A smashing evening race that was suprisingly challenging but delivered
for me another good time of 49.11 (my time officail time + - 7 seconds
I reckon). A small race just over 90 taking part meant a good mix of
club runners took to the start line so it was obviously going to be a
fast race. Held in the delightful surroundings of Kingsbury Water park
- near to The Belfry Golf course that has hosted the Ryder Cup - it was
a two lap course that took us on wooded paths round the various lakes ,
various surfaces tarmac , grass, muddy trail, bark , fields , the sunny
weather of the last few days had dried the surfaces but it was still
hard going on the uneven bits that caught me out and showed by
inexperience at trying to keep pace on anything other than good flat
surfaces. I was still able to get a good time but my work rate during
the race meant that I couldn't relax for a moment - constantly watching
the path for the best line - when I run slower this doesn't have the
same effect and it's highlighted a weak point in my running I feel. At
times due to the small field I was running almost on my own especially
on the second lap , with noone pressuring me from behind and noone near
enough to chase down it felt like a furiously fast training run at
times.
I was also caught out by the heat - suprisngly as it was a 7.30pm start
I thought the hot day would have subsided by then but the open parts of
the course still had quite a heat rising from the ground. Having been
battling with a chest cold for a week and having hayfever rearing its
ugly head I was quite congested so I really felt the heat and this
added to the somtimes dodgy moments I had on the few hilly bits on the
far side of the course - I thought how on earth am I to get up this
next hill without slowing to a walk? . Fortunatly I came supplied with
a hankie for such emergencies and it was put to good use! The water
station was particulary well recieved by me and I got a greatly needed
big cupful of water - I think I would have been much slower on the last
lap had I not had that.
So all in all a delightful but challenging race in superb surroundings
organised superbly by www.cambraevents.co.uk - they really made a
differnce here I thought .