Sri Lanka Airlines Rumble in the Jungle; The highs and lows of racing

I have always been that kid at school. The foreigner with the strange accent. The girl who came from nowhere and never really fitted into any particular group. I did not stand out for being smart, beautiful or sporty for that matter. I just did my thing. I have lived in 8 different countries,  two different hemispheres and often it felt to me that I have gone through life anonymously. Not really belonging to a nationality, a country or even a family. I never really felt the urge to fit in if it did not feel right, and learned that the feeling of loneliness had nothing to do with the amount of people you surrounded yourself with. Always finding my happiness in the solitude of the outdoors. 

It wasn’t until I started racing adventure sports in my early thirties that I felt really at home in a group of people. A deep connection made by sharing the same passion with people from all sorts of different back grounds, nationalities, and walks of life. A shared love for adventure, for the outdoors, for exploring new cultures and countries whilst pushing our own limits to the max physically and mentally. Friendships made based on a fundamental understanding of what made you, you. Friendships which would last a life time. Connecting the dotted lines.  Every time I surrounded myself with these like minded people it felt like coming home and it made me happy in the truest of forms. A feeling which was very easy to get addicted to.

The amazing women of the Jungle 

I did not hesitate for one second when Phil invited me earlier this year to come and race the 5 day MTB stage race, The Rumble in the Jungle which was held in the Sri Lankan mountains. I had already made plans to race the Trans Pyrenees with my adventure buddy Karin Sloove which was raced in the same week. We very quickly changed our plans and signed up for an adventure of a lifetime with MTB World Wide in Sri Lanka. Phil and I had bonded high in the Indian Himalayas suffering through my first and one of the most brutal MTB stage races in the world, the Hero MTB Himalayas. And Phil’s better half Corrine, being the physio at the event, had kept my back in one piece during that time. We had stayed in touch ever since and the thought of catching up with them during another incredible adventure, filled my heart with joy. With Phil also being the organiser of the infamous highest MTB race in the world, the Yak Attack, in Nepal, I knew we were in for a treat!

With familiar faces coming to Sri Lanka in marathonMTB legend Mike Blewitt, Aussi legend Meg Carrigan and the always smiling speedy Karen Hill, plus other athletes I had met at events all over the world, I reassured my friend Karin that we could not have a nicer bunch of people involved when her lack of Mountain bike experience made her doubt her ability to finish the stages every day. 

The days were filled with Sri Lanka’s incredible beauty; From navigating thick jungle, climbing into the high mountains, passing breath taking waterfalls, to taking in the friendly supporting and beautiful smiles of the Sri Lankan locals whilst descending through working thee plantations and navigating exhilarating down hill trails. The organisation was second to none and as a group of riders we had become a tight knit as more and more stories started to unfold. Spare parts changed hands between riders to fix broken bikes and everyone made sure we were all on that start line the next day in the best possible way. Laughter curing the wounded bodies and empathy taking away any doubts of being able to continue. 

Old friends reunited 

Nothing could have prepared us for what ended up unfolding. Nothing could have prevented the tragedy which told the story of day 4. Where in a split second nothing would ever be the same again. Where we were brutally reminded of how precious life really was and that this could have happened to any of us, at any point in time. A freak accident with devastating consequences. A freak accident resulting in the death of one of Nepal’s National MTB legends; Narayan Gopal Maharjan. Putting a brutally sad ending to the 4th edition of The Rumble In The Jungle in Sri Lanka.

The beauty of Sri Lanka 

The way we came together as a group and the smooth progression of events in the following days was a huge credit to the sponsors Sri Lanka Airlines, Lanka Sportreizen and in particular organisers Phil, Corinne and Neil. Deep heartbreak laid within every single one of us, with the loss of one of our own. Equally we had an understanding that this was part of the way we choose to live our life’s in an adventurous but incredible beautiful world. And not wanting to have it any other way. The knowledge that Narayan would have felt the same giving us some form of comfort in the darkest of times. After a small but lovely intimate closing ceremony organised by Sri Lanka Airlines, we heavy heartedly went our separate ways travelling home, changed by a deeply sad experience which will forever connect us. 

Things had been a little cloudy in my head in the last couple of years. With my dearest friends dotted around the world rather than having them in my close proximity. Feeling like a bit of an outcast in my day to day environment. Not quite knowing which direction to take. But simultaneously always gravitating towards a life filled with real emotions. Accepting that with the incredible highs come the heartbreaking lows.  

Now more than ever am I determined to keep following my rocky path of chasing dreams, live the life which sets my heart on fire, in spirit of all the legacies who chose this exact existence but did not get the chance to follow it through. In the spirit of Narayan. A huge thank you to Sri Lanka Airlines, Lanka Sportreizen, Phil, Corinne and Neil for all their support and dealing with an impossible situation with such gratitude and grace. You are all wonderful human beings and I hope to see you very soon.

