Got up at 5am (ouch) after about 3.5 hours sleep (thank god I actually slept!) which is perfectly doable, if I had no sleep at all it would have been more difficult.
Car packed and set off at 6am, the drive there was quiet and fluid, arrived at Uttoxeter Racecourse at 7.20 - I was the 2nd car there!
100 milers started at 9am (a bit late for them in my opinion) the 100km start at 9.15
I joined a long queue at 9.10, as they were starting people in bunches it took another 20 minutes to actually start.
Within half a mile I found myself going uphill which was a bit cruel.
20 minutes later I found myself going with the flow following a small pack.
My computer then flashed up offroute, I initially thought they had likely changed the course slightly (has happened before) about 2 minutes later it dawned on me the pack leaders were possibly not doing the sportive! I pulled in and checked the route on my Bryton, yep we were heading in the opposite direction to the course! I turned around and rode back to the turning the Bryton pointed to - the signs were there on the corner but a little hard to spot.
I soon found myself going with the flow again, the route was fairly flat and rolling and averaged 14.5 mph to the first teastop at mile 20-ish.
The teastop was decent, no sponsored gels or crap just good old honest cake, sweets and biscuits on offer, enough choice to choose from too. A nice bonus was hot drinks available.
After teastop no.1 the route took us into the Peaks, quite a few long underlations but nothing overly steep, more long leg sappers than anything, all ok if you pace it well. The views along the top were brilliant in particular wotsit water.
Felt good but slightly leg sapped by the time I got to the second tea stop (mile 40ish) more tea and cake please :)
After the 2nd teastop I had 17 miles left and thought it would be bit of a breeze, wrong! about 15 miles before the end more undulations started occuring again, started to feel like a neverending slog.
The last 5 miles were downhill and flat thank gawd!
Rolled into HQ feeling accomplished and happy, an added bonus was the hotdog at the end, it tasted divine!
Overall one of the best sportives I have taken part in, brilliant day out on a quiet countryside route, couldn't have routed it better myself! I had entered while they had a half price sale on (£12.50) which was a bargain but wouldn't have grumbled at paying full price.
They usually do the same sportive again but in the opposite direction in September, I shall look out for the announcement!
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