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First ever downhill race!!! Best. Fun. EVER!

After the worlds it was time for a bit of fun and, this weekend, was definitely fun, it was amazing! So, downhill is quite different from racing XC where it is an hour and a half of pain and the descending part is about staying alive and trying to recover with the heavy cloud hanging over your head reminding you that you'll be going up again soon – making it a survival exercises rather than and enjoyable experience. This meant that the only 'cloud' over my head coming down the hill was that I'd have to get a bus back up to the top of the hill that smelt of dirt and farts… and that was just the girls……

It was back in May that I decided to do the Innerliethen SDA in a bet with Paul Newnham a Scottish MTB coach to see who was fastest… He didn't get an entry so it was an easy win for me! Anyway, I was buzzing! I walked the track with Bex Reilly, my partner in crime in the Edge Video's, and it was looking good! The course was a good mix of muddy, rooty, steep, pedally and twisty sections with some jumps stuck in at the top which I LOVED!  Check this picture!

After Saturday practice I couldn't wait to race! I'd done a couple of runs with the girls which was a great laugh – everyone was lovely! By the end of the day I felt ready to race!

Race day morning I was still asleep after a late night at my Granny's 80th Birthday party and on my first, and only, practice run I was crashing all over the place! This meant the pressure was on to get a clear run for the race… It was no time at all and I was at the top of the hill getting a quick tutorial in how to do the start – instead of just being told 'go' you could go anytime with in 5sec – then I was off! I had a slight slip at the top but made it safely through the dodgy 's' bend with loads of roots, then it was onto the jumps! I cleared them all no problems then it was time to pedal like mad! This wasn't easy on a squishy bike!! It was then down some swoopy turns, then over the fireroad and into the trees. I made it though the twisty bit fine, everything was going so well. There was something about riding down a hill as fast as you could – everything was just went quiet and at peace… It was just you and the bike and you didn't have to think about the next climb or how you were going to catch the next rider. You just had to ride fast and it was the best feeling I've ever had in a race!!

When I got to the bottom with a clear run and it was announced I was in first place with a 4:09 I was shocked! However, Bex's time wasn't up yet so it could all change… After grabbing a drink and a bite to eat I found out I was still winning, but, only by 5secs… Bex could make that up on the second race run! It was all hanging in the balance!

Little did we know when we got to the top of the hill that we'd be standing around at the top for over an hour due to a bad crash a Youth boy had! This meant that everyone was getting cold and by the time things started moving again we were all a bit over having to race! This run was hard, I was tired and my arms were giving up on me… But bex could still close that gap so I gave it my all! By the bottom I was done for! My arms were in pieces! I did a 4:13 but was still in the lead… Bex's time wasn't up AGAIN! So it was a waiting game to see if I'd actually won or not! It was great to finally getting out of my wet muddy kit so I no longer felt like I was wearing a nappy! The announcement came through that Bex hadn't beaten my time and I had won my first ever downhill race!! I couldn't believe it :)

Sdapodium

However, this weekend wouldn't have been possible with out alot of help! So, a big thank you to Emma, Rosie and Bex who let me borrow some of their kit for the weekend, my dad for letting me borrow his bike (I don't think I am going to give it back!), Andy Gowan at MMA for sorting me out with helmet, I would be going no where with out that! And to all the girls and everyone else who made this weekend a great laugh! Well done to all that raced! Also, another shout to Bex for still being my friend after the weekend, just beginners luck ;)

Keep riding people!

Win tin tin

Posted by Morvélo