After not even a sniffle for 18 months, I spent much of last week in bed, so the Ryde 10 was never going to be a walk in the park.
I'd struggled through my UK:Athletics 'Fitness in Running and Walking' course the Saturday before and taken to my bed on the Sunday, not to resurface until Thursday. I possibly exaggerate there, but I felt pretty darn rough for a good 4 days. (Did I mention I'm now a qualified 'Fitness Leader'? but I digress).
I missed the club sessions last week, but by Friday felt OK for a gentle 4 miles. A gentle 5 miles followed on the Saturday, and I felt ready for Ryde the following day. OK, I was still a bit snotty, but the fever had gone for 3 days now. How hard could 10 miles be?
'Very hard' was the answer.
The course was described as undulating on the Runner's World website, but as I said this on the ferry, a voice behind (Sara from Eastleigh) shouted out "It's hilly!". It was!
The weather wasn't too bad: a chilly westerly to run into along the seafront, but the sun came out for the second half of the race, and running through St Helens and down into Seaview it was rather lovely - nice to see the Spinnaker Tower come into view across a blue Solent as we headed down the steep hill into Seaview.
Ah, the hills! There are a couple of flat bits on the seafront in Ryde and Seaview, but this is the toughest 10-mile road race I've done. You get the flavour of the course after the flat loop of Ryde canoe lake, as you head up the hill out of Ryde to join the course of the Brading 10k past Tesco. It's then undulating all the way until a steep downhill into Seaview and a mile of flat seafront. I was feeling quite weak by then and wondering, as Ryde pier came into view, if I was going to be able to keep going into the headwind all the way to Ryde, 2 miles away. I needn't have worried about the wind though as we turned off Seaview seafront and up the steepest hill of the day - cruel.
I hadn't felt too bad for the first few miles, even managing a chat with an IOW Road Runner about how a marshal had tried to stop us to let some traffic through at the lights. (The nerve!) The hills kept coming though and my legs got progressively fatigued as the race wore on, despite my heart rate monitor showing quite a low heart rate (when you're tired your heart rate drops, which is the opposite of what some might imagine, but it's simple physics that the slower you go the less energy you are expending and the less oxygen you need). I'd been chasing various runners with some success in the early stages. By Seaview at 7 miles I finally caught Anita, newly signed for Denmead, but the wheels were starting to come off and she later eased back past me. With the cruel hill out of Seaview, the world started passing me. On the hill down into Ryde, when I'd normally expect to be passing people (I have no fear downhill!) I was again overtaken, recognising Cheryl from Gosport amongst others. I then had to suffer passing the finishing line at 9+ miles, knowing I had to drag my tattered body out and back round the canoe lake for nearly a mile.
I finished feeling worse than I've felt after most marathons. Fortunately I don't seem to have done myself any harm. I feared the virus might flare up again, but after 3 days all seems well.
The girls done good, as they say, with Shelly and Amanda coming in close behind me to score some solid points and keep us 2 places above the drop zone in Division 1. Marilyn, Nicola and Carol scored well for the B team, leaving us 5th in the B league - going well!
I'll spare you all the technical data, as splits are fairly meaningless on such a hilly course. What I will say though, is that I only averaged 145bpm for the race, lower than the average for the Abingdon Marathon. This shows how tired I was. Ultimately this race only scores in my training diary as a 10-mile marathon pace effort. Despite how I felt at the end, in recovery terms it does seem that this was a fairly gentle run. I hope I'm right about that, as I have the Southern Vet XC Championships on Saturday, followed by my first big training run in ages on Sunday.
Onwards and upwards!
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Weekly summary - 14 weeks to go
An easier week leading up to Stubbington, but I think I was still a bit tired for the race. The gym sessions are quite tiring and I think are a significant training load - on Friday my glutes were quite sore from the weights.
Stubbington was a good stake in the ground from which to build: I'm looking forward to next week and the start of the doubles.
