''Where does the power come from, to see the race to its end?'' - Eric Liddell.

Well I am never asked that question, shame as my answer could be quite philosophical.
I am, however, currently being asked on a regular basis;

‘You’re flying this season, what do you put it down to?’

There is a romantic answer to that question and a practical one.
Ok so it’s simple really (and this is the practical answer), this has been the longest period I have been uninjured for……probably ever! I’ve had a good two years of mostly uninterrupted training. That really is a first (although I’ve probably jinxed it now! J). A persistent knee problem has plagued many seasons and countless years in other sports.

It’s that simple; back to back months and months of hard training and guess what…. you get better.
However alongside that I feel that time is running out. There seems to be an urgency in my attitude. Punishing sessions will take their toll, the body will fail at some point. So I am making the most of it now.

So now to the romantic answer……….. I have been so inspired by my Dad. He died in August but he showed so much bravery in his last few months, never sad, never upset and seemingly totally satisfied with the life he had lead. He put his family first every step of the way and I guess the constant visits from us at his bedside towards the end, made him so happy and content. I have gained so much strength from this. The photo below shows Remembrance Day last year and this year. Mum and Dad together in one and with Mum sadly without him in the other. You never know how long you have got so I’m making every day count.

So yes this cyclocross season is going extremely well; my start has improved, the power is there and I’m making less mistakes. The run up to last weekend’s race, however was a bit of a struggle………

The Saturday beforehand, I had spent seven hours in casualty. I h’d had a rough night feeling sick and then had chest pains at 6am. They became intense and I needed to check that there were no heart issues. As I lay in the hospital bed, feeling weak, I pondered the possibility of being strong enough to race the Trophy the following weekend. Although I did gain so much heart from the faultless lovely nurses who were looking after me. I also witnessed some of the abuse they have to contend with and I left the hospital on the Saturday evening with a sense of relief and thankfulness.

Through Monday and Tuesday I wasn’t sure if I could race but a hard session on the Wednesday confirmed the power was back, so I packed the camper and set off up north again on Thursday morning. I do so love these trips in the campervan.

I split up the trip with an overnight at the Rother Valley Country Park near Sheffield. I arrived on the adjoining camp site with just an hour of daylight left so I quickly jumped on my bike for a lap or two of the park. The Rother Valley Park is just about the best place for cross training there is. The ground is always soggy (I had been here before the 2015 National (blog here)). There seems to be endless paths, drops, cambers, bank and trails. I ride again there on the Friday morning, putting the bike and my legs through their paces. The campsite is actually at the top of a really tough climb and there is even a specific downhill mtb course down the other way.

Then it’s back on the road up to Sunderland. I arrive at the race venue at 3pm, enough time to walk around the course. Well it would have been had I not made a ridiculous error. I had driven into the field designated for motorhomes first and I stupidly decided to check out the far side of the field, downhill!

As I turned at the bottom my wheels immediately got stuck! I was screwed, unable to move.

Right what to do. I walked back to the entrance and started to sweet talk one of the site security chaps, who was leaning against a powerful looking 4x4. Never be scared to ask for help as a few minutes later he was with me in the lower fields, ‘Why on earth did you drive down to the lower field in winter?’ he quipped. I had learnt a lesson; lower field are boggy in winter! Obvious really.

To add to my embarrassment, the kind chap not only had to use his own tow rope as I didn’t have one, but also he had to show me where the tow eye for my van was, he opened up a concealed tool kit in my passenger’s foot well that I didn’t even know was there! Oh well things can only improve. The tow of shame back to the top of the field only took a minute but was good viewing for the now dozen or so campervans who’d had the sense to stay at the top but it did feel good being dragged up, I was sure there would be a point during tomorrow’s race where I could use a tow!

Although I had got to site at 3pm the day before my race, come 0920 the next morning just 20 minutes before the gun, I was panicking with too much still to do. There is a lot of prep and faff required to be ready for a cross race, especially one that starts so early in the morning - getting water, jet washer and spares to the pits, signing on and getting your number, pinning number to your skinsuit, ensuring the chip timer is on your ankle, choosing tyres, choosing trye pressure, practicing on the course, warming up on the rollers, ensuring you kit is ready, ensuring your bikes are ready, getting one bike to the pits, making sure you have eaten/drunk enough, making sure you have strapped a number to your bike for the practice laps and then removing that number before the start (National Trophy rules), and wondering which side to pin the arm number to, as I always forget to ask at sign in! And above all else get to the start before gridding starts! Luckily I have some great help, this season I have teamed up with Matt from WDMBC, who helps me in the pits and it makes the day more fun returning the favour in the later races.

So to the race itself and its windy, very windy on an exposed course. A blinding start had me initially clear of the field and gunning it but by the end of the first lap I was joined by Nick Craig. I continued to push hard into the wind, I didn’t mind dragging Nick behind and front loading my race effort as I knew I was increasing the gap back to third. As the photo below shows the rest of the field is not yet in sight.

To be halfway through the race and still be with Nick was such a thrill, he has been and done just about everything in cycling, multiple times. This does means he has the sense not to help into the wind! Then the inevitable happened as we entered a tricky cambered section of twists and turns; he took the lead for the first time.

‘This is it Sim, lock on to him’ I said to myself but like a steadfast gazelle he seemed to gracefully spin and trot around the obstacles and like a wounded giraffe I fruitlessly flapped and squirmed my way after him. I still have a lot to learn, for after just this short section he is off and clear. I really needed that tow at this point but all I could do was maintain my pace until the finish. I ended up keeping the gap to just 26 seconds, still clear of the chasing pack but really wishing I had had a little shelter from the wind at some point.

I was pleased with that performance after the worry of the previous weekend. I think there is just seven races left this season, and we have only had one muddy one! I am praying for rain now, always more fun in the mud as this photo from a few weeks back shows!

The next trophy is nearer after the treks to Derby, Yorkshire, Scotland and Sunderland! Just around the M25 in Kent in fact. I believe I just have to finish the race to secure second overall. But I will never take good form for granted and I’ll be racing flat out while I still can but next time I will pack a tow rope!