'No More Demons' was the name of our team
for our second attempt at Sleepless. Our first
attempt the year before had failed as we lost
two team members mid race to illness and
injury. This year things were going to be
different, not only were we going to finish
there was talk of doing well. Friday morning
came, time to pack and get ready...and answer
the phone to Mark (one of the team). After
over a week of illness he had woken up feeling
rough and in no condition to race. This lead to
an intense session on the phone but after
about 20 minutes my house mate, Paul B,
walked into the kitchen. "Ermm...are you doing
anything this weekend....??". Result, we had
four team members again.
With Sabine working we finally managed to get
down to Catton Park for 8pm, after getting stung
for our second attempt at Sleepless. Our first
attempt the year before had failed as we lost
two team members mid race to illness and
injury. This year things were going to be
different, not only were we going to finish
there was talk of doing well. Friday morning
came, time to pack and get ready...and answer
the phone to Mark (one of the team). After
over a week of illness he had woken up feeling
rough and in no condition to race. This lead to
an intense session on the phone but after
about 20 minutes my house mate, Paul B,
walked into the kitchen. "Ermm...are you doing
anything this weekend....??". Result, we had
four team members again.
With Sabine working we finally managed to get
down to Catton Park for 8pm, after getting stung
for £7 on the M6 toll due to my bike trailer and some very small print on the charges
sign....@#**?. Thankfully we found Paul Ps caravan and got our the tents sorted not
too long after sunset. Later Liz, Emma and Claire of the MBR womens team dropped
sign....@#**?. Thankfully we found Paul Ps caravan and got our the tents sorted not
too long after sunset. Later Liz, Emma and Claire of the MBR womens team dropped
by and so we settled in for some food and talk of
the next days race. The next morning I was soon
tucking into my bacon and egg sandwich, and
anything else I thought I could digest before the
race started. It was then time to sign up and,
while on the way there and back, get collared by
Liz to sort out some mechanical issues on her
bike. Not her fault though as some light
fingered @$%# had nicked her bike and this one
was borrowed. With Lizs' bike sorted the four of
us set off on a pre-race ride of the course. It
was good to know where we were going but not
the next days race. The next morning I was soon
tucking into my bacon and egg sandwich, and
anything else I thought I could digest before the
race started. It was then time to sign up and,
while on the way there and back, get collared by
Liz to sort out some mechanical issues on her
bike. Not her fault though as some light
fingered @$%# had nicked her bike and this one
was borrowed. With Lizs' bike sorted the four of
us set off on a pre-race ride of the course. It
was good to know where we were going but not
Breakfast of Champions
| PaulP on the run |
| PaulP "I think I've got a flat!!" |
| Me on my first lap climbing from the start then exiting the bombhole near the end |
so good that PaulBs' saddle pack had come open and he lost his repair kit and
multi-tool.
Before we knew it, it was nearly 2pm and time to watch PaulP start the race. He
set off near the front for the run and it wasn't long after the leading bunch got
multi-tool.
Before we knew it, it was nearly 2pm and time to watch PaulP start the race. He
set off near the front for the run and it wasn't long after the leading bunch got
| PaulB near the end of his first lap |
back that he returned to grab his bike off the railings for his first lap in the saddle. Waiting by the hairpin
on the other side of thestart area my nerves were building upwondering when Paul would reappear on his
first of two laps. Things calmed down a bit when he came into sight after about 30mins but that didn't last
long as he shouted on his way past that he thought he had a puncture and I should get ready to go out. A
short dash saw me waiting in the coral for the change over only to be told everything was actually alright as
Paul came out of the timing tent and set off for his second lap. This lap there were no problems and I was
soon out on the circuit for my first of two. I was still a bit pumped up and had to remind myself it was a long
race after losing the front end in some loose dirt in the first sections of singletrack and hitting the jump in
the field too hard, landing heavily on the front wheel. The first lap went well but with the course dialled the
second lap felt even better. It was then Neils turn to go out as I headed back to the tent for a change of
clothes and a refuel. Back at camp there was quick discussion on a change of tactics to a our next time out
switching from double laps to single laps to organize ourselves better for the night. We all managed to put
on the other side of thestart area my nerves were building upwondering when Paul would reappear on his
first of two laps. Things calmed down a bit when he came into sight after about 30mins but that didn't last
long as he shouted on his way past that he thought he had a puncture and I should get ready to go out. A
short dash saw me waiting in the coral for the change over only to be told everything was actually alright as
Paul came out of the timing tent and set off for his second lap. This lap there were no problems and I was
soon out on the circuit for my first of two. I was still a bit pumped up and had to remind myself it was a long
race after losing the front end in some loose dirt in the first sections of singletrack and hitting the jump in
the field too hard, landing heavily on the front wheel. The first lap went well but with the course dialled the
second lap felt even better. It was then Neils turn to go out as I headed back to the tent for a change of
clothes and a refuel. Back at camp there was quick discussion on a change of tactics to a our next time out
switching from double laps to single laps to organize ourselves better for the night. We all managed to put
in good times on these even PaulB
given that in the last wooded
section his chain exploded. With
his chain tool he managed to fix
the chain in 10mins, in the dark,
but was cursing loosing his repair
kit that contained the split link
which would have made things a
lot easier. The singles were then
followed by PaulP then me putting
in a double lap. I only just made
given that in the last wooded
section his chain exploded. With
his chain tool he managed to fix
the chain in 10mins, in the dark,
but was cursing loosing his repair
kit that contained the split link
which would have made things a
lot easier. The singles were then
followed by PaulP then me putting
in a double lap. I only just made
PaulB halfway round (above) and near
the end (right) of his second lap
the end (right) of his second lap
| PaulP waiting for PaulB to come in for our 9th lap changeover |
mine as my P7 developed a last minute mechanical but everyone dived
in and swapped my number,bottle cage and back up light onto my
full-sus like an F1 pit crew. I got to the corral on time but found racing
a Trek Liquid for two laps to be a lot more hard work. I finished mine
in and swapped my number,bottle cage and back up light onto my
full-sus like an F1 pit crew. I got to the corral on time but found racing
a Trek Liquid for two laps to be a lot more hard work. I finished mine
| PaulP finishes a one lap flyer |
two laps at 11pm to be told, when handing over to Neil, that he had fixed the P7 - big thanks for that.