Stubbington was a good stake in the ground from which to build: I'm looking forward to next week and the start of the doubles.
| Monday | 1 mile | Easy jogging | Coaching a group of beginners |
| Tuesday | 7 miles | Hill run 133bpm | HR lower than I would have liked - fatigue no doubt |
| Wednesday | 8.2 miles | am:2 miles treadmill+weights pm: 6.2 miles 9:37/mile no HR data | |
| Thursday | 5.9 miles | Easy run 118bpm | |
| Friday | Rest | Drove 180miles up to the Midlands | |
| Saturday | 4.6 miles | easy run 8:54/mile 115bpm | Hilly run around Shropshire lanes, + drive back |
| Sunday | 8.9miles | Stubbington 10k +warmup/down 6:55/mile 148bpm | |
| Total | 35.6 miles |
Monday, January 15, 2007
Stubbington 10k
Oops! How did I find myself on the red start for sub-40 runners?
I'd been apologising to folks, insisting that no way could I have put sub-40 down on the entry form, but there in black and white on the entry list was 40:00. OK I confess then.
To be fair, when I entered this race back in the summer I was at my peak. I'd just run a 42:08 10k on a hilly(ish) course on a hot day, as part of an 85-mile week, 7 days after sauntering around a 28-mile trail marathon. I figured I could definitely run 41:00 when fresh, on a cool flat course, so 40:00 in 5 months time? No problem! Sub-40 is still an ambition of mine, but after a month off with shin splints and being forced to build back up gradually, then hands up, I'll admit I hadn't exactly earned my place among the fast guys. (I also didn't know there was going to be a separate start for sub-40 when I entered - this was new for this year)
Still, there were Jane and Tina: fast girls for sure, but sub-40? And then what about all these runners around me with white numbers? Maybe I'm not so out of place.
I looked up at the clear blue sky, let the sun warm my face, and drank in what was looking to be near-perfect conditions for a 10k.
Off we went and Tina sped off looking very comfortable. I later learned she'd just recovered from broken ribs sustained in the Victory 5. Ouch! Clearly her recovery from broken ribs was more complete than mine from shin splints, but I was feeling pretty comfortable anyway.
I was a bit concerned at half a mile to see a guy crouched on the road clutching his chest, being shielded from the mass of runners parting around him by a female competitor - I hope he was OK! There was also a guy leaping around in agony in a driveway - a torn muscle or bad cramp. I feel less sorry for him as that just seems part of the running game - chest pains are another thing entirely! Things comes in threes, and there was team-mate Brian jogging back to the start. He didn't look too injured - maybe he was being cautious.
As we ran I was hearing all the familiar shouts of encouragement: "Go Tina", "Go Paula". Tina was pulling ahead - I could see her. Paula must be behind me - good news - I don't think I've beaten her before - I must be having a good day. I passed team-mate Ruth, having presumably had a flyer from the front of the white start, and there was sometime team-mate Liz, running for her first claim club. I eased past Liz, silhouetted in the bright sunlight. This really was going well: lovely day, I felt good and I felt strong. Paula passed me. Ah!
We were now on the only incline on the course and I wondered if this might make a difference - 'hills' were always a weakness of mine. I felt good though and pulled back up to Paula. I'd shown good pace on our club hill run on Tuesday, so maybe I'm getting better at hills - maybe the strength training is paying off. I made my move on Paula and powered on, confidence growing.
I'd noticed my heart rate was quite low for what I'd normally expect from a 10k, and wondered if maybe I was pushing enough. At 6km things definitely started to feel tough though so I decided my pace judgement was fine and it was wise to not try to push any harder. My splits were looking remarkably even!
The rest of the race was a matter of focussing on runners ahead and picking them off. As ever, the longer the race went on, the more I overtook, as people's pace started to drop.
I was now sitting on the shoulder of an Aldershot runner, evoking memories of Steph Twell from the XC the previous weekend. As thoughts went through my mind of playing a waiting game and outsprinting her at the end, I realised there was a Pompey Jogger and an Isle of Wight Road Runner ahead who should be the focus of my attention - this was after all the Hampshire championships. At this point Brian, who was now a spectator, shouted encouragement to me and alerted Ms Aldershot to my presence, just as I'd been alerted to Paula's earlier. Ms Aldershot glanced over her shoulder. Did she see my wry smile? That decided it and I pushed on to chase Ms IOW.
I overtook Ms IOW, but despite closing on Ms Pompey I was running out of road. I crossed the line in 42:59. As I walked up the funnel, team-mate Pete tapped me on the shoulder. He'd been tracking me the whole way, but had never quite been able to close on me. I think that's the first time I've beaten Pete - chuffed!
