David Currie

Wednesday saw what was probably my last RR10 of the year (we’re likely to be away for Stoke Park Woods and IBM hosts the last race of the year). It was a new course for me, out at Janesmoor Pond in the New Forest. I was warned that it was undulating and wasn’t disappointed (my watch measured over 300m of ascent in 6.8km which is positively mountainous for round here!). The course also now leaves the gravel tracks to cut through the middle of the first loop meaning there was also be some mud to be had.
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My steady rise through the results of the RR10s came to a screeching halt at Manor Farm Country Park this evening with a 14th place. By rights it should have been just my sort of race with lots of mud and a couple of good steady inclines. I could put my result down to the fact that the supporters club decided to stay at home this evening however, as I postulated previously that it was actually less training that was leading to my improvement, conversely, going to the gym yesterday morning and then running around before, during and after the orienteering yesterday, probably wasn’t ideal preparation for tonight. Now have to save myself for the rest of the week in preparation for the Dorset Coast Path Relay on Saturday.

369I was slightly concerned that I might be pushing my luck doing three runs in a week (on successive days) but my luck held out at the Blackfield RR10 last night! I have mixed feelings about the course: it’s got some good undulations and I always fair well when tree roots come in to play but you are enclosed by hedges for much of the route so don’t get much of a feel for the distance, or the relative position of other runners. In an unusual tactic for me, I started off at an easier pace and picked off runners on the way round. I slipped past the Southampton runner pictured here but unfortunately couldn’t hold off the Romsey competitor I’d just overtaken in a sprint for the line. Still, my finishing position continues to improve with an eighth place this week.