Julian's (50)60 at (50)60: Race 13: Long Mynd Valleys

This is the toughest race I have done for a few years so I was a little apprehensive before the start. I had been over the route mentally, using the map and a drive up on to the Long Mynd on Saturday afternoon, so I knew that there were three major climbs towards the end of the race. I set my stall out from the word go to just complete the race at a controlled pace, in the hope that I would still be feeling strong at the finish. I started slowly, held back on the runs down the valleys and didn't push too hard on the early climbs so as I arrived at the turning point at checkpoint six the feeling of tiredness was just setting in.

Most runners took a line straight up a steep valley on the third last climb but I went for the alternative route off up to the side and I think that I must have made up a number of places with that decision. Two more climbs followed and I was beginning to flag on the last big climb up Yearlet but so, it seemed, were most of the runners around me. I was pleasantly surprised by my result and it goes to prove that on a long race at least, a measured approach can pay dividends.

The weather was perfect for running - cold but clear, dry and not too windy. For walking though, it was perhaps little too cold so Kath stayed well wrapped up as she made her way up from the valley to checkpoint two, over to Yearlet and then back down. The views must have been stunning but I'm sorry to say that for much of the race I was concentrating purely on putting one foot in front of the other.