Love Cross at Tweedlove. A great first event.

The Tweed Love bike festival is one of the biggest bike festivals in the UK with a wide range of events taking place over the fortnight. You can participate in the Skinny Tweed sportive, mountain bike races, ride outs, family events etc. The festival this year culminates next weekend with the Enduro World Series coming to Glentress and Innerleithen. This brings riders from all over the world to this small area in the Scottish borders.

This year, since I now live here, I was persuaded to sign up for the Urban Cross race. An inaugural event for Tweedlove and for me. I have never raced on a bike in a competitive environment before and although this was billed as a fun event, which it was, it was still a race and I knew there would be lots of fast and fancy riders taking part.

I have to say I was very nervous as Alistair and I cycled along to Peebles. What was I letting myself in for? I had practiced getting on and off my bike but was still slightly panicky about getting my feet out in time to dismount or indeed forgetting they were clipped in all together! After all it was grass I had practiced on, not tarmac. It was going to hurt if I hit the ground.

As we reached Tweed Green it was good to see some familiar faces and meet some new ones. Everyone was ready for a good event and thankfully it had actually stopped raining. 

A quick recce of the course with my sidekick and coach (Alistair Cyclocross Dow) helped to calm my nerves as he reassured me that it was all rideable and I was capable of getting round in one piece.

The start was a Le Mans style start, which normally wouldn't bother me but getting a slight running injury the previous week meant I was pretty slow over the 50m and was almost last to get to my bike. On the upside it kept me away from all the fast guys.

There was 2 heats and I, along with the other 7/8 ladies were in heat 1. It was first 4 through to the final and first 10 men.

I really didn't know what to expect but once I started cycling I really got into it. 

Once on your bike it was a sprint along the High Street past an army of kids with water pistols, then a downhill  slalom course. Then it was round the corner where you had to jump off and run up a fairly steep set of church steps. Back on the bike, over some sand bags and back onto the High Street and through some hanging tape. Round another corner and down to a loop and more hay bales. At the bottom of the hill you had a few meters to take a deep breathe for a steep climb back up to the High street to do it all again and again and again.

The race was timed over 15 mins + 1 lap and I managed to stay alive round 6 laps. I was grinning from ear to ear when I finished. Hard work had never been so much fun! Then I found out I had to do it all again as I had made it through to the final!!! 

Remarkably I managed another 6 laps and came 3rd. I really couldn't believe it, I think the last time I actually won any sort of prize I was in my teens.

The whole event was extremely well organised and the atmosphere of the crowd, riders and supporters made this a truly fantastic start to my venture into the world of cyclocross. Every minute of the evening was enjoyable.

Slow start.

Through the tape tent.

Vennel and cobbles.

Got to practice my tight turns.

Nicola being awesome.

Steps of pain.

The top.

Whizz!

Chuffed tae bits.

Lovely new friends.

Cold and nervous before final.

Ah hay bales.

3rd place behind the young talent Lucy Grant.

If you can get yourself down here for the festival there is still time, if not check it out next year.

All photos by Ali Dow x

Peace x

The Super Sisters.

Today was Edinburgh marathon day, when approx 30, 000 people descend upon the city and it's coastline to run in varying lengths of races.

Beth was so inspired by watching her sister last year that she signed up early on to run this 26.2 mile course.

Lesley, having run an amazing first marathon time last year got invited to do the London marathon in April, which she completed in and unbelievable 3hrs 20 something.

Both ladies had done all the training required and this morning I met them in town to see them off at their start points.  The weather was not great but it was better than the very hot day we had on Wednesday, which def would have been a killer for these fair skinned gorgeous ladies.

Sisterly love.

I was on bike support so once I had left them at the start I headed out to the 10 mile marker which was out past Musselburgh. I found a good spot next to a very chatty and friendly volunteer marshall.

Lesley came through first and was looking strong and cheery as ever, then came Beth also making light work of the course.

Now for those that don't now the course, it is one of the fastest courses in the world because there are relatively no hills, but don't let this fool you in to thinking that it is easy. Personally i think it must be hard as it is one long straight line for 18 miles then you turn around and come back! This also means that you see all the people ahead of you heading home as you may still be going out. To me this is mental torture, so extra, extra kudos to anyone who completes this marathon.

I was wanting to head to the 18 mile turn point, but it was too difficult to get along the road at any fast pace as the whole road is used by the runners. In the end I waited at around the 22/23 mile mark at Cockenzie. 

Some how I sadly managed not to see Lesley the 2nd time, because I think I may have been in the ladies room behind a wall.

I did see Beth however and another friend Becky. Both said they were feeling slightly weary but they looked in good health. I scooted off back to the finish to try and see everyone.

The finish was very busy but all were found and and in relatively good spirits.

Both ladies finished in highly respectable times. Lesley 3:31 ish and Beth 4:22.

