So the weather has decided to play ball with us today as dawn broke to blue sky and fluffy white clouds - haven't seen either of those in quite a number of weeks. The wind was still keen and chilly and would be against us for most of the route but, beggars can't be choosers!
Just Caro and I representing BJs today so after picking her up at the crack of dawn (6.15!) we headed over to Queen Elizabeth Country Park just outside Petersfield. As soon as we started chatting with others we both felt a little over shadowed - many were mega ultra marathoners and even my 20 in 2012 appeared to fade into insignificance! Some were using this run as training for the South Down 100 miler or the UK Trailwalker 100k and indeed whilst we were on the course, we saw the Ghurka's training for the latter.
Anyway, we caught the coach shuttle to Slindon College where we tucked into (cold) bacon sarnies, (squashed) pastries and (weird tasting) tea and then watched the earlier runners start on their journey. A couple of runners were obviously members of CanniX (where you run with dogs) and their canine companions were dragging them along...maybe a bit of an unfair advantage when they get to the many hills?
Anyway, soon we were off and heading along country lanes (where we were told to slow down by a couple of riders on very nervous horses!) and then hit the tracks uphill...and continued to run uphill for the next 3 miles!
Despite the horrendous weather we've been having, the going underfoot was perfect - very little mud or puddles (boo hoo) and hard going. The course was in 4 'parts', each with a stiff uphill then undulating for miles before a sharp drop down into the valley and the checkpoints then up we went again. The views from the top of the downs were absolutely stunning : green fields and woodlands with pretty little villages dotted here and there.
Caro and I ran together for the majority of the route, maybe one of us going ahead and then waiting for the other at the top of an incline or at a checkpoint. Constant chatter about how we were enjoying this. The finish was back at QE Park and after a final drag uphill, the last mile or so was gradually downhill on gravel and tarmac - easy running for tired legs. However, the last 800m was back in the woods with exposed tree routes. Caro suddenly stopped running here and told me to go on but I was sure that she would catch me up. She didn't and I waited for her to finish after I had crossed the line in 4.05 (almost an hour quicker than I had run it last time, although I had been jet lagged on that occasion!). It was another minute or so before she appeared and sporting blood injuries having hit the deck in that last bit unfortunately. So first stop after collecting our goodie bags was the first aid tent!
Fantastic event, well organised from start to finish including sorting the weather out for us.
I've now got a break of nearly 9 weeks before my next marathon but then they get really serious...4 in a week to kick off the 2nd half of the year!
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