Oh no, not the woods again!

This is the story of our first Adventure Race of 2007 in Drumlanrig. A five hour race - see www.scottishadventureracing.com

You'd have thought we would have learnt from last year. The woods of Drumlanrig are some like of mystical forest with paths that disappear, gates that appear from nowhere and quite frankly, bl**dy frustrating! We just couldnt find that "hobbit house" - was it because I never managed to read the Tolkein tome, or was it a compass error? Blame it on the map. Yes, the map was wrong. Well, everyone else we met in the woods thought so too.

What a relief when after an hour we found our first "DIBBER". And "DIBBED". (That is inserted the thing that is tied around your wrist into the electronic device attached to whatever point you have reached). We shared this excitement with a couple of other girls who were equally lost and bewildered by the mystical forest. The roots had even decided to puncture this poor girls tyre - and although she was carrying a bike pump (essential kit) she wasnt really sure if it would work. So we lent her ours and I had my first cheese break.

Huge relief as we finally hit the road and flew down the hills heading for the bike drop. Bit nervous about this one as we were trying our hand at navigating on the hills under pressure for the first time. But to our suprise and amazement we got it quickly sussed and picked up a heap of different points in the hills. But it was the BULLS this time that thwarted us. Some one please tell me how at a distance (and this was with our contact lenses in) you can tell the difference between a cow and bull (ADD A COMMENT IF YOU KNOW). If there is no udder does that mean it is a Bull?? We got the fear and backtracked on two occasions!

It was only when we got to the bottom of the hill that I think Jacs had her first food! She had kept going for 4 hours without eating! (Reminder to self to let Jacs know when I am eating so she remembers - must have been all the adrenaline!) But I am a CHEESE MONSTER, so any excuse for a morsel..

So at 5.15 and with just 45 mins to go we decided to try to get one more point in the forest before heading back. But it was a fair old pull up the hills and Jacs suddenly hit an energy slump, felt really faint and looked like she might keel. "JELLY BABIES" I cried "Stuff them in" - I had learnt this technique for helping your team member from Jacs the year before when I hit a few energy slumps!. Not sure how many she ate, but WOW - back again and up for the next points.

So a final fly down the trails back to Drumlanrig Estate for the activities at the end if we had time. And this is where it comes full circle and the forest starts playing tricks on us again. One all mighty hughe wrought iron gate with a high fence on a steeply sloping bank. Before I could blink Jacs was over - "just pass the bikes to me". What a fluster. Was exhausted. Lift the bikes over this fence! Managed somehow to get the bikes over, but I fear for Jackies back having done this in a particularly cack-handed way. I need to practice my bike lifting technique apparently. (Oh and also how to go fast through mud - now that sounds like more fun to practice!)

Just 4 mins to spare and we were back home. OK, so we didnt get that many points (but we didnt come last either). And in the two hour drive home so many plans and ideas for next time. Think we'll do the eight hour race next time.

Training session tonight in the Pentlands ...... And Jacs has been doing her reading about sports nutrition - my biggest fear - she is going to tell me that Cheese isnt appropriate as a racing food... !