A beautiful tribute written by Neil;

You were always too quick for me brother, on your bike and with your humour.
On June 13th The global mountain biking community lost one of its own. Nepal lost a son. Many of us lost a beautiful friend. The night sky lost its brightest star.
Narayan Gopal Maharjan @narayangopalmaharjan, who’s cheeky laugh and goofy smile could light up a mountain, and often did, sadly passed away in a tragic incident whilst racing in Sri Lanka. He was a humble, modest, and funny friend to everyone. A ferocious and focussed combatant on a mountain bike, and both a humble winner and a gracious loser. A fine character of a man.
I have only positive memory’s of him.
He was my dear friend and my heart is broken. Many hearts are broken.
Rest in Peace my brother.
Ride swift and true.

Waking up to see another day

Earlier this year my sister was dealing with a serious health scare. For a long two weeks which seemed like an eternity we were awaiting test results, and specialists opinions. It felt unbearable to think about what this could mean for her and her young  beautiful family. Fortunate for us it ended up being the best case scenario coming with a warning to look after ourselves. For a couple of months it made me think about what was important to me and what it was I really wanted. As life can change so quickly.

Last week I heard the news of the passing of a childhood friend, I could not breathe. Her family living the exact nightmare I so feared for my sister. And which we managed to escape. 

Magic ride through my back yard 

I took my bike out that night. Caught up with a couple of friends and we head for the hills which are literally on my doorstep. We have been extremely lucky with the weather lately and a sunny Scotland is absolutely breath taking. This evening was no exception. Everything looked almost a little brighter, a little more colourful and a little more peaceful. I enjoyed riding my bike more than I had for a long time, soaking up the beauty of my surroundings and the positivity of the company I was in. As always happens on the best rides we had to chase daylight on the way home and as I walked into the door Michael asked  me “what are you smiling about?” It was a good ride.

I have had a bit of a love/hate relationship with my body over the last few years. First it was fatigue which I could not get rid off and then I broke my back. Frustrated with a body which simply did not cooperate. A body which in my eyes continuously let me down. I have often felt I was running out of time to do all the crazy sport related things I still wanted to achieve. With the increasing amount of wrinkles taking over my face and often getting out of my bed in the morning moving like an 80 year old women. Fighting the fact that I was getting older. I was reminded this week however that growing old is a privilege. And it hit home hard.

Next week I will be heading to Sri Lanka for a 5 day MTB stage race in the mountains with one of my best friends. My training has been mainly based around rehabilitation for my back injury and I am not entirely sure if I actually have proper endurance yet. But I also know that if I was asked to ride it tomorrow, I would and I could. The question being how fast? I have been struggling with accepting how much my injury has hacked into me and the feeling of not being competitive anymore.

I absolutely love training, and I love training hard. I love pushing my limits. And therefore I love racing. But what I love more than the actual physical aspect of it all, is the beautiful places my bike has taken me and the beautiful people I get to meet. I might never gain the strength I once had or the speed to be competitive. But as long as I am alive and mobile, the pure enjoyment of riding a bike through beautiful scenery or an exhilarating descent which makes me feel so very much incredibly alive, will always be there. And that really gives me more happiness than any podium ever will. 

Scotland has seen some amazing weather

How to prepare for a 5 day MTB stage race in a hot humid country like Sri Lanka? My advice would be just enjoy riding your bike as much as you can. I am not saying I don’t train hard to get ready for these events and I certainly do a lot of high intensity sets on the turbo and long rides to mimic the strain my body will endure racing. But I do these things because I love doing them, not just to prepare myself for races. Its a life style for me incorporated with a busy and demanding job as a veterinarian. 

Now more than ever I would really like to inspire people to not wait for life to happen but make life happen here and now. I often hear people say “I will do it next year, I am not fit enough yet, I am not ready” But what if next year won’t be there? Injury can strike anytime, circumstances change. If you love riding your bike go ride it, if you dream of doing an event, go enter it. And tell yourself you can do it. Because you really can. 

It has been a slow process letting go of my competitive mind and the disappointment that comes with not meeting my own expectations. But if I have learned anything from the last few months is to not take life for granted. I am here, I am living and I am still able to do what I love doing albeit at a different pace. I am looking forward for a trip of a life time to Sri Lanka and I will consciously enjoy every aspect of it.  For everyone  who has been taken away from their lives way to soon; I will laugh a little louder, smile a little bigger and walk through life a little slower.

"Childhood friendships are the most beautiful memories which can never be replaced "