Plain Crazy 2019

We drove to Warminster on a dull and cool morning for Plain Crazy, advertised as a hilly, cold, scenic, desolate and windy 12.5 race over Salisbury Plain.  We knew nothing more about it; I'd entered it on the recommendation of my friend Keith Spiers.

The marshalling for cars was really non-existent, but we found a space very close to the start on a rather bleak military housing estate, and on jogging around the place found that was a chillier and windier day than I'd expected, and put on a base layer and a hat.  We had a hopeless briefing with inadequate equipment and a pair of barking dogs which meant that we didn't hear any of it.

We eventually set off on a quick start.  After a short way we were climbing hills on to the downs ad several runners fell back.  Then on to some slippery soft ground for about 3k, in which I was cursing my choice of road shoes and trying to stay upright on some fierce hills.

Togged up for the start

At the top of the hill we were onto a hard track which signalled the end of the cross-country element but which heralded the start of an hour or so of bleak, windswept and almost entirely lonely running.  The landscape was remarkably featureless, which meant that whole minutes would pass by with the landscape looking almost exactly the same.  Three guys whom I'd overtaken in the early stages cruised past me, which also precluded any real joy or exhilaration.

The really tough stretch was between 14 and 17k, which was a remorseless drag up a barren hillside into a stiff breeze - I was glad of my layers and my hat.  I knew there was someone behind me but I didn't dare look round.  I chugged away and pushed hard down the final hill into Warminster.  The signage at the finish wasn't great and I had a couple of sinking moments of feeling lost.  I hauled myself over the line in 12th place and 1st M50 in 1:25:05.  Here are my stats.

Final heave

The results were sent as a PDF

I came away with a sense of anticlimax.  I really had no notion of how well or badly I'd done on a rather barren and lonely run where I knew nobody else.  It's always good to explore a new bit of geography, but this was not the heartiest of outings.

A tough outing

Hogs Back race 2019

Today was part 2 of a rather bonkers weekend.  Alarm at 6, in the car by 6:50 and off to the Loseley Estate near Guildford for the 7-mile Hogs Back road race.  After some tricky car parking shenanigans we met up with Neil and Ali, and by the time we'd stashed our bags the 9am start was almost upon us.

My legs were horribly heavy after yesterday's half, and my left hamstring was creaking with every step.  I ran as briskly as my legs would allow.  I'd studied the route profile beforehand and knew there would be a modest hill followed by a much bigger hill.  This was deceptive; the first one was a real stinger of a hill, really steep and long; the second, which takes you up the Hogs Back, was a steady and entirely manageable incline.

Hill 1 hard, hill 2 easy

There was a long downhill stretch off the Hogs Back, during which I overtook a couple of guys.  One of them stayed on my tail throughout the final third of the race and then expertly edged forward.  Cue two others to glide ahead. I knew we must be close to the finish line and I pushed hard, but there was very little in the tank.

I made it over the line in 45:46, 31st place and 3rd M50.  I was happy enough with that - here are my stats.  Not very sensible running a fast road race the day after a tough half... I'm thankful to get away reasonably intact.

Four Hares go mad in Loseley... but we never found the icecream

Is this the real life, or is this just fantasy?

Lost again: Salisbury Plain half marathon 2019

The morning didn't start terribly well.  I forgot to bring my watch and my race number and I packed the wrong backpack (sorry love).  We met up with Rollo and Susie at the start area, a rather drab patch of hard standing outside Tidworth military town, worried about what to wear on a cool morning, got warmed up and proceeded to the start line.

Susie, Rollo and the lovely Mrs S at the start

We set off, and a lady strapped to a big dog whooshed ahead, rapidly fading after a few hundred metres.  Every human-plus-dog combo I've encountered does the same.  After a couple of minutes I was ahead of the pack, trying to keep a cool head in the early stages.

Before long I caught the back of the marathon runners who had started ten minutes before us.  I moved through the field and made to follow everyone on a right turn at a crossroads in the track, luckily just catching a marshal shouting 'full marathon this way'. Yes, she confirmed - left turn for the half.  Phew, that was close.

The signs were little yellow flags on the ground. I was on my own, and I kept checking the path obsessively for them, as they were quite subtle.  I was feeling OK and progressing well. I passed the halfway point, crossed a road and checked out a big hill ahead. I heaved my way up and then down the other side.  Where are those flags, I asked myself. Then I hit a T-junction, saw no flags and I knew I'd gone wrong.

