for a massage and soon we were ready to head out for the walking part of the day.
At 15:45 we headed out for the 8 miles to Invermoriston. I was concerned about keeping up with June and John but we had earlier agreed that they wouldn't wait for me as they were going further and had to consider that. Still i was concerned that after a few minutes we hit our first steep climb and i was being left. As I climbed my calf muscles would cramp slowing me. At the top of the climb they had to adjust their packs and I soon caught them. Having forgotten my route map I wasn't quite sure how far we had come and was disappointed to find it was only about a mile. We soon headed off together and as we came to our first descent my thighs began to cramp.
Soon June and John were ahead of me again and were slowly leaving me. The rhythm of the walk then started - I could walk easily on the flat but my calves would cramp on the climbs and my thighs on the descents, each time slowing me until I got onto the flat again. I could see J&J ahead of me, never too far ahead. The walk was not that bad an experience (apart from the cramps). I was concerned about my feet but they were fine. My major disappointment was the scenery - we were in forest for most of the time and I really counld see much of anything - but I knew what was just on the other side of the trees. Forget about seeing the monster I was lucky to just see the loch! Luckily just past mile marker 35 the were some felled trees and the vista opened up. Now that was more like it:
My official time was 3:40:20 for the 9 mile walk giving me a total time of 9:26:14 for the entire event (including a 1:06:16 bike/walk handover stage)
I went in for another massage and my calves were quite sore by now. I went in for a massage and told the masseuse my number, 501. She then asked my name and as my elation hadn't quite passed, I replied "Levi's" to which all the others started to laugh. When she realised she'd been had she reminded me that a massage could actually be quite painful. Sadly for my my calf cramped while she was massaging my leg and she ended up spending about 20 minutes sorting it. She later declared that my legs were "very angry", presumably with me.
Since Invermoriston is a self supporting station I had to get the bus back to Fort Augustus where Walter was waiting. He had news of Gayle - she had a particularly bad cycle and came in dead last but quickly changed and headed out on the walk. She was still planning Silver but probably wouldn't be allowed to start due t the time of day. We would go back to Invermoriston and wait for he to come in. There was a little bit of confusion over who was still out walking but finally everything was sorted and Gayle arrived in at 2130 with her total time being 11:24:28.
The three of us then headed up to Drumnadrochit for the Silver finish and Gold start.
Soon after we arrived the 4 Gold team were heading out for the final 17 miles. They seemed in good spirits but wee John (yeah we had 3 Johns and a June) was in a little discomfort but wanted to continue.
After some false info Colin did make it in at 23:48 for a total time of 13:46:04. By now it was pitch dark and the orange route arrows were not really visible any more. Having considered this the organisers arranged for glow sticks to mark junctions. Sadly local 'yoofs' decided it would be cool to move these causing some problems in the dark. Following Colin's problems we contacted J&J and advised them to be careful.
Colin, Walter and I then got into the support van and headed back to EK, finally getting back down about 0500. I then had to re-attach my bike rack and load up finally getting home about 0600.
By this time i could barely walk.
The Gold team would continue until 0530 Sunday morning before finishing the Gold Challenge together with total times of 20:58. Wee John however didn't make it that far and had to be stopped on medical reasons at one of the check point through the night. He was hospitalised to observation and released later that night.
June and John continued with the Silver challenge finishing at 01:45 sunday morning for total time of 15:43
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