So that was 51secs slower than my best, pretty much as expected, and not bad under the circumstances. I was 5th W45, not bad, but not good enough for a Hampshire medal as all the women ahead were locals - blimmin locals!
Ruth finished a minute behind me, with Shelly and Amanda following her home, giving us a vet ladies team result of 3rd behind Winchester A and Winchester B, ie second club. Fantastic result girls! Shelly got a Hampshire W40 bronze - Marilyn warned me about the quality of the local 45s compared to the 40s - well done nevertheless Shelly.
Special mention to Emma finishing her first ever 10k in 64 mins. Sub-60 beckons. Well done Emma!
Lee had a great run in 33:25 finishing 13th - serious quality. He even beat the leading lady - just! ;-)
And so to the technical data. It made interesting reading. Here it is, followed by an explanation of why I'm quite pleased by it:
1 4:17 135bpm
2 4:15 146bpm
3 4:18 147bpm
4 4:16 148bpm
5 4:17 149bpm
6 4:17 150bpm
7 4:18 150bpm
8 4:19 151bpm
9 4:22 152bpm
10 4:14 153bpm
Total 42:59
Average HR: 148bpm
If you compare this to the Everton 10k you'll see it's 4bpm lower on average. Compare it with the Totton 10k where I averaged 155bpm and there's an even bigger gap.
It may be that because I haven't done much speed and tempo work lately my lactate threshold is lower, and I can't sustain the levels I used to be able to. This is good news because that will all come back to me as the training progresses - it's just the nature of the comeback from injury, with lots of slow running, that is temporarily suppressing my LT.
Another, possibly more accurate, explanation is that I'm simply tired. I had the Hants XC last weekend which was tough - I felt quite tired for the club run on Tuesday, and definitely couldn't push the pace, but had a really hard run all the same. Despite the relatively low mileage lately I have been training hard, particularly the gym sessions which have left my glutes and hamstrings aching, so I'm probably just fatigued - I rested on Friday as my 'taper', but that has been my only rest day for the last month, and anyway I spent it driving up to the Midlands and back to fetch my family.
At the Everton 10k I was tired as evidenced by my lower average HR compared to Totton. I reasoned then that it would give me an extra 30secs when fresh: each 1bpm being about 3 seconds/mile in pace. The 7bpm difference of this race would be an extra 20secs/mile or 2mins over the course of a 10k. This would put me ahead of my Everton time by some way!
Whether it's the quick fix offered by rest and recovery, or the slightly slower fix of threshold training, the fact remains that there is a 2 minute gain to be had by the time the next 10k comes round at Eastleigh.
OK, it's maybe lies, damned lies and statistics, but I'd like to put it another way:
I'm back baby. I'm back!
I'd been apologising to folks, insisting that no way could I have put sub-40 down on the entry form, but there in black and white on the entry list was 40:00. OK I confess then.
To be fair, when I entered this race back in the summer I was at my peak. I'd just run a 42:08 10k on a hilly(ish) course on a hot day, as part of an 85-mile week, 7 days after sauntering around a 28-mile trail marathon. I figured I could definitely run 41:00 when fresh, on a cool flat course, so 40:00 in 5 months time? No problem! Sub-40 is still an ambition of mine, but after a month off with shin splints and being forced to build back up gradually, then hands up, I'll admit I hadn't exactly earned my place among the fast guys. (I also didn't know there was going to be a separate start for sub-40 when I entered - this was new for this year)
Still, there were Jane and Tina: fast girls for sure, but sub-40? And then what about all these runners around me with white numbers? Maybe I'm not so out of place.
I looked up at the clear blue sky, let the sun warm my face, and drank in what was looking to be near-perfect conditions for a 10k.
Off we went and Tina sped off looking very comfortable. I later learned she'd just recovered from broken ribs sustained in the Victory 5. Ouch! Clearly her recovery from broken ribs was more complete than mine from shin splints, but I was feeling pretty comfortable anyway.
I was a bit concerned at half a mile to see a guy crouched on the road clutching his chest, being shielded from the mass of runners parting around him by a female competitor - I hope he was OK! There was also a guy leaping around in agony in a driveway - a torn muscle or bad cramp. I feel less sorry for him as that just seems part of the running game - chest pains are another thing entirely! Things comes in threes, and there was team-mate Brian jogging back to the start. He didn't look too injured - maybe he was being cautious.
