Getting to Reading is a right pfaff. The city of Reading may be a lovely place for all I know... but unfortunately my only experience of it is horrendous approach roads and flyovers. Really, really awful. That said, Prospect Park is a decent-sized place near to the centre of Reading, and it was a remarkably balmy (18 degrees) and sunny October afternoon.
I got there quite late. I met Mick and Mark A and just had time to learn that there were too complicated laps. A quick pee in a hedge and I was at the start line only just in time. The course is flat playing field with a stinger of a hill in one corner which you go up and down twice in each lap. Crikey, was it hard work - but it was the saving grace from what would otherwise have been circuits of a big playing field.
I must have started too fast. I overtook a number of runners in the first few minutes, but once over the hill I found that I was struggling with my breath, and others were one by one overtaking me. Into the second lap, a gasping push up and down the hills and back onto the endless grass circuit.
I finished number 72, which was actually quite respectable. I had to have a full-on knackered lie-down on the grass afterwards. I was very pleased with my new spikes, which were comfortable and did the job perfectly. I still have bruised big toenails from the Clarendon 2 weeks ago.
Game on... one down, four to go.
