All-round riding and running machine, Cat Sutherland, took off to glorious Golden, Canada for the Golden 24 to see what this inaugural singletrack event had to offer for the hardcore – if not slightly flu-ridden – athlete.

The 14th of June marked my last day of office life as I knew it and the beginning of a new adventure. After my decision to change career direction and step away from 9 till 5, I craved the opportunity to take time out, relax a little and focus on the things I’m passionate about – writing, biking and living the simple outdoor life.

Such a turning point in my life was to commence with a one-way ticket to the bona fide Canadian mountain town of Golden. Situated between the epic Columbia and Rocky mountain ranges, this hearty town sits 800m above sea level, marking the junctions of two of the most powerful streams of water in the Western province – the Kicking Horse and Columbia rivers. Surrounding town there’s a web of enticing trails that cover over 100 km of riding – so what better way to familiarise myself than a lap race around some of Western Canada’s most proclaimed singletrack?

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