As we ran I was hearing all the familiar shouts of encouragement: "Go Tina", "Go Paula". Tina was pulling ahead - I could see her. Paula must be behind me - good news - I don't think I've beaten her before - I must be having a good day. I passed team-mate Ruth, having presumably had a flyer from the front of the white start, and there was sometime team-mate Liz, running for her first claim club. I eased past Liz, silhouetted in the bright sunlight. This really was going well: lovely day, I felt good and I felt strong. Paula passed me. Ah!
We were now on the only incline on the course and I wondered if this might make a difference - 'hills' were always a weakness of mine. I felt good though and pulled back up to Paula. I'd shown good pace on our club hill run on Tuesday, so maybe I'm getting better at hills - maybe the strength training is paying off. I made my move on Paula and powered on, confidence growing.
I'd noticed my heart rate was quite low for what I'd normally expect from a 10k, and wondered if maybe I was pushing enough. At 6km things definitely started to feel tough though so I decided my pace judgement was fine and it was wise to not try to push any harder. My splits were looking remarkably even!
The rest of the race was a matter of focussing on runners ahead and picking them off. As ever, the longer the race went on, the more I overtook, as people's pace started to drop.
I was now sitting on the shoulder of an Aldershot runner, evoking memories of Steph Twell from the XC the previous weekend. As thoughts went through my mind of playing a waiting game and outsprinting her at the end, I realised there was a Pompey Jogger and an Isle of Wight Road Runner ahead who should be the focus of my attention - this was after all the Hampshire championships. At this point Brian, who was now a spectator, shouted encouragement to me and alerted Ms Aldershot to my presence, just as I'd been alerted to Paula's earlier. Ms Aldershot glanced over her shoulder. Did she see my wry smile? That decided it and I pushed on to chase Ms IOW.
I overtook Ms IOW, but despite closing on Ms Pompey I was running out of road. I crossed the line in 42:59. As I walked up the funnel, team-mate Pete tapped me on the shoulder. He'd been tracking me the whole way, but had never quite been able to close on me. I think that's the first time I've beaten Pete - chuffed!
So that was 51secs slower than my best, pretty much as expected, and not bad under the circumstances. I was 5th W45, not bad, but not good enough for a Hampshire medal as all the women ahead were locals - blimmin locals!
Ruth finished a minute behind me, with Shelly and Amanda following her home, giving us a vet ladies team result of 3rd behind Winchester A and Winchester B, ie second club. Fantastic result girls! Shelly got a Hampshire W40 bronze - Marilyn warned me about the quality of the local 45s compared to the 40s - well done nevertheless Shelly.
Special mention to Emma finishing her first ever 10k in 64 mins. Sub-60 beckons. Well done Emma!
Lee had a great run in 33:25 finishing 13th - serious quality. He even beat the leading lady - just! ;-)
And so to the technical data. It made interesting reading. Here it is, followed by an explanation of why I'm quite pleased by it:
1 4:17 135bpm
2 4:15 146bpm
3 4:18 147bpm
4 4:16 148bpm
5 4:17 149bpm
6 4:17 150bpm
7 4:18 150bpm
8 4:19 151bpm
9 4:22 152bpm
10 4:14 153bpm
Total 42:59
Average HR: 148bpm
If you compare this to the Everton 10k you'll see it's 4bpm lower on average. Compare it with the Totton 10k where I averaged 155bpm and there's an even bigger gap.
It may be that because I haven't done much speed and tempo work lately my lactate threshold is lower, and I can't sustain the levels I used to be able to. This is good news because that will all come back to me as the training progresses - it's just the nature of the comeback from injury, with lots of slow running, that is temporarily suppressing my LT.
Another, possibly more accurate, explanation is that I'm simply tired. I had the Hants XC last weekend which was tough - I felt quite tired for the club run on Tuesday, and definitely couldn't push the pace, but had a really hard run all the same. Despite the relatively low mileage lately I have been training hard, particularly the gym sessions which have left my glutes and hamstrings aching, so I'm probably just fatigued - I rested on Friday as my 'taper', but that has been my only rest day for the last month, and anyway I spent it driving up to the Midlands and back to fetch my family.
At the Everton 10k I was tired as evidenced by my lower average HR compared to Totton. I reasoned then that it would give me an extra 30secs when fresh: each 1bpm being about 3 seconds/mile in pace. The 7bpm difference of this race would be an extra 20secs/mile or 2mins over the course of a 10k. This would put me ahead of my Everton time by some way!
