The Decision to Race
After months of contemplating entering a race—and chickening out on my first attempt—I finally mustered the courage to put my name down for a competition. The event: a 25-mile time trial on an anti-clockwise loop around Northumberland, including parts of the east coastal route. With no real idea of how fast I could complete a time trial, I managed to squeeze in two practice runs on the course. Unfortunately, the second attempt was plagued by stops at traffic lights and slow-moving traffic. To top it off, both were hindered by strong westerly winds. Despite these setbacks, my first attempt gave me a time to beat: 1 hour, 8 minutes, and 36 seconds.
Race Day: Sunday, September 1st
The morning of the race arrived—a grey, brisk day with autumn temperatures beginning to set in. I woke up promptly, a mix of nerves and excitement bubbling inside me. My cycling gear was laid out, ready to be slipped into, and my bike was packed and prepped in the van. I quickly snacked on some light carbs, tried my best to hydrate, and downed some Tynemouth coffee before heading out.
Pre-Race Routine
Registration was smooth and welcoming, but attaching my race number proved to be a bit of a challenge—lesson learned for next time! I spent the next few minutes doing warm-up laps up and down Pegswood High Street, stretching out my legs and trying to flush out the jitters.
The Start Line
Before I knew it, I was at the start line, observing the riders in front of me. Should I be held up? Go it alone? When my turn came, I opted to be held up—a weird feeling, being fully clipped in, hands on the handlebars, yet motionless. I leaned slightly to one side, feeling like I might topple over. But then, the countdown began: 5, 4, 3, 2, GO! And I was off!
The Race
The wind had shifted to come from the east, meaning the first section of the race would be straight into a headwind. Thankfully, the initial fast downhill section helped mitigate the impact. I passed through the first two roundabouts with ease, and suddenly, I was flying through the first segment of the course. This was it—I was actually in a race! The jitters melted away as the power built in my legs.
The songs I had listened to the night before played in my head, the rhythm of guitars, drums, and bass lines electrifying me with each pedal stroke. Another roundabout passed with minimal interference, and I faced the first climb. A little lift out of the saddle, a push through the heels, and I was over the brow, opening up to views of the northeast coast and a faint whiff of salty sea air.
Head down, I powered north as the road meandered through coastal countryside. The halfway point approached and passed. The intensity continued to build as I began to increase my watts. My fans—my dad and son—waved from the side of the road as I passed through Acklington. What had been a grueling slog into a 25mph headwind during my practice run was now a fast spin with a lovely tailwind through the quaint countryside town.
The Final Stretch
Some winding country roads followed, and I was passed by a few speedier riders on their TT bikes. The temptation to follow was strong, but I stuck to my plan—head down, target watts on. Before long, I was back at Widdrington, and the final leg of the course was on! Filled with adrenaline, my legs surged as I saw bikes approaching from the front. Each rider I passed felt like a power-up, a boost of energy and confirmation that I was doing this—and doing it well!
One final hurdle approached: a choke point, a traffic-calming island on the entrance to Longhirst. This spot had forced me to stop on my second training run. As I neared it, my focus sharpened. A car in the distance—was it close enough to cause trouble? No, I was clear! I whizzed through and took the final left turn. My Wahoo beeped, flashing with a message: “LAST PUSH, GO FOR IT!” Grabbing the drops, I lifted out of the saddle and pushed with everything I had for the final 200 meters.
The Finish
What an experience! My heart raced, my body vibrated with excitement as I crossed the finish line. I slowly pedaled back to HQ, a grin plastered across my face. My final time? 1:07:46—a personal best and a result that filled me with pride. The rush of competition, the thrill of the ride, and the satisfaction of a job well done made every moment worth it.
Post-Race: Cake Time!
After the race, I indulged in some well-deserved cake—a sweet reward for a hard-fought effort. Reflecting on the day, I realized how far I’d come since hesitating to enter that first race. I’m now more determined than ever to keep racing, keep improving, and keep chasing that next challenge.
Reflections
• Lessons Learned: From learning how to properly attach a race number to managing pre-race nerves, this race taught me a lot about preparation and mindset. • Future Goals: With a new FTP and newfound confidence, I’m already looking ahead to my next race—a 3.5 km hill climb. This time, I’m aiming for another personal best.