I arrived at Glentress at about 7.20am, to ensure that I would get a place track side to pop up my gazebo for my pit / rest area. I'd received an email earlier in the week to say that spaces were limited, and would be issued on a first come first served basis from 7.30am.
Anyway, to cut a long story short, all the spaces had been reserved for clubs, so there was nothing available.
A bad start, not only for me, but for the couple of hundred of other people who'd had a similar idea, and were now filling up the temporary car park.
I took a walk around the lower part of the course, and spotted the ideal location for the gazebo. The only problem was, it was in the grounds of Glentress Forest Lodges, next to their wigwams. I chanced my arm, and asked the owner if it would be OK to set up a pit area for the day. He said for a fiver, we could set up camp, use his nice porcelain toilets (much better than the portaloos) and there were even showers. What a saviour.
All this time setting up camp, breaking it all down again, and re-setting it up again meant i missed the riders breifing - something that would come back to haunt me later in the day.
On the start line, I had managed to get a position near to the middle of the pack. My plan was to put in lap times of under 67mins . This would enable me to acheive my target of 7 laps.
After the buzzer went to signal the start, I headed off at quite a quick pace for me. Everyone in front was pulling away from me quickly, but fortunately, i wasn't being passed by anyone from behind.
Half way round lap one, I was feeling terrible. My breakfast was sitting in my stomach, and I was feeling sick. I struggled on, only drinking water for the next two laps, and thankfully the sickness passed. The rain had been falling steadily all morning, and was now quite heavy.
Laps 3 - 6 were pretty uneventful, just peddling on, still acheiving my target time. No let up in the rain though. I had managed my target times all day, so by starting my last lap prior to the 4.45pm, i was guarenteed to acheive my 7 lap target...
Or so I thought.
I was taking my time on lap 7, there was no hurry after all. I chatted to every marshall on the way round to thank them for their support during the miserable day. It was a lonely lap, i think i only saw another two riders on the way round, who both passed me at great speed.
When I made my way up the short climb to the transition area for the last time, i was greeted my an MC who announced to the gathered crowd that I had missed the finishing time by 8 minutes.
To say I was gutted was an understatement. I could have easily taken 8 mins off my lap time. If only i'd gone to the riders briefing, i'd have heard the change to the rules, and i'd have acheived my 7th lap.
Oh well, must try harder next year.
Next event - PCC Drit Crit - Fin's First race
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