Whether it's the quick fix offered by rest and recovery, or the slightly slower fix of threshold training, the fact remains that there is a 2 minute gain to be had by the time the next 10k comes round at Eastleigh.
OK, it's maybe lies, damned lies and statistics, but I'd like to put it another way:
I'm back baby. I'm back!
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Weekly summary - 15 weeks to go
I guess I'd better start the weekly summaries now that I'm back on track. I suppose it would also be useful to see my runs summarised for my comeback from injury - maybe later.
I'm still strapping my leg, but I managed to only strap 3 times last week, although my leg felt a bit iffy after the XC and 2 days of not strapping. I think I need to strap for the long run for another week or 2, but I'm just about there now.
I dropped a gym session on Friday as I was feeling quite tired and didn't want to do the XC feeling heavy legged. The gym sessions have had quite a negative impact on my energy levels - they're tough! I'm definitely seeing strength improvements though, and I seem to be a better hill runner now, maybe as a result.
I'm still strapping my leg, but I managed to only strap 3 times last week, although my leg felt a bit iffy after the XC and 2 days of not strapping. I think I need to strap for the long run for another week or 2, but I'm just about there now.
I dropped a gym session on Friday as I was feeling quite tired and didn't want to do the XC feeling heavy legged. The gym sessions have had quite a negative impact on my energy levels - they're tough! I'm definitely seeing strength improvements though, and I seem to be a better hill runner now, maybe as a result.
| Monday | 6.3 miles | easy run round Shropshire lanes | New Years's day - no hangover!! |
| Tuesday | 7.6 miles | am: 1.5 miles treadie + weights pm: club winter handicap 5km in 22:56, ran as tempo run | |
| Wednesday | 7.8 miles | steady run 118bpm 8:58/mile | very windy - struggled after half way running back into the wind |
| Thursday | 6 miles | steady 126bpm 8:21/mile | club fartlek session run steady |
| Friday | 4 miles | Ran Garmin course as a fitness test 9:00/mile 114bpm | Encouraging - not the best ever, but a good indication I'm getting back to pre-Abingdon fitness. I follow the 'virtual me' at an easy 9:00/mile on a course round my home streets and the lower the resulting HR the better |
| Saturday | 7.3 miles | Hants XC championships 3rd F45 | Good pace 7:33/mile 150bpm in mud |
| Sunday | 16.4 miles | 2hrs29 9:07/mile 119bpm hilly | Up at 6am to run to join the club for their 8-miler. Felt surprisingly good after XC (soft ground saves the legs?) |
| Total | 55.4 miles |
Monday, January 08, 2007
Hampshire Cross Country Championships
Well that was entertaining!
This was my first Hampshire Cross Country, championships or league, and I was impressed with the organisation. A lot of effort had gone in to laying out the course, which wound its way around the grounds of Basingstoke's War Memorial Park. I feel sorry for the groundsman for the state we left it in. Honourable mention too for whoever has to clean the changing rooms - boy were they muddy!
Ah yes the mud!
It didn't seem too bad as we lined up on the start line - a gentle drizzle with barely a breeze, but we knew it was going to be muddy after the game we'd had getting the car into the grass parking area (rear wheel drive with me pushing from behind). I felt quite privileged to have Steph Twell, the European junior XC champion, a few places to my left - a quality field. That our team matched that quality goes without saying of course, with Chris, Belinda, Suzy, Jan and Marilyn next to me on the start line.
The gun went and we were off with me haring round the first bend. Oops! A tad quick I fear. I settled into a steady rhythm aware that I was ahead of the experienced Chris, wondering how long it would stay that way.
About half distance is the answer to that.
As I struggled with stitch, no doubt caused by my over-exuberant pace, Chris took over, and the natural order was restored. Could I pace off her and limit the damage?
Mike Gratton was a brilliant help, cropping up seemingly at every corner to shout encouragement and advice. That's the benefit of having a twisty turny parkland course. He was shouting things like "There's 4 places for you there. Now concentrate on the blue vest further ahead". The blue vest was Chris. She and Mike towed me through the remaining 2km and helped keep my placing respectable. I finished just behind Chris, and with her and Mike's help managed to overtake an Overton Harrier for 3rd F45! Shame they no longer give out bronze medals. :-(
Marilyn meanwhile finished 2nd F55 with Jan 3rd F55 - a brilliant effort in what some would describe as her "rookie year". We finished 7th senior team and 4th vet team in some very lofty company. Fantastic!
