Bedgebury Insomnia BHF 12 hour solo endurance race by Emma Cutler

I was really looking forward to this race as I had watched all the excitement last year and wanted to join in, this was my first attempt at a 12 hour race and overnight as well. 8 PM waiting to go and thankfully it wasn't raining, although very cold, and the forecast was good. My left knee was feeling a bit sore as a result of a long training ride and I was a bit concerned as to how it would fare. Starting the race was a fight for position, always a mental blur to me! I knew the course went onto the first bit of singletrack via a small steep run up and was hoping to get there as quickly as possible as it would not be easy to pass anyone on the singletrack. Unfortunately some others stopped in front of me so I had to push up the first run up but luckily got a good start on the singletrack anyway.

I had decided beforehand to try and keep to a slower speed particularly on the climbs and drags so as not to tire my legs out too quickly, it was going to be a long night. I did the first 5 or 6 laps without too much trouble, stopping briefly a few times to quickly eat/drink something or change bottles or add clothing and put on a knee support bandage. Sometime during a stop Keith informed me that they were having problems with the timing, he said I was in front but we had no idea who was behind me and how far etc.

During the seventh lap I started to feel really tired. I tried to focus on the thought of some hot food at the end of that lap. After a brief respite, I jumped back on my bike and felt much more lively! I had really wanted to do another 5 laps after this but realized time could be a bit tight and still didn't know where the second place female was.

I decided to split the final laps into two lots of two, giving myself some tea in between. I managed a fairly decent couple of laps after the food, this race seemed to be all about eating extensively and drinking tea which was fine by me. I hardly saw any other riders and was starting to think I was on my own, strangely enjoyable! During my final two laps it began to get light which was wonderful after the grimness of the early hours. I sped up and really started enjoying the last moments. On my final lap I passed a female rider on a hill who seemed to recognize me and congratulated me. Later I found out that she was the second place female and had chased after me going out on my lap 9 but luckily I had lapped her. I started getting towards the end around ten minutes before the finish at 8am and slowed down. Since no solo female riders had overtaken me I believed I was in front. Got to just before the finish line and lurked for around five minutes or so, heard the siren and finished the race at dead on 8am. 11 laps, painful but hilarious at times. Having finished and realized that the timing was still up the chute, I said a few “words” to the timing systems operator and went on my merry way!

Final results were 1st place solo female, (3rd solo person overall), and 1st place fastest lap for a female
Big 'Up' to the Bedgebury Boars for all the voluntary time and effort spent on organizing this race and the wonderful marshals who kept everyone safe and entertained through the long night.
Thanks to Keith WXC Team Manager for all your support and ay-up lights were literally brilliant