EnduranceLife CTS Dorset 10k

I really had no idea what expect from this.  I've heard of EnduranceLife before, but I've always been a bit reticent about going in for branded runs, suspicious of corporate glitz and razzmatazz.

The lovely Mrs S and I arrived at Lulworth Cove yesterday morning; a cold, calm, overcast day.  The whole area of abuzz with tough, capable-looking runners.  The registration tent involved an industrial process of getting number and dibber sorted.  Behind the tent was a monstrous hill, down which ultra-runners were descending.  I was up for the 10k, the shortest of the 5 distances on offer.  A big crowd of half-marathoners (running a 16-mile version of a HM) set off.  Alice and Julie, both running 33 miles, came past with much waving.  Then we met up with Anna and Wendy, who were also doing the 10k.

With Anna and Wendy

And then we set off up, straight into the first hill.

10kers starting, while half-marathoners complete their first leg (of 16 miles)

This being the Purbeck coastline, it was all hills as we headed west.  After the first ascent I found myself near the front.  I felt strong and I managed to get past a couple more, until I could only see one runner ahead. 

The hills were exhausting and draining, and my lungs were absolutely working at the top of their capacity at the summits.  But I've raced so many hills this year that they all felt within my grasp and I recovered quickly.

At 5k a friendly bloke waved madly and did a dibber time check.  I pushed on, now mostly flat or slightly downwards, trying to squeeze in the seconds where I could.  I seemed to be gradually gaining on the bloke in front, and I focused to reeling him in.

With a mile to go, we were downhill into Durdle Door caravan park and then up for a gentle ascent to the final hill.  Game on for the denouement of this particular drama.

The path on the right is the final descent to the finish

The final descent was utterly extraordinary.  I can only describe it as the chase of my life.  I'm not at all brave going down steep hills, but I was utterly driven by the pursuit and I caned it.  At one point I nearly lost it, which could have been catastrophic, but I stayed upright and got onto the gravel where I gave it everything I could.  I was closing the gap.  I charged on... but suddenly the course was at an end and I finished 4 seconds behind him in second place.  Check out the my Garmin stats and the Flyby. 

One of my more unusual prizes - a box of chocolate protein bars

Symon - thank you for giving me a thrilling, exhilarating challenge!  Sue was agog with the excitement of it, and afterwards I had strangers coming and telling me how much they'd enjoyed watching the battle. 

I had been completely wrong in my fear that this would be a bit naff and corporate.  It was a tremendously well planned and organised event, full of good humour and really gutsy runners of all kinds.  We'll be back for sure.