I was listening out for an incomprehensible scottish brogue. Shame you couldn't make it. Important things come first though.

As for me, well thank gawd but I made it. Reached the half way hut feeling great at about 2:40 in so I was doing a good pace. My first mistake (okay going a bit to hard without enough training probably was) was stopping there to refill my camelbak (I ran out of water at the end of the race so lucky I stopped). Got back on the bike and my left hammy cramped up straight away. Fought the bloody thing for the entire rest of the race. Still felt like I had more to give energy wise, but anytime I tried to push on it'd be cramp city. Riding up hills was an annoying juggling act of actually getting up them, and relaxing enough to keep the cramps away. Flats were okay, and I was as fast as anyone down the hills.

Course was completely farked. First half was a little bit of sand, and a ****load of rocks. I think I broke my arse. Second half was a stupid big hill we had to carry our bikes up, then just sand, sand, sand. I've never ridden on so much sand in my life. On the last big downhill, theyd graded the thing before the race and by the time I got through there it was just 6 inch deep sandy ****. Bloody hair raising hooting down the hill at a gazillion miles and hour thought this rutted stuff, jumping the drainage banks and praying to jaysus that when I landed I wouldn't dig in and smash myself to bits.

If I look at my heart rate graph and compare it to the Alpine Classic where I bombed out, I actually went a lot harder in this. Ride times were almost the same but average heart rate was 150 compared to alpines 137. While I was doing it I was telling myself I'd never ride another bike again. A day later I'm pleased I did it and looking forward to doing it again.