Trailblazer - Forest of Dean - 22 May 2011

10k through the woods. Sounded a perfect introduction to proper racing. Everything I have done in the past has been strange or silly. Rat races with all their silliness. Horseplay in the dark and clambering over huge obstacles. OMM (enough said!). This was more mainstream, but as all my training is done in woods and fields, it felt like a good choice. We'd intended it as an opportunity for the Three Daft Monkeys to have a race together, but Alice's shin splints meant she couldn't run. But she joined us there to wave us on and take pictures (and pick up her goody bag!) She'd brought her bike too, so she could scoot over to the middle of the course to see us when we were half way round.

It was a perfect day for running in the woods. Not too hot. A bit windy, but we were spared that amongst the trees. The race set of in seven waves, and we were in  Wave 5 - for sub 1 hour runners. Pete and I were a bit late getting to the start line (becoming a habit!) and we started off at the back of the pack of 100 or so, but enjoyed spending the first couple of k working our way forward; overtaking people felt good!

As it thinned out we found ourselves moving well on a long downhill stretch trying to balance our speed, so we didn't burn out half way round.  I had a nominal target of 59 minutes, and we seemed to be well ahead of that.

At 4k we saw Alice again, and we were going strong.  I'd been a bit worried Pete would be a lot fitter than me, but we seemed well matched so far. We started the mile long uphill leg and slogged our way up it, then tackled the rolling second half of the course.  The run from 8k to 9k felt like 2k, but we were soon past 9k and heading for the finish line. We'd paced it fine, both feeling knackered, but still moving fine.

We came in in 55'44", or 8'58" per mile in pace-speak, which I was very pleased with. Over the line, medal, goody bag and a sprawl on the grass in the sunshine to recover.

We had a wander around, and a hot dog, then said goodbye to Alice and set off for home.

It was good running with Pete - we were pretty well matched for pace in the end.  Left calf a bit stiff, and a bit of an ache in the right Achilles tendon, but otherwise fine. All in all a good day out. We'll do it again (with Alice this time!) next year.

(PS - Thanks to Alice for all the pictures!)