Race 59 of 60 @ 60: Withins

Having recently concentrated on the BOFRA Championship and other short form races, this is the furthest I've run in ages. Uncertain as to whether my hip would hold out for the whole race I set off really steady and carried on steady over the boggy top of The Stoop. Trying not to overstride on the descent through the ruins of Top Withins lost me more time so in the end I was happy to be straggling in well off the pace but not in too much pain. Somewhat slower than 10 years ago when, reading my account of that race, I also had a poor run. Never mind all that. It's in the bag, with just one more to go. I really hope to get a bit better in time for The Screes in two weeks.

Coming out of the quarry at the start

Results: 107th/183 V60: 14th/22 Time: 1:04:10 

Distance: 10.1km Climb: 300m

Race 58 of 60 @ 60: Fan Fawr

A busy weekend down in Abergavenny is broken up perfectly on a blustery Saturday afternoon by this low key out and back up Fan Fawr. Steep, grassy, a bit wet - ideal for me but with my recent lack of training I was a bit off the pace of the best local V60's. Katie and Tim were competing for their new club for the first time and both getting in to the swing of things nicely, Tim a couple of minutes ahead of me, Katie a couple of minutes behind.

Setting off

I really need to get over that competitive streak

Results: 45th/84 V60: 3rd/8 Time: 25:49 

Distance: 3.2km Climb: 305m

Race 57 of 60 @ 60: Eskdale Show

This is a great little route - runnable in terms of climb per km but pretty technical in places. All the more of a shame then that I couldn't go full steam ahead as the stream crossing and fence climb at the beginning took their toll on the sore tendons around my left hip. A bit of a write off as a competitive event but one more in the bag. I'll come back to this one next year. 

Results: 37th/50 V60: 5th/7 Time: 55:10 

Distance: 6.9km climb: 277m