Bikedock Belles

For the first time since …. ?..... Race Around Ireland ?!....(joke….just!)…the Belles were out in force and happy for the Fab Four to be taking part together again in an event. Well, happy once it started! Two of the Belles, Julie and Andrea, had spent a few hours in the cosy Cutters Wharf beforehand and motivation for the event had progressively dwindled during the afternoon, primarily at the thought of getting changed and being cold. Hardcore adventure athletes!

Having convinced a few of our merry band of Monthlies to give these events a go, the two girls knew they had to at least show face at 7pm at Ormeau Park. The fact that a complete newcomer, who had never joined us for any event at all never mind the completely new night orienteering on foot, came across the car park shouting are you the Bikedock Belles gave Julie a little kick towards the starting line. Julie, always keen to be a role model!

Andrea had decided she wasn’t doing the event after all, but when two of our stalwart Monthlies arrived….saw Andrea in jeans…asked where her kit was and got the reply, “in the car, but I’m not doing it now” …..a sea-change began!

Aghast at the out-of-character “I just can’t be bothered”, Debbie said, “what?! If I arrived at an event and said that to you, you’d kick me to kingdom come!”. Point taken!

Molly then added, “just get your kit on girl, practice what you preach……you’ve always lead by example, you don’t do “can’t be bothered”! Point taken!

See, what goes around comes around! Thanks Monthlies.

So the girls lined up at a briefing just before 730pm to be told that there were 15 controls out around the park and there was a maximum 45 minutes. LVO’s Susan told everybody there that only the fastest runners would clear the course. However the aim of these events is to encourage newcomers into the sport and the spirit of adventure – yip! cold, dark, head torches required – and it doesn’t matter how many controls you get to. It can just be a social dander about while following a map and enjoying the beauty of the night-time outdoors. And that’s the way some of the girls approached it. And they had a blast!

Thrilled by the experience, and always up for chitchat afterwards…in warm surroundings….the girls then headed for coffee and cake in French Village on Botanic Avenue. Clearly dressed for a night on the town in student quarter! Not! A few of us must have looked a bit through-other…and wrecked….because while perusing the huge whacks of cake and traybakes, the waiter commented that we really looked like we’d done something to deserve a treat!

Great chat and banter, after a bout of fresh wintry air and exercise at your own pace….why wouldn’t you be up for it ?! There is another LVO event of this type next Wednesday night at Delamont. Give it a go !

Ding Dong!

ps click on the thumbnail image to enlarge and use the arrows to scroll through 

Andrea