The plan was to then put in a triple lap stint each that would take us through to about 8am and allow us all
to get a decent amount of sleep. I got back and quietly swapped everything back onto the P7, well I
thought so till PaulP look through the caravan window and told me to keep the noise down, oops. I then
shoveled down a big plate of pasta before getting some sleep. Neil got woken from his sleep as me and
The plan was to then put in a triple lap stint each that would take us through to about 8am and allow us all
to get a decent amount of sleep. I got back and quietly swapped everything back onto the P7, well I
thought so till PaulP look through the caravan window and told me to keep the noise down, oops. I then
shoveled down a big plate of pasta before getting some sleep. Neil got woken from his sleep as me and
Sabine got confused over who was out when, sorry - again!, but at least I didn't miss my
6am hand over with PaulP. This is where my problems began, with having the pasta I
6am hand over with PaulP. This is where my problems began, with having the pasta I
thought the three laps would be covered with abanana at the start
and two energy gels for while I'm out should keep me going.
Wrong! By halfway round the first lap I could feel my stomach was
empty. My energy quicklydrained away and I began wondering if I
would manage two more laps and whether I should get someone
out of bed to take over. I slowed, eventually stopping knackered
and dribbling at the bottom of the rooty climb near the end of the
lap. Taking my energy gel early I got going again and felt like I had
and two energy gels for while I'm out should keep me going.
Wrong! By halfway round the first lap I could feel my stomach was
empty. My energy quicklydrained away and I began wondering if I
would manage two more laps and whether I should get someone
out of bed to take over. I slowed, eventually stopping knackered
and dribbling at the bottom of the rooty climb near the end of the
lap. Taking my energy gel early I got going again and felt like I had
Me in a bad way
| Me in the corral |
| Checking my time before handing over to PaulB |
got my second wind at the start of the next lap.
The effect didn't last long and I soon slowed
down again, stopping earlier than on the
previous lap. With my last gel down me I set
off determined now to complete my third lap to
leteveryone else get their rest. I sped up
again as the gel kicked in but halfway round
the lap my head was on the bars and I had no
The effect didn't last long and I soon slowed
down again, stopping earlier than on the
previous lap. With my last gel down me I set
off determined now to complete my third lap to
leteveryone else get their rest. I sped up
again as the gel kicked in but halfway round
the lap my head was on the bars and I had no
| Neil finishing his penultimate lap |
Me setting out on my final lap
more food left. I was now desperately
asking anyone who passed if they had some spare food and, after a few
heartfelt apologies, I was given a Geo-bar. This got me to the bottom of
the rooty climb where I managed to scrounge a figroll of another
heartfelt apologies, I was given a Geo-bar. This got me to the bottom of
the rooty climb where I managed to scrounge a figroll of another
wonderful human being.You both know who you
are, so if you read this - Thank you very much!
Those two morsels were enough to get me to the
end of lap three and the handover with Neil.
White and ready to collapse I made my way back
to the tent where Sabine supplied me with all the
food I wanted. She then wrapped me in a
sleeping bag after I had put on all my thermals as
are, so if you read this - Thank you very much!
Those two morsels were enough to get me to the
end of lap three and the handover with Neil.
White and ready to collapse I made my way back
to the tent where Sabine supplied me with all the
food I wanted. She then wrapped me in a
sleeping bag after I had put on all my thermals as
| Neil crosses the line at the end and gets to shake Pats hand |
despite the sun I was cold. With a bit of a reshuffle I got about 2hrs rest before going out for one more lap.
I had recovered well and rode the whole lap quite quickly, with no pushing or stopping. Two hours later,
after a bit of a discussion over who would do the last lap, we all watched Neil come over the line to
complete our 37th lap and shake Pats hand. We had done it, shaken off the Demons from last year and
finished. Not long after Liz came across the line with a 3rd place for the Womens MBR Team. So before
packing the tent we stayed to cheer them on as all four of them took their place on the podium.
It was painful, challenging and fun(??!!) an excellent event that I will be back for next year. I got to push
myself to a different set of my limits and learn a lot because of that. I think I might enter more than one
24hr next year..I kind of liked it...although not solo.....not yet..............
I had recovered well and rode the whole lap quite quickly, with no pushing or stopping. Two hours later,
after a bit of a discussion over who would do the last lap, we all watched Neil come over the line to
complete our 37th lap and shake Pats hand. We had done it, shaken off the Demons from last year and
finished. Not long after Liz came across the line with a 3rd place for the Womens MBR Team. So before
packing the tent we stayed to cheer them on as all four of them took their place on the podium.
It was painful, challenging and fun(??!!) an excellent event that I will be back for next year. I got to push
myself to a different set of my limits and learn a lot because of that. I think I might enter more than one
24hr next year..I kind of liked it...although not solo.....not yet..............
| The MBR Womens Team |
| Julia starting with the run |
| Liz starting her first lap then emerging from the trees approaching the bombhole |
| Liz crosses the finish line to be congratulated by Pat |
| Emma, Liz, Claire and Julia |
| Emma completing a lap |
Specialised Ladies (1st), Stripy Badgers
(2nd and absent), MBR Womens Team (3rd)
(2nd and absent), MBR Womens Team (3rd)