“Fractures well cured make us more strong”

 - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Can't let extra metal get in the way....

My fantastic and inspirational coach, Kate Potter from A Quality Ride Coaching, sent me this quote a few months ago. It feels very appropriate now that nearly a year has passed since my crash and, with my biggest challenge so far just around the corner, I want to celebrate just how far I have come.

To mark the 1 year anniversary of my accident, I am racing 12 hour solo at Bontrager 24:12 – in just 6 days time.

Final training is going well. Plenty of resting, mixed in with some riding, some hill reps and a sneaky bit of racing.

I hadn't planned on racing at Mountain Mayhem this year – I was supposed to be providing pit support for friends from the Tunnel Hill Trolls – but one of their riders broke her hand 4 days before so I offered to help out by doing a few laps. Well, I'm sure the stories of the 'muddiest ever Mayhem' (read my friend Lou's blog for more details!) have reached most corners of the world by now so those 'few laps' turned out to be just 2, very long laps! Despite a lot of walking, pushing, slogging, sliding and pedalling through bogs I got plenty of sleep and a physio session with Duncan from Midas Physio this week has meant that my legs are now feeling pretty sprightly and ready to go for next weekend.

Other than working, this week will be spent getting all my kit clean and ready, sorting out the bikes, packing everything up and relaxing! On Friday morning I'll be heading down with my friend and fellow solo racer Jo to meet up with the Mountain Trax team and get everything set up. The team are staying in some self-catering accommodation off site so a hot shower and good night's sleep should be guaranteed. Nice to have a little bit of luxury – which will be good if the weather isn't so pleasant!

My only goal for this race is to finish – proving a point to any of the health professionals who thought I might not race again. Whatever the outcome I have a bottle of champagne ready to enjoy when it's all over!

Don't forget – if you can spare a bit of cash for a good cause, I'm raising money for Wiltshire Air Ambulance who airlifted my when I had my cash. Donations can be made on my JustGiving page. Thanks for your support!

Thanks as always to Mountain Trax, Kate and Ian at AQR Coaching, Duncan at Midas Physio and my family and friends for their ongoing support.