I am so proud of both of them. They also raised £700 towards Macmillan cancer. 

Also a big shout out to Kathleen who finished her first marathon and raised £800 for Alzheimer Scotland.

The Elite athletes coming through the 10 miles in 51 mins!

So fast.

Cockenzie.

So many people.

Storm clouds over Edinburgh.

Yeah Beth almost at the end.

Peace x

When the going gets Tough.......

Way back in January I was persuaded yet again by Beth to sign up for a new challenge. The challenge in question this time was Tough Mudder.

I had previously heard of this event and thought "Why would you want to do that?" but when the opportunity to participate was real it was kind of hard to resist, who wouldn't want to run about 12 miles and have 20+  muddy, watery, electrifying obstacles to overcome. Me, I'm in, yes I'd like to do that!

So the training began, well kind of. Since signing up and saying "I need to be as fit as I have ever been", I seemed to get injury after injury, nothing major but enough to stop me from doing even my usual routine of keeping fit for a while. Eventually things came together and I was feeling back on top again.

What I wasn't quite prepared for was the fear. This was not a simple case of running or cycling as fast as you can from A to B. This run involved Army assault course obstacles with names like Arctic Enema, Boa Constrictor, Walk the Plank and Electric Eel.

So the obvious thing to do to prepare for such an event is watch endless You Tube clips of people being scared and or failing. It is needless to say that when the actual day came around on Saturday I was a tad on the fearful side.

Our team name was "Tough Tottie" and in total there were about 22 of us, but we broke down into smaller teams on the day. My fabulous team consisted of the amazing Nelson sisters and 2 others.

Our start time was 9.15am and although it was local, Dalkeith Country Park we still had to have an early rise and be there with plenty time to register etc. 6am on a Saturday is early!

Gathering our team at the start, it was fairly obvious that we were all very excited at the prospect of what was ahead but also extremely apprehensive. Although we did have a few things to do before we were allowed to compete. Writing your friends participant number on their forehead in permanent marker was one of them.

Of course not everyone wrote just the number! 

Team Tough Tottie.

Excited!

Before you run the Tough Mudder you have to repeat the Tough Mudder pledge.

It is a great gimmick but it works and we were ready and prepared to help our fellow mudders. 

The full squad.

Pledge. Hoo - rah!

Of course being Tough Mudder you had to get over a wall in order to get to the starting pen.

Phew, made it to the start.

And we're off.

My most feared obstacle the Arctic Enema was 2nd but before that we got down and dirty!

Long hair + barbed wire = stuck

Rescue

One down, 21 to go.

The ice enema was as horrible as I thought it might be, but mind over matter made me do it and as frozen as we all were, we plodded onwards. 

As we progressed the more I started to enjoy it, it wasn't nearly as bad as I had imagined it would be. The next big challenge ahead was the Walk the plank, which is a 15ft jump off a platform into water. Both Beth and Lesley have a fear of heights so this was really a big deal.....but they did it and with style, after that there was no stopping us. We absolutely rocked it, although without the help of some strong men at the top of Everest to help haul our girlie asses over the top, we might not have made it.

Island Hopping over the Esk.

Boa Constrictor.

Impressive venue.

Electric Eel.

Everest. That's me sliding down!

Electroshock Therapy, the last obstacle and yes it hurts.

Run, Mrs Mac.

Not so white vests!

Headband, tee shirt, tin foil wrap and a pint of cider.

We made it! Go Team!!!

It was with relief that we all made it around without any major incidence. We all have bruises, scrapes and sore muscles, but we also have a great sense of achievement and some fun memories.

Would I do it again? Yes I would because I actually quite enjoyed it, but I don't think I will as once you have done it, you've done it. Been there, done that syndrome. Also it was quite an expensive event to enter and although some of your fee went to the Help the Heroes charity, they charged you extra dosh at every turn.

I could not fault the organisation though it all seemed to run like clockwork, and there were safety supervisors at every hazard, which was comforting to say the least. Although I'm not sure the couple getting married in the church at the main grounds entrance gate, were overly happy with the sights, sounds and general chaos surrounding their beautiful day.

Peace x

All photos taken by the lovely D Tipple.

Sometimes.

Sometimes there are days that feel like this,

Then somebody gives you one of these,

Then you smile and the day seems not too bad. Thanks T x.

Peace x

All photographs by Caroline Harvey.

What do you get.....

Question: What do you get if you cross Jimmy Carr, a short bike ride, a fabulous food fest of a BBQ, great friends, good chat, a long walk, warm weather and a curry?

Answer: An extremely enjoyable weekend of laughter and fun.

Follow the yellow light road.

Gottle o geer.

Fav peeps x

Tom cat.

BBQ king.

Trying to keep the midgies away.

Glow stick power.

Pentlands

Views from hills.

Peace x

All photographs by Caroline Harvey.