The result:
50 riders started
Deborah Hope, 22nd overall, 2nd lady – 207.207 miles
Sally Smith, 30th overall, 4th lady – 196.617 miles
On Sunday, 4 September both myself and Deb Hope pulled on our velo jerseys to represent the club in the KCA 12 hour. We were both disappointed that time trail whizz kid Lou Mason would not be riding following an accident from which she was recovering, but thankfully she managed to make it to shout encouragement from the sidelines.
For some reason no Velo men were on the start sheet, I guess girls just have more endurance!
So at an ungodly hour of 4.30am I arose from my slumber, a text from Debs confirmed my thoughts ‘we must be mad’ and with husband and child we loaded the bikes, my Scott CR1 and Quintana Roo TT and off we set to Bethersden.
I ate a banana and peanut better and jam sandwich in the car, we arrived at the village hall, signed on and pinned my number. The car had been playing up on route so I decided not to take the TT bike as I could not guarantee my support crew would make it to me to change if I needed. I was happier on the Scott anyway – I mean it is pink and everything!
I got down to the start in time to gives Debs a hug and wish her a good ride and she set off like a woman possessed! ‘Can she keep that up for 12 hours?’ I thought. It transpired she could!
So at 6.26am it was my turn, I felt sick, do I really want to do this? But off I went. I decided to ride at a reasonable rate for the first 100 then steady right up and just endure the rest. The first 30 miles around the Ashford outlet centre found me accidently taking a wrong road, but I soon corrected and averaged 20mph. This dropped a little when we hit the horrendous winds of Camber and I covered 50 miles in 2.38hrs, still a PB for the distance. I played cat and mouse with the wind and got to 100 miles in 5.42hrs. I was planning for 6 hours so was very happy.
Rodney and Barbara were a very welcome site on the Camber circuit, and I am so grateful for their efforts as husband Nigel ended up looking after the child for most of the race and was not able to assist as much as planned. The pair handed food and drink in wind, rain and horrible conditions. I kept trying to stop and talk to them but Rod just stuffed food in my pocket and sent me on my way!
We were moved onto a new circuit around Ashford (Ivychurch), it was a little more sheltered but found myself getting slower. Managed to catch up with Debs, who was still going like a train, and a circuit ahead of me, we rode for a bit and stopped to share water as she had run out, I think she was leading the field and didn’t want to slow her up so told her to do one and off she went.
110 miles turned to 130 miles and the rain came, it bucketed down on us, it was not a pleasant time. At 9 hours in I stopped by Rod and Barbara and sobbed! ‘I can’t do it!’ I blubbed to which I was handed a flapjack, told to get on or I would seize up and pushed off down the lane! This actually made me laugh, it is a good thing they didn’t give my hissy fit attention or I would have stopped!
Before I knew it we were moved to the finishing circuit on Bethersden. This felt hilly but I am told it wasn’t! The crew were all out supporting me by this point and I was thrilled to see Nigel, Ben, Lou, John, Rod and Barbara standing together. The supporters from other clubs were great too giving me a big cheer every time I came past.
At 11 hours my garmin packed in. I was surprised it lasted as long as it did as it was a running not cycling model. It was reading 183 miles ‘brilliant’ I thought, 180 miles was my target for the whole ride so I was delighted. ‘Just keep pedalling your legs’ I kept telling myself. Before I knew it a time keeper yelled ‘you’ve finished!’
I slowly made my way back to race HQ, Rod met me on a corner and literally pushed me to the village hall. I could do no more! Debs got back shortly after me. We were both knackered.
I may not have been the fastest, the best or even shown an ounce of flair but I did it and I am proud of myself. It was a challenge, harder than running the marathon by long chalk and I have learnt a lot about myself, in particular, that giving birth was not the hardest thing I will ever do!
I am proud of Debs who should true stamina, grit, determination and endurance and I know the result is one we can both improve on! What a competitor.
So come on lads, see you there next year?
Full results can be found here:
http://www.kca12hour.org.uk/news.php#news23