Thankfully I had loaded the route onto OS Maps and I could see that a left turn would take me back to the route by drawing the third side of a square, nonetheless more effective than tracing my steps. Nothing gets my adrenaline pumping quite so much as getting lost on a race, and I blasted the next few km, overtaking several runners and trying to reclaim as much territory as I could.

In the end I ran about a mile more than I should have, with about 80m extra climb.  I finished in second place.  I was annoyed; not so much at losing my position as getting lost despite my best efforts.  The final comedy moment of the race was when a young girl rushed past me, colliding with my arm and causing my trophy to fall to the ground and break. It glued together fine.

Susie and then Rollo both finished, looking strong.  Well done Rollo - this was a tough debut half.  A funny old morning, but apart from the navigational hiccough, I was pleased with my pacing.  Here are the results and here are my stats... and check out the moment when I erred and strayed from my way like a lost sheep.

The finishers

Medal and broken trophy... it mended fine

Endurancelife CTS Dorset, 2019

A cold and overcast start to the day, but thankfully it was dry with high clouds, and the Purbeck landscape was looking terrific.  The lovely Mrs S and I arrived in good time and the organisation was as efficient and capable as ever.

Awaiting the race briefing

I wouldn't be jumping at the finish

I was here for the loosely-termed half marathon for the second year in succession, but the course was different to last year, with the start and finish away from Lulworth village.  This meant that the race didn't begin with the brutal set of steps, but instead a gentle incline.  I was in 8th place at the start, then up to 6th, and then as we turned and headed east on the coastal path I was overtaken on the tricky downhills at least once and I lost count as we started joining up with the marathon runners.  I was well focused, to the point that I was oblivious to Mrs S shouting and waving as I ran through Lulworth (sorry love).

Classic Purbeck scenery

The first section west of Lulworth was the warm-up; the real excitement happens on the eastern side.  I remembered and anticipated those monstrous hills with some trepidation.  But - despite all the warnings of wet conditions - the terrain was generally firm going and the hills around Mupe Bay and Worbarrow Bay were exhilarating.  Get into gear, hands on thighs, breathe into the steps and up you go; avoid the steps, seek out the grass, small quick steps in a zigzag motion and back down again.  I was loving it.

Then a stretch of gravel track to Tyneham and a long slope back up on the ridge for the journey back west.  I was starting to feel it in my legs but all was good.  I exchanged hellos to Tam, Liz and Em on the return leg and before long saw Lulworth ahead.  Unlike last year, we were diverted downhill to Lulworth Cove for a section of tough running on the shingle, and then onto the final section.

I had failed to observe my own rule of knowing your finish.  I had assumed we'd be heading behind the coastal ridge up to the finish field, but oh no - it was up the long steps, and I was starting to really tire.  I could now see the finish arch to my right - not long now.  Wrong!  We were sent back down to Durdle Door and then up a dry valley for a long climb to the finish with the 10k runners.

I seemed to be moving more and more slowly despite giving it everything.  And then there was Mrs S cheering my on and following me uphill.  I was barely moving, and was terrified that she was going to walk ahead of my feeble running.  100m to go, and Josef, who had overtaken me in the early stages, suddenly bombed past me and I couldn't answer him.  What I hadn't realised was that I'd overaken him just a few seconds before and galvanised him ahead into third place - check out our tussle on Strava.

The endless final hill

So I was fourth place in 2:44:27, and very happy with that - not least as we could get away without waiting for the presentation.  Here are the results, and here are my stats.  A long and full-blooded 28km half marathon with a heartbreaker of a finish... absolutely tremendous!

Avebury 8/9, 2019

This was our third outing to this race in a row, and it's quickly become an annual highlight.  The lovely Mrs S, Abi (another lover of hills and mud) and I drove to Avebury on a still morning with the landscape wreathed in mist. We arrived in plenty of time, but after a bit of pfaffing around getting numbers and going to and from the car, we had to jog to get to the start line in time.

Lovely to be back in Avebury

Pre-race pfaffing with a smile

At the start I met old Avebury friends Craig and Courteney (AKA Chez) and we had a terrific race briefing that went something like this: 'Listen up everyone, because this is the race briefing.  There will be lots of mud.  Enjoy it!  Briefing over'. Now that's what I call a classy briefing.

We set off, and I quite quickly found myself in third place behind Chez and then Craig.  I overtook Craig on the long drag up to Windmill hill, and almost took a dive on the steep downhill section which was a maelstrom of roots, ruts and deep puddles.  Settling down after this excitement I was overtaken by a guy in blue, and the pattern was thus set for the rest of the race.

