This year I have been accepted to take part in the UK’s toughest
and most prized off road bikepacking race the Highland Trail 550 (mile).

I had originally planned to undertake this race in 2020, off
the back of months of training and events the race was cancelled. I had to
defer again in 2021 due to a very important family wedding, so here we are in
2022, Cap number 12 on the start line out of 24 women and 59 men.

The self supported route will take me though the most remote
parts of the Scottish Highlands to test my mental and physical strength to the
absolute maximum (cycling / pushing 16-18 hours a day)! Resupply is split up by
large distances often just a local shop or café every 200km. I will have to
carry everything I need including tent, cooking supplies and food. Water will
be 100% from streams and rivers.

The route is typically done in around 10 or so days,
however, during the race start on the 28^th May, competitors will try
to complete the event in 5-6 days, with the fastest completing it in 4,
depending on the weather conditions at the time.

For me, I will just be happy to get around in one piece with
no ill health side effects.

I have been upping my training hard from January, and I have
now only just decided that im really ready to give it a competitive shot.

Pre-covid, I had been doing yearly fundraisers for the Kinder
Mountain Rescue (KMR), supported by my Employer WSP UK Ltd. I have raised
thousands of pounds for KMR with WSP also matching a proportion of the money
raised. As covid has given me a couple of years off, I am now picking this back
up again to support my charity of choice to help fund its continued good work
in and around the Peak District where so many of us take great enjoyment.

For the race, I and all the participants will be carrying
SPOT satellite trackers linked to a live mapping system where you can “dot
watch” in real time our progress around the 550mile route. 

Link here:

http://trackleaders.com/highland22

As per previous years, any donations that I receive will be matched / contributed to by WSP in bands such as upto £250, £250 to £500, £500 to £1000 and over £1000. So the more i raise the more WSP contribute.

Thank you for donating, it means so much to me, and will
really help me complete this course when I undoubtably get the demons in my
head telling me to quit!

If your interested to know more about the event, the below
link provides more information.

https://highlandtrail550.weebly.com/about.html

Full race preview and commentary here:

https://dotwatcher.cc/race/ht550-2022