It was very cold at 8am on Sunday, I can tell you.
The day started much the same as any race day does for me. I scrambled for bits and pieces about the house while trying not to wake anyone. Threw it all in the car, and headed off a little later than expected, trying to think what I had forgotten.

We've had a family of four staying with us since Thursday, so I had even less time to prepare, pack etc. And there was more to trip over in the hall than usual.

Amazingly I found the race HQ without having to buy a new road atlas. I have a fine collection, from the AA, RAC and Collins, I just don't kept them to hand.

My start time crept up on me, as I fiddled for far too long with my number and pins. I warmed up all too briefly on the way to the start, and arrive just as the guy in front of me head off.

No time to plan or think, I was in the starters grip. I set off at a comfortable pace, keeping my HR in check. I hit a deep pothole very hard and twisted my left arm rest to an unusable position. I tugged it back up but it kept slowly slipping back down. I must have adjusted it 50 times over the 30m.

It prevented me from relaxing and getting into a rythmn. There is something about my attitude which changes when something like that happens. My confidence goes, and therefore when I really should have pushing harder, I didn't. The hill up to Rusper, was nice test of ones legs, but from then on it was a breeze.

I came 14th out of the 60 starters, which is okay, but nothing to cheer about. I still had something in my legs, so I suppose the base is there, and the speed workout have begun creeping into my training schedule, so we'll see what happens next time.

It was very well organised event I have to say.

Once back home, I plumbed in the dishwasher, which was quickly becoming a piece of furniture. It still doesn't work, but it is out of the way now. I just wish I could stop it making a droning noise.