I am still getting over this virus so left it up to the morning of the race to decided whether I should do it. As the alarm rang out at 6.30am I was pretty sure it was going to be a no, but once I got up and moving about I felt ok !! Nice drive down to Sandy Balls in the New Forest and within 500 yards of reaching my destination .... SNOW !!
I decided I wasn't going to get caught out like I did on the Meon Valley Plod, so I came prepared, Under Armour base layer, technical t shirt, windshield jacket, charity Children with Cancer vest, liner gloves, windproof gloves, hat snood and neck snood, extra thick socks and a sunny disposition !! I thought I looked like some kind of mean running assassin ninja, upon reflection I looked like I was modelling a colourful charity burka.
The race started with a hill, then went up and down some hills then there was some more hills, then it ended on a hill, if undulating means mountainous they got it spot on. My first ten miles went to plan, a nice steady 1.30, still on target for a sub 4 hour, which in these conditions I would take all day long. then it all started to go downhill (or rather uphill). I felt nauseous as I had picked up the wrong flavored shot blok sweets and the course ran in a T shape coming back and forth on yourself, this meant that you knew exactly what was coming, yep .. more hills. Also running on my own for the entire race I had nothing for company apart from Steps 5.6.7.8 song on repeat .. this is what happens when a song falls into your running beat .. usually its Ollie Murs .. a shade better than steps ha ha ..
So as my target time came and went I was on the final stretch, I thought the last 3 miles were all down hill so I would be fine, the knees started to complain and my head had almost given up, then I saw it Mount Everest !! I am pretty sure I let out a whimper, one final push (and a bit of a walk) and I was at the top, literally on the home straight all downhill and the last mile is on tarmac, rounding the corner at Sandy Balls and over the finish line in 4 hours 19 minutes. After I had defrosted my hands with the hand dryer for 20 minutes I felt better.
All in all picturesque, beautiful surroundings, loads of friendly and familiar faces and I am sure the next time I run I will enjoy it a lot more - 2 weeks until the 50k !! sheeeeeeeesh !!
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