The recent rains had made the course quite thrilling in places, where it was a real challenge picking a good line.  The infamous ploughed field was as claggy as ever, and the long rutted drag uphill after Yatesbury was a real challenge.  I felt good and kept the pressure up.

Unfortunately the course had to be diverted from its traditional route over the top of Windmill Hill and across the water meadows because of an excess of water, so the final section was the reverse of the start.  I kept expecting to hear Craig's footsteps behind me and kept up the pressure, but I was safe by this stage and I heaved over the line in third place, the same as last year.  I finished in a satisfactory 56:59, faster than in previous years, but the change of course makes comparison meaningless.

The ladies finish after 9 miles of chat

And so back to the village hall for tea, cakes and the presentation.  This really is one of the jolliest and heartiest races you'll find anywhere.

Tea always tastes better from Marlborough RC mugs

The winnings

Gosport half, 2019

Ideal conditions today - cool, calm and gentle sunshine.  But it was a properly cold dawn, and the lovely Mrs S and I set off with multiple layers in the car.  We arrived at Gosport in good time and the whole parking business was remarkably easy.  We collected our race numbers and had fun hanging out with friends from Romsey, OS and the Hares.

The Romsey gang at the start

Here comes the Hares

We had a comedy moment at the start when the mayor told us to go at the sounding of the horse... and then we were off.  I was next to Alex Prinsep, but I quickly lost him and tried to settle into a sensible pace.  I did the first couple of kms in the low 3:40s - slightly on the quick side, but I was feeling OK.  It was a glorious day, and I was glad of my decision just before the start to ditch my long-sleeved base layer.

Me, Gerry and a sunbeam at the end of lap 1

I finished lap 1 in almost exactly 40 mins, and I was working hard.  I knew it would be hard work to match that and go sub 1:20, which was my ultimate goal.  In any case, I was hoping to beat this year's Bath time of 1:20:33.  My km pacing was now in the low 3:50s and I was struggling to improve on that.

Past the turn on the second lap, only 5km to go and there was a sense of the ante being upped a few notches.  A few well-paced runners glided past me, and in turn I caught a few faders.  And then with about a mile to go, there was Alex on my shoulder.  He beat me to it at Salisbury this year, and I wasn't going down without a fight.  Those final minutes were going to be hard work.

It was a blinder of a finish.  1km to go, then a 400m to go sign... each of us kept pushing a little harder, and we were absolutely level.  There was the finish gantry and it was now a full-on sprint.  I couldn't shake him.  Was he edging forward?  Not if I could help it.  We both heaved over the line and neither of us could speak for a bit.

Photo finish!

Mrs S took a photo of the finish and Alex looks like he's ahead, but the results put me in front on both gun and chip times by a second.  I don't really understand that... but for me this was a thrilling, exhilarating draw.  My chip time was 1:20:41, 8 seconds slower than Bath.  I maybe could have paced it better, but I had had such a cracking race at the finish that I really didn't mind at all.  Here are my stats and here's the flybe movie of the Prinsep-Stileman chase!

Done for!

Romsey survivors

The lovely Mrs S and her Hares

Remembrance 10k, 2019

This was the first proper cold race day this season. The thermometer read 0 degrees and the car was all iced up as a beautiful dawn broke and we headed to Fort Nelson for our second outing of the Remembrance 10k.

Heavy artillery at Fort Nelson

We got there in plenty of time, picked up our numbers from the registration desk and scurried back to the car with goose-pimply legs.  We went through a warm up and activation sequence, stripped down and headed to the start area a few minutes before the scheduled 10am start.

This was a Rural Running event; a hearty running outfit led by Geoff, who picks cracking courses but always managed to bring an element of disorganisation into every race.  He didn't disappoint.  At 9:55 he announced that as some runners were still queueing at the registration desk, the start would be delayed till 10:15.  Oh Lord, we thought.  I really didn't want to spend 15 minutes outside shivering in my singlet, so we went to the warm cafe, where we could see that the queue had almost cleared.  Fearing that the race would in fact start before 10:15 (which of course it did), we soon went back outside and got into the start area where we had the last post and a minute's silence, which felt very right and appropriate as we stood beneath Nelson's Memorial and looked down onto Portsmouth Harbour, but all of this meant that I was cold and stiff as the starting horn sounded.

For the first km, all of which was a drag uphill and into the wind, I could barely feel my feet, while my lungs felt tight.  The second km was all downhill, and by this stage a handful of guys had pulled well ahead.  One guy eased ahead of me, another fell back, and by halfway I was on my own in 4th place.

