Race 6: The Stoop

Training has not felt good since Kirkby Moor and it has taken longer than usual to get over the cold which drained my energy prior to that race. I have been doing three mile runs and feeling like I used to feel in the last three miles of a ten miler ten years ago. I started towards the back of the field and the huge number of Santa-hatted runners forced me to take it easy and make my way slowly through the field for the first couple of miles. That proved to be a good strategy as old friend and adversary Alan Yeomans from Rossendale tracked me down and passed as we approached the turning point at the summit. That confirmed my opinion that I was there or thereabouts in my quest for a top half finish and as we started the descent the sharp studs on my new Walshies began to make a difference. The ground was as slippery as we all expected and I made up about 20 places before the stream crossing. I held on to the finish and it was just as well as I only just squeezed inside my target.

It was great to chat to a fellow Darrener at the finish and congratulate Neil Holding of West Pennine Runners, who claimed the first Vet 50's prize, about ten minutes in front of me. I did beat him once I think, years ago. Once in about 400 attempts that is! Some of these guys are just a different class.

Blue skies over the Cricket Pavillion at registration but
don't be fooled. The wind over the moors was bitterly cold.

And this is how hard I was trying at the finish.

Results: 194th/402   46:54
Distance: 8km/5 miles  Climb: 250m/820ft