Happy New Season......and we’re off!
Two laps of a lumpy course, all on road. Hills aren’t huge, but legs will notice them combined with strong winds 17mph+ meant no pb today.
This race is a bit of an extra, local (5mins away) and only a 10k so not going to be an A race for me so no taper. Legs feel fine but know they have some recent miles in them. 500 field, loosely bunched for the start, so selected a spot near the front......well I went as far forward as my BMI suggested was right!
And we’re off.....dash at the start and the usual passing and being passed whilst everyone settles into their pace. First 3/4 mile mostly downhill and I settle behind a bunch of 4 runners from a local club who look like they know what they’re doing!
Last bit of first mile uphill, 6.49
Turn the corner for a long drag into the wind, slight incline all the way. Wind very strong so tuck behind my surrogates 6.50.
Up the hill that takes us to the start and I have lost my group...or more accurately they have lost me 6.54
Past the start in a long downhill, feeling ok but legs starting to protest 6.44.
Turn the corner for long drag again, this time, no one to shield me, can’t catch a couple 20yds ahead. 7.25
One and a bit to go, long drag uphill and I feel reasonably ok and pick the pace back up passing a couple who have been ahead for a few miles. 6.58
Push on for last 200m and hold off a youngster sprinting for the line....just
Finish 42.56
25/472
3/22 AG
Happy with that in the circumstances, good start to the year.