However, this was not of much interest a few hundred yards away. It looks always great with the tents and beach flags presenting their colours - it always reminds me of what medieval joust could have looked like - on a different scale obviously. Anyway it is always great to meet the club mates and other athletes. I did the warm up with Shaun Dixon who was looking for his first win of the season at the Met League before he moves to Amsterdam.
The temperatures were just a few degrees above zero, but the wind made it quite uncomfortable so everybody made sure they would be warm until they headed for the starting line. It was a three lap course consisting of a flat loop around the park with a brisk up & down section just underneath Alexandra Palace. Today it was muddy. Very muddy in places. Well who cares once you're dirty it doesn't get any worse does it.
Right after the start I struggled already in the slippery mud. I felt like I couldn't possibly run any faster without reeling which would mean more effort but not faster. So all I could do was to wait for firmer ground and focus on a stride where I would not waste to much energy. I was probably around the 40th position initially but was soon able to overtake a few runners. I was sitting back in the uphill only to change gears as we hit the top. This way I was able to jump from one group of runners to the next.
On the last lap there was a group of four runners I really wanted to catch but whenever I tried to go harder I would slip again. So I made the most of my abilities and made sure nobody would catch me.
This was certainly one of the best performances I have had in this league finishing in 17th place. Not only the position was a lot better than four weeks ago (31st) but also in comparison with the same athletes I was able to leave a few more behind me averaging some 50 seconds faster compared to the same runners. This shows my form is going in the right direction. I was second scorer of the team with Tom Phillips coming in 12th position not having his best day.
I heard some hard working athletes haven't got home before 2 am. I guess that's the result of a free bar! Terry I wish you a good start in Spain and thanks for all the sweat and tears you have given for the Woodies :)
Today I can feel again my gluteal muscles of my left hip, I hope this will be good again next weekend for the Tunbridge Wells Half Marathon. It will be interesting who will turn up on the second fixture of the Kent Grand Prix. It sure will be a good race.
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