This course has two out-and-back doglegs, both about 1km each way.  A good chance to check out the competition, and an opportunity to wave at the lovely Mrs S, who was looking strong.  And then back onto the circuit and onto the long climb back up Portsdown Hill to the finish.  It was a longer and tougher grind than I had remembered, but passing through the 5k runners prevented it from being too lonely.

I finished in 4th place in 39:04, three places down but 26 seconds up on last year.  Here are my Garmin stats.  On paper this was a respectable result, but in truth I hadn't felt comfortable or in the zone, especially with the chilly start.  Mrs S, meanwhile, did an absolute stormer and had loved all of it.  And as a bonus, we got into the car just as it started pouring.

A focused, furious finish from Mrs S

Beachy Head marathon 2019

This was the concluding episode of the 2019 marathon trilogy after Snowdonia and Clarendon.  It began with a rather bemusing 4:30 alarm call and a dark drive to Eastbourne, where we managed to park on the sea front.  As it lightened, there was a glimpse of red sunlight on the horizon, and shortly afterwards the clouds lifted, revealing a glorious mild autumn day.

Lovely day for it

We were very privileged to be able to greet our friends Jon and Luretta who were getting married in Alfriston during the race.  The crowd was kept back from the start line while they were photographed, but we were lucky enough to be able to say hello.

Luretta and Jon, the nearlyweds

It's an unforgiving start - straight up a steep section of hill on to the South Downs.  I heaved along with everyone else - it's a big old field of 2000, and soon enough we were looking down onto Eastbourne.  The south-westerly wind was blowing like mad.  I was feeling good, but was rather regretting my choice of footwear on the bare chalk sections of path, where I felt my feet slipping several times.

The infamous starting hill

The hills in the first half are long steady drags leading up to immense views and strong winds.  Heading downhill towards Alfriston we were straight into the wind and it was eye-wateringly strong.  Then a long climb up to Borstall hill and more fierce winds as I turned south and crossed the halfway timing mat.

We all love a dry valley feature

Slippy chalk track heading downhill to Alfriston

The Cuckmere floodplain was underwater, which required a couple of diversions.  From the second crossing I was in to the final third of the race, where the hills get tighter and steeper.  I walked a few sections, particularly where there were steps.  One or two guys came past me, but I was making a net gain as folk around me started to tire.

The Cuckmere valley

Last year I found the whole final coastal section a real tribulation.  This time I found it much easier;a combination of (a) finding not as hard as I'd built it up in my memory, and (b) the wind now being largely at my back.  The Seven Sisters and the climb up to Beachy Head were tough, naturally, but I felt in control.  I had hoped to go faster than my 3:25 last year, but as the seconnd half progressed I realised that this would be a very tall order.

I caught a few more chaps in the final sections and enjoyed the final descent to the finish line, albeit exhausted and almost crippled afrerwards.  I finished in 3:32:14 in 21st place and 3rd M50. I had hoped to get top 20, having been 22nd last year, but I was content to have split the difference.  Any disappointment in being 7 minutes slower was mollified by the leaders being about 15 minutes slower in the windy conditions. Here are my stats.

The lovely Mrs S, finishing her 6th marathon in 5 months

This isn't yer average trail marathon - this is huge and magnificent landscape to be thoroughy respected.  We were incredibly lucky to run it in bright conditions on a day that had forecast rain... it started raining just as we were driving out of Eastbourne.

That's it for marathons for 6 months... next stop Milton Keynes in May!

Blenheim Palace 10k, 2019

The lovely Mrs S and I beetled up the A34 early doors on this chilly morning to Blenheim Palace for what has become an annual pilgrimage to the Rotary 10k race.

We were expecting more of the charmingly Britishly quirky organisation that comes as part of the deal, and we weren't disappointed.  The compere took up his sonorous monologue on the PA system, and a team of ladies earnestly explained how to pin our numbers.  An Olympic Rower (we were never told who, which we figured to mean that he hadn't done very well in the Olympics) led a warm up, and we were encouraged to get in the position, with elite runners at the front. (Elite meant sub-30 minute 5k and sub-45 minute 10k. Priceless.)

Chilly start

The first km was gently uphill and into the wind, and the exuberant start by many of the field faded away quite quickly.  At the turnaround in front of the palace two runners ahead turned left for the 5k, and I was in fourth place.  I caught number three a few minutes later and then number two (as it were) at the halfway point, just at the start of the long climb.

I was feeling good, albeit working hard at the top of my range.  The park landscape was fabulous.  Close to the end we took a long triangular detour off the tarmac path on to a bumpy gravel track and then wet grass.  Push as much as I could, every step felt laboured and slow.

