Relentless... A dirty weekend!
This race was the absolute filth! 3 weeks previous I agreed to taking part inthe Relentless 24hr race - it seemed like a good idea... but after my first two laps and coming in like this:
It didn't feel like a good idea anymore, AT ALL!!! Two laps down six to go... yay.
I was in a mixed team of four called: 'I-cycles young dream team and an old spanner' which consisted of: Keith Forsyth (3trd in 24 hour world championships - and all round legend), Ben Forsyth (a fast young one, Keith's son with plenty of experience of these long races), Scott Lindsay (A fast junior boy hungry for the challenge of racing for 24hours - nutter) and me. But, most importantly, we had the help of David Lindsay (Scott's dad) who was our team support... and this was our set up:
So, after none of the boys being man enough to start us off it was up to me. It was a short run to start then straight into two laps - we'd decided to do double laps due to the wet weather. To say running isn't my strong point is an understatement. Not to worry, there was a lovely long fire road climb where I took plenty of places. By the end of lap one I was not happy... the last part was a MASSIVE fire road descent. Later, when I had no lights, brakes or brain due to exhaustion I would have a more positive look on this lack of single track! After me it was over to Scott:
He put in a really fast two laps (I had only just finished getting changed and warm when he came round on his first 38min lap) and it was on to Ben (the dirty one):
It was another excellent two laps by Ben and we were well up there! The baton was then handed to Keith:
For the past couple of hours I had eaten constantly... big mistake. It was about 18.00 when I headed out for my 3rd and 4th lap. First lap I felt great second lap I was sick, then again and again and again. It was dark when I came in throwing up in the transition area. I felt rough. Peeling my kit off and it was starting to get hard now... Why was I doing this?? It was just crazy! David forced me to eat - thankfully because I then felt better! 00.15 and I was out again. By this time our bodies were confused and tired and clearly Scott had gone a bit mental:
I was pleased to finish those two eventful laps (lights dying, no breaks or brain) with 6 laps in the bag for the team I was sleeping soundly by 02.30. Scott headed out for two laps then it was Keith - the hero - who was then going to head out for a solid 5 lap stint before Ben - who was already sleeping - would head out first thing in the morning. This was brilliant because it meant we all got a bit of a sleep! and I was asleep... ...to wake up to the pitter patter of rain on my tent. Brilliant. I was running out of kit, my shoes were wetter and colder and I was pretty tired!! Ben came in from his final two great laps at 08.05 and it was my turn, "last two, then you don't have to go out ever again!!!" I persuaded myself up the long climb listening to my bike grind with the grit underneath me... coming down the descents with only a front break to say I was relieved when I came into the transition area for the final time is an understatement!! Here is us at the end of the race when Scott had finished our final laps:
What a race! I finished on 8 laps for the team with us all together completing 29 laps! We won the mixed quads by about 3 laps and were 4th over all in the quads!! Here we are on the podium:
Well, now I've done it I never want to do it again! I say that, though I'll probably be back again next year... MASSIVE thanks to David for his brilliant help - making us food, cleaning our bikes, keeping us in check and taking all the great photo's above! Thank you to Keith, Ben and Scott for getting us to the top step and for great banter all weekend! Win tin ton
Posted by Katy Winton







