Reflections on the Land Between: Part 1

Way back at the start of the year, The Land Between invited applications from riders for a "supported" package. The idea was to give two riders a helping hand into the ultra scene. They would receive coaching from event organiser (and Restrap ambassador, Rich Rothwell) and a luggage set up from Restrap. The months passed and before long, the two riders lined up on the start line. Jason Craven and Katy Orr have taken the time to reflect back on their first ultra. Keep your eyes peeled for Jason's story, but in the meantime, over to Katy.

When I first discovered bike packing ultras existed a few years ago, they felt abstract, something that other people did, not people like me. Then in 2024, I started reading about a bunch of different women starting the Highland Trail 550 and something shifted in my mind - I realised you don’t have to be a certain type of rider to do an ultra. A niggling, curious part of me began to wonder if, one day, maybe I could join them. Over the next few months that idea kept popping up in my head, but I didn’t really believe that I could.

Until, one evening in November, I saw Rich Rothwell’s post inviting applications to win a supported rider spot for The Land Between 2025, a 515km mixed terrain route in Northumberland (including entry, coaching and Restrap bike bags). This felt like the push I needed to try an ultra and so I applied.

In my application I explained what cycling means to me and how it helped me to start feeling physically strong and enjoy the outdoors again after several years of struggling to adapt to life with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Over the previous couple of years I had gradually built up my fitness and had ridden up to 200km, but the idea of doing more than double this distance self-supported, needing to think about fuelling, sleeping, mechanicals and, my biggest barrier, how to manage my symptoms and numerous inevitable loo stops, felt out of reach.

When Rich told me I’d won a supported rider spot, I was a mix of nerves and excitement. I questioned whether I could or should do it, worried it might make my symptoms worse. Amongst other life “stuff”, as an NHS doctor, I was also concerned I wouldn’t have enough time to train. Despite these worries, I was mainly excited about the opportunity, grateful to have support with training, which had made it feel possible to try.

I started training with Advance Cycle Coaching in January, with the main focus on endurance rides, building in more intensity as the months went on. Rich suggested I enter some gravel events throughout summer to get some quality off-road rides in the diary, so I signed up for the new Scottish GrALBA race series. I was anxious about this as a newbie to racing but ended up really enjoying these rides as a great way to mix up training and make some new bike friends.  

My Restrap bike bags arrived in May, a couple of days before my partner Reuben and I set off to ride the Badger Divide, the perfect test for the legs and my new kit. We lucked out with the weather and enjoyed 2.5 days of riding bikes through beautiful places, eating lots of good food, finishing around midnight, in major need of a shower and sleep. 

The next couple of months flew by between training, racing, work and life - suddenly The Land Between was fast approaching. With one week to go, I took part in the Scottish gravel nationals at Whitelee wind farm. I wasn’t prepared for the fast start and was dropped pretty quickly but I got to experience my first women only start line, a cool way to mark my last big training ride before the event. 

Over the next week, I switched between being nervous and excited. I knew I’d trained enough to ride the distance (in theory) but doing it self-supported in a one-er, with so many potential variables felt daunting. I was worried about running out of food and spent hours on Google Maps, sussing out public loos along the route. 

I deliberately didn’t set any goals about how long I’d stop for, or when I might finish, and prepared myself for the possibility that I might not. This really helped me to stay present, and as we set off at 07:30 on Friday morning my nerves disappeared. Suddenly all I needed to think about was to keep riding, keep eating and try not to stop too much. 

The first 12 hours flew by as I enjoyed the changing landscapes, moving from the hills to the coast, before zooming through the Tyne cycle tunnel, high on bikes and where they were taking us. The next stop on the route was Chopwell Co-op, the last chance to resupply for some distance so I was pleased to get here before it shut. I sat on the pavement for a while stuffing my face before tackling how to fit everything I’d bought into my bike bags. 

The ride into the night took on a different feeling: quieter and steadier, toing and froing with other riders. A couple of brutal road climbs that felt surreal in the dark led to the pitch black moors, sharing the trails with rabbits and seeing the odd light flashing in the distance. I had expected to be riding solo for most of this experience but since quite early on I had been riding with Gordy, another ultra first-timer, and we were both getting tired. At around 2am, we bivvied down for a 3 hour nap on a patch of grass outside a public toilet. 

My biggest dip of the ride came during the first hours of Saturday morning. After diagnosing the problem - not enough food - I stopped for a sunny breakfast (half a sandwich and 2 Pro Plus). The ride became enjoyable again, making steady progress towards the end of the main loop until the hike-a-bike section, where I was made rudely aware of my weak calves and vowed to do more strength training over winter.

After a quick stop back at race HQ for a coke, Gordy and I set out on the last 70km loop with a renewed sense of purpose. Soon after, we were joined by Richard, an ultra veteran, who had ridden with us on-and-off that day, inspiring us with stories from other events. 

With about 50km to go, the ride became a struggle as my left knee started hurting. Hills became a slog and I was ready to finish but still managed to enjoy the cobbly and chunky gravel Hepple Descent, my favourite section of the route.

At 8.30pm on Saturday, I arrived back in Alwinton, delighted to finish that evening and see Reuben and Otis (our 5 year old labradoodle). 

I expected this experience to be a huge physical challenge (it was) and to feel satisfied if I managed to complete it (I did) but I didn’t expect to enjoy it so much! Neither had I anticipated the intensely warm, friendly buzz amongst fellow riders, supporters and organisers, all cheering everyone on, whatever end of the race they were at. Yes, I was exhausted, my knee was sore and I was sick of eating constantly but I was also so happy and immensely proud of what we had all just been part of. Talking to other riders after the event, it hit me how everyone’s stories were unique, with varying highs and lows but everyone had experienced something special. 

Three weeks on and I’m still smiling to myself about the whole thing, humbled by the simultaneously tiny and huge moments that led from me not knowing what an ultra was to feeling like I could have a go. 

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Thanks to Katy for the words and the selfies. Thanks also to her partner, Rueben for the additional pics.