Jez Scarratt
So why do I mtb to such an
extreme...It all boils down to I didn't want to join JUST
the Army when I left school I wanted something MUCH
better.... So I joined the Royal Marines instead...Seven years
of hard soldiering passed before I was left lying in the road
after a motorbike accident with my right leg hanging in
bits... So I had no choice but to have it amputated below the
knee.
I had always kept myself fit
and this reflected in my Royal Marines Medical Board in 1982
making me the first amputee to be kept on in the Royal
Marines. I eventually left the Marines in 1991 and was still
keeping fit generally by running as a normally able bodied
person would do. This was quite detrimental to my stump and
basically everything that controls the body when running...So
I eventually phased running out of my exercise routine and
gradually replaced it by cycling...
Serious cycling started at 37
years with my mates entering local xc races in the South West.
This soon moved onto the more serious distances by the year
2000; 100k Enduros were just the start. After this I guess I
was hooked on the pain, exhaustion, camaraderie and sheer
pleasure of finishing a grueling event. Then I had to have a
much more hideous challenge and that came in the form of 12
and 24 hour solo's; Purely because of what I would describe as
the comparatively large physical challenge that it requires,
followed by the more massive mental challenge that goes along
with it. This mental aspect is the baby that you need to have
with you - Because if that isn't there, don't bother!
Initially it got a bit
exhausting having to speak to everyone that seemed to pass me
saying "Respect mate, Well done, Fantastic effort" etc. Then I
would have to explain as to why I'm doing all this. But alas
after what seems like a lifetime, people have sort of stopped
gawping and have now actually accepted me as an endurance
racer just like lots of the guys and gals out there. The
majority of racers by now know me as an individual, not just
my leg.
At least it seems that way.
Quite often as in most races when you pass people and they see
you do have only one leg, I think it sort of spurs them on and
this can often make them up their general pace, and its such a
good feeling. An even better feeling when they are 20 years
younger and they can't keep up!!
I first entered Pat's
Specialized Enduro and Sleepless In The Saddle when it all
started at Trentham Gardens, and soon got to realise that
after the Enduro 6 there was something rather good about
riding on your own, but at the same time riding amongst lots
of other riders doing the same event. Solo riding I thought
should be my thing...
But first, before wanting to
commit myself there was the first 24 hour that I felt I should
get under my belt - Mayhem 2003 seemed perfect and I entered
in a team. Yes, without doubt I enjoyed it, but felt rather
unfulfilled as there seemed to be lots of waiting around
between laps and sleep was totally out of the question, due to
the fact that my head was buzzing big time between laps!!
So in 2004 I eventually decided
what I had done previously mtb wise should qualify me for my
first 24 hour solo, so at the grand old age of 45 I entered
Mayhem 2004. As with all 24 hour solo's I really enjoy the
first 6-10 hours then sort of after that, the exhaustion kicks
in, as does the hunger, you know you have to eat but sickness
is such a factor it makes it really hard to even want to eat,
never mind chewing it and actually swallowing it.
The night time is quite a nice
time as it tends to be so quiet and people only realise who's
there when they are passing or being passed. But this time
soon passes with the sound of the birdies and up comes the
sun, which is one of the happiest parts of the race. But also
one of the moments that tends to throw you into the sleep
mode. 2004 Mayhem I remember getting off my bike prior to the
Red Bull tent and wanting to relieve myself, I waited for what
seemed a lifetime for what turned out to be REAL
Orangeade that wouldn't fill a thimble! But the first Red Bull
did the trick...Yahoo!!
The last few laps of the 24
hours do seem to be the most emotional for me because you know
that the suffering will soon be over. Then the last lap
starts, and as you go over the start line for the last time
the lump appears in the throat, and a little voice appears
from inside shouting "Yes, yes, yes". The energy seems to come
from nowhere for the last lap and all the verbal slaps on the
back from the spectators that have been going on all race do
seem to build to crescendo which pushes you even more. This
support you only seem to get at Pat's races.
You have only a few hundred
yards to go, and there he is stood in the middle of the finish
line waiting for you and all the other hundreds of finishers.
Tears are always hard to fight back, and as you reach out to
shake the man's hand this for me is almost impossible to fight
back the dreaded tears. That's why you hardly ever see me
hanging around at the end of these solos, I like to hide away
and fight off the sobs of sheer pleasure, pain and of course
enjoyment. But that final lap is something else, just so
emotional and rewarding. This is a feeling that I crave and
can only get from solo events, the gap between these events is
such a void and desperately needs to be filled by other mtb
events.
If someone was to pay me half
what I get paid now to do a solo a month for the rest of my
life, I'd be your man.
|
