RR10: Alver Valley

It was the first time I'd done this course.  It's a long journey to a spot between Lee-on-the-Solent and Gosport; not easy to get to in the evening rush hour and on top of that it was an uninviting day; drizzly and windy.

I dithered a bit about whether to go, but I was swayed by the thought that if the turnout was lower then I had better chance of a good result.  Having arrived at the venue cutting the timings a bit fine, off we went around Alver Park.  It's a curious place; partly wetland nature reserve, partly an infilled landfill site, and there was something quite atmospheric about the bleak and slightly salty seaside air blowing around this rather blasted but verdant landscape. 

We criss-crossed the southern part of this area until I lost all sense of the route, and it was only the strong wind that helped provide any sense of direction.  Mist and drizzle were everywhere.  I ran well, and was pleased to overtake Mark Causebrook from Hardley who had beaten me at Stoney Cross.  However, I found the last little lap adjacent to the finish line a struggle.  With no runners close by in front or behind I nodded off a bit and was beaten in the final metres by David Coak from Eastleigh.

Final result: 17th place, which was excellent, although buoyed by reduced numbers.  That puts me in 14th place in the overall standings to date.