In January, Vicky (29), Kat (28), Ellie (31) and myself  (Linda, 30) decided to get together to get fit and start a new adventure, whilst raising money for a charity that we all want to support.  We decided to form 'The Little Misses' and enter an adventure race in mountain biking and walking... and raise money for a charity close to each one of our hearts.  We  know people very close to us who have been affected by cancer and we think Maggie's centres provide an amazing service.
 
We are all teachers and have therefore called ourselves 'The little Misses'.   The challenge is Monster Bike and Hike for 'Maggie's' cancer charity in May.  This involves a 30mile mountain bike run and then a 22mile walk straight on top to raise money for these cancer support centres.  None of us have ever done as big a challenfe.  We are all desperate to do something worthwhile and meaningful to all of us, get fit, get outside again, have a giggle and an adventure!  

We are all kind of outdoorsy and each one of us have our own strengths (none of which are mountain biking!).  I have done a wee bit of mountain biking on the odd occassion over the past years but need to build on cardio and strength. I haved dabbled in almost every outdoor sport in the past and become an expert in being a generalist but not an expert in anything ...if you know what I mean! 

Vicky is my oldest and dearest friend from Uni, who has will power of steel and strength and is really determined to raise money for Maggie's. She's like Zena Princess warrier- gorgeous, strong willed and tough.  She's competitive as hell and whether she's knackered or not will just keep going!  Watch out competitors!
 
Ellie and kat are good friends I met last year when we all went to Uganda to work with Head teachers in schools in Masindi district to help with school development.  It was an incredible experience where we worked in a designated school with the head teacher and also tracked chimps, trekked to Murchison falls, drank the local gin from pouches 'waragi' and got on like a house on fire.   We were all keen to make an impact and help provide sustainable ideas and support to continue to improve the education system out there.
 
Kat is the blond, quiet, pretty one with grit and determination behind her quiet demenour. Kat dabbles in running and was a member of 'military training' last year where she did press ups in Glasgow parks in the middle of winter, face down in puddles... but still managed to maintain a stylish edge and pretty hair- bizarre! 

Ellie is the leader of the pack- she swims (which she doesn't even really consider as excercise!), goes to the gym fairly regularly and is Miss motivator.   She has dedication, will power, direction and get up and go! 

This is a big challenge for all of us but with your support, we are all confident that we can conquer the challenge!  Please help by sponsoring us.  We appreciate any donation that you can manage.

Thanks on behalf of all of us

Linda

:)

What to do
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Then, book some tickets for our charity night on the 26th April!

 
First Training Session (Jan) 
  We had our first training session on Saturday which was a laugh!  It was just the four of us and between us we faffed tons but got our heads in mountan bike mode.  We started in Milngavie and headed out along the west highland way towards Drumgoyne distillary (where Vicky hoped that we would stop for a pint!)  It was damp, windy and grey but we all remembered how the weather is never actually as bad as it looks once  you are out...
 
  Kat just bought her first helmet which she was exctatic about as it was her first piece of kit.  She had trailed Glasgow for a shop to hire her bike.  Vicky had borrowed a friends bike which was like a seventeen hand horse and she could just touch her toes down.  Ellie and I spent an hour trying to get three bikes onto a two bike carrier to meet a waiting and expectant Vicky and Kat at Milngavie station.  We then spent another hour trying to figure out how to work a bike pump on the wee strange nipple type valve on v's bike, bent the pin, could't close it and headed off with Vicky on half pumped up tyres that we then twice tried to remedy as the journey progressed... (this gave me lovely stiff muscles the next day after not having used my arm muscles over the christmas period!)
 
After heading into Mugdock park, we saw that there were diversion signs- which we obligingly followed... only to discover that they were old- half of the signs had been taken down but enough were up to lead you completely in the wrong direction before realising that you had come to an unknown place and unsure of the next port of call.  I got my map out, but having normally relied on other folks to read them found myself having to wake my brain up and problem solve/ guess our way toward the distillary.
 
The stiles also took a bit of getting used to as the park have lovely stone dyke stiles which are in the shape of spirals- perfect to deter christmas fitness girlies on their first ride out... we manged but just... Vicky got stuck in the middle of one much to the stubborn girls unamusement!!
 
(By this stage the hikers had gotten to know us well as we had leap frogged one another throughout the whole trip as we stopped to- figure out how to pump up tyres,figure out how to put a chain back on, read the map, drink lucozade, blether, read a map again, catch our breath, blether again, stop to decide what to do etc etc...)
 
Eventually, it started doing the good old Scottish thing and the heavens opened.  We had been out for a couple of hours and had realised all of the things we need to think about for the next trip.  One important factor might have been a waterproof for Kat!!  I definately don't want to repeat that kind of faff in front of anyone we know but as a wee practice run, we all realised what we needed for next time, got our legs and bodies warmed up, our saddle seats are developing and our enthusiasm growing...  Vicky now wants to do some sort of course to figure out how to service your bike as this whole not being able to pump up the tyres will not do... and the last thing we want to do is ask a boy!  :)