There was controversy at the sharp end when a marshall ushered the leading senior woman up the (shorter) junior finish line, assuming she was Steph Twell. I'm surprised Steph wasn't leading the field at that point but maybe she was holding back with the Edinburgh international XC next week. Steph won the under-20s by a minute in any case. I'm assuming the poor senior woman was disqualified. The results say there was a protest, but don't say whether the winner, Joanne McGarry, was the one being ushered up the wrong finish.
And so to the men. Oh dear!
We got an absolute soaking watching from the sidelines. There were some very miserable faces out there. Graham retired saying he was just too cold. As we watched the mudfest a squall came through. The brolly protecting our bags was sent flying, almost into the path of the runners. Mike's "2:09 events" tent hadn't been tied down - there was no wind initially. Fortunately those sheltering under it were able to hold it down as it prepared for take-off in the direction of Winchester.
Neil led the guys home, with Alex keeping us amused as he crossed the line with the leaden weight of his soaking shorts providing some fine bum cleavage! A 22nd place senior team and 17th vet team summed up the day for the men I think.
I was soooo cold at the end - shivering in the wet.
I loved it!!
This was my first Hampshire Cross Country, championships or league, and I was impressed with the organisation. A lot of effort had gone in to laying out the course, which wound its way around the grounds of Basingstoke's War Memorial Park. I feel sorry for the groundsman for the state we left it in. Honourable mention too for whoever has to clean the changing rooms - boy were they muddy!
Ah yes the mud!
It didn't seem too bad as we lined up on the start line - a gentle drizzle with barely a breeze, but we knew it was going to be muddy after the game we'd had getting the car into the grass parking area (rear wheel drive with me pushing from behind). I felt quite privileged to have Steph Twell, the European junior XC champion, a few places to my left - a quality field. That our team matched that quality goes without saying of course, with Chris, Belinda, Suzy, Jan and Marilyn next to me on the start line.
The gun went and we were off with me haring round the first bend. Oops! A tad quick I fear. I settled into a steady rhythm aware that I was ahead of the experienced Chris, wondering how long it would stay that way.
About half distance is the answer to that.
As I struggled with stitch, no doubt caused by my over-exuberant pace, Chris took over, and the natural order was restored. Could I pace off her and limit the damage?
Mike Gratton was a brilliant help, cropping up seemingly at every corner to shout encouragement and advice. That's the benefit of having a twisty turny parkland course. He was shouting things like "There's 4 places for you there. Now concentrate on the blue vest further ahead". The blue vest was Chris. She and Mike towed me through the remaining 2km and helped keep my placing respectable. I finished just behind Chris, and with her and Mike's help managed to overtake an Overton Harrier for 3rd F45! Shame they no longer give out bronze medals. :-(
Marilyn meanwhile finished 2nd F55 with Jan 3rd F55 - a brilliant effort in what some would describe as her "rookie year". We finished 7th senior team and 4th vet team in some very lofty company. Fantastic!
There was controversy at the sharp end when a marshall ushered the leading senior woman up the (shorter) junior finish line, assuming she was Steph Twell. I'm surprised Steph wasn't leading the field at that point but maybe she was holding back with the Edinburgh international XC next week. Steph won the under-20s by a minute in any case. I'm assuming the poor senior woman was disqualified. The results say there was a protest, but don't say whether the winner, Joanne McGarry, was the one being ushered up the wrong finish.
And so to the men. Oh dear!
We got an absolute soaking watching from the sidelines. There were some very miserable faces out there. Graham retired saying he was just too cold. As we watched the mudfest a squall came through. The brolly protecting our bags was sent flying, almost into the path of the runners. Mike's "2:09 events" tent hadn't been tied down - there was no wind initially. Fortunately those sheltering under it were able to hold it down as it prepared for take-off in the direction of Winchester.
Neil led the guys home, with Alex keeping us amused as he crossed the line with the leaden weight of his soaking shorts providing some fine bum cleavage! A 22nd place senior team and 17th vet team summed up the day for the men I think.
I was soooo cold at the end - shivering in the wet.
I loved it!!
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