I deliberately hadn't looked at my watch during the race, so I was delighted to see the clock at the finish showing 37-something.  I finished in 37:55 in second place, 30 seconds ahead of last year and over a minute up on 2017.  Here are my stats.

Mrs S came storming home after a cracking run, narrowly missing out on a category prize.  The prizegiving didn't disappoint in its slightly bumbling charm.  I had to go forward for both a second and a V50 prize, and each time I had to be photographed having a handshake with the Rotary chairman... the second time the photographer got distracted by some ladies (we've all been there) and I had to stand there for about a minute in a clench with the old chap.

This has become a firm favourite family fixture!

Wait for it... wait for it...

Splendid pedunculates

Clarendon marathon, 2019

The Clarendon marathon is a glorious institution.  It's an off-road point-to-point pilgrimage trail, with terrific countryside and hills.  It's well-organised and friendly with no tacky plasticky nonsense.  After a year's absence in 2018 (doing the Chester metric marathon) I was itching to get back to it this year.  The lovely Mrs S was running the full distance for the first time and several friends were doing the full, the half or a relay leg.

Mrs S with Rob, Susie and her log-distance companion Kate

With Ian and Neil at the start line

After a rainy night, the morning was bright and breezy.  The gymnasium at Salisbury's Wyvern College was full of excited chatter and groups getting their photos taken.  It was good to eventually get outside and move around.

We were off at the stroke of 10:30.  I tried to set a sensible pace.  After a km or so I found myself running with Becky, who was running the first leg of the relay, and Neil, who I knew would finish way ahead of me... it was a bit disconcerting to be still with him until about 10 miles in, when he pulled ahead.

There was a westerly wind, which meant that we were being blown in the right direction.  The ground was soft underfoot with a few muddy sections and splashy puddles, but also some bare chalk slopes which were horribly slippery under my fell shoes and needed careful navigating.

It was a real pleasure to reacquaint myself with the course.  The marshals were friendly and the scenery as lovely as ever in the sunshine.  Coming down into Broughton I passed Dad and then Mum, both waving and fiddling frantically with their cameras as I passed.

Into the second half, and my legs were starting to feel heavier as I encountered the longer hills.  The final four miles or so were hard work, and especially a tough little hill covered in roots towards the end of the off-road section.  Someone told me I was in in third place behind Neil, and I was nervous at the prospect of being pipped off the podium in the final stages.  I was pushing hard up the final hill , just a few hundred metres from the finish, when I heard a pounding behind me.  Luckily it Ben Pitman, cruising towards a comfortable win in the half.

I crossed the finish line in third place in 3:07:50, 45 seconds slower than my fastest effort in 2009.  Mum and Dad had just arrived, bless them, which was quite miraculous as they'd forgotten which school they needed to drive to.  I had prizes thrust at me and photos taken... I was devoid of energy at this point and it was all a bit of a blur.  I wobbled off to a hall where I retrieved my bag, got some dry clothes on and ate some food.

Over the next couple of hours the place filled up and everyone was in buoyant form. The Hares had a successful relay, Romsey knocked up a wadge of successes, and Mrs S guided Susie Parker around her first ever marathon.

With Mum and Dad at the finish

Hares and Sons, plus grandaughter

Derek and his harem

Susie and Mrs S finish in triumph

So here's my Clarendon marathon history.  (I did the half a few times before 2008, but the results are lost in the mists of time).

     2008 - 3:16:41, 3rd place
     2009 - 3:07:05, 4th place
     2010 - 3:21:04, 12th place (this was when it all went horribly wrong)
     2012 - 3:13:41, 5th place
     2013 - 3:11:05, 3rd place
     2016 - 3:12:39, 2nd place
     2017 - 3:15:05, 6th place
     2019 - 3:07:50, 3rd place (and here are my stats).

Great fun! Huge kudos and admiration to JJ and the organising team for staging such a tremendous event. I'm looking forward to 2020 already.

Solent Half, 2019

I ran this race twice, back in 2006 and 2007, but memories of it were a bit hazy.  I was full of anticipation and excitement about this one, as I had a proper mission... our good friend Becky was looking for a sub 1 hour 30 minute time to qualify for the London marathon championships, and she had asked me to be her pacer.  I was really excited at the prospect of being part of such a glorious achievement, but also just a little bit scared of fluffing my lines... being a pacer is a proper responsibility.

After a glorious and slightly relentless few weeks of late warmth and sunshine, the day dawned wet after a night of thunderstorms.  The lovely Mrs S and I arrived at the intriguingly-named Gang Warily Sports Centre near Fawley