Stinger 2017

I spent last night wondering what on earth I’d done to myself at the XC in Bournemouth and whether I was being completely stupid in doing back-to-back races over the weekend.  But the Stinger is much more my kind of course – no pesky laps, wild and open countryside – and I was reasonably hopeful that I’d be ab; to find my own pace.

Romsey RR were out in force, covering a mix of the 3 races (5m, 10m, HM).  It was another mild day (15˚) but with a cool breeze.  We set off, and immediately I felt comfortable with a pace that felt familiar and sustainable.  We headed downhill, then uphill, and I knew that it would be OK.

The 3 races all set off on the same course together, so it was hard to judge position.  After a couple of miles we 10-milers were on our own.  I thought I could pick out a runner ahead at one point but I couldn’t be sure.

The rest of the race was more or less a solo effort, save for catching a handful of 5-milers at the end.  There were a few short muddy sections, but otherwise a succession of undulating tracks, with some fast downhills and corresponding log uphill drags.  Somewhere around mile 6 there was a really steep section where a marshal clanged a bell.  I waved, pounded on, and couldn’t hear any bell ringing behind me.

I was all on my own and a bit clueless how I was doing

Back through the underpass beneath the A31, then a right turn and in to the final km down and hill and the uphill through woodland the finish.  It went on and on, and I kicked myself for not doing a recce at the start; I remembered the hill, but it was longer than I expected.  I saw light at the top of the hill but got directed around a final little loop at the top.  There was the Lovely Mrs S, shouting encouragement.  I pushed for the line and finished in 1:08:03, a bit slower than in 2015.  ‘How did I get on?’ I asked the guys in the chip timing tent, hoping for a top 5.  After a bit of confusion, they told me I was the first one home.  I was astonished – I really had no idea!  We stayed to watched Neil come home 2^nd in the half, and Sue (Sleath) finishing first lady. 

This is a super local race – a firm favourite.  An utterly different experience to the XC yesterday.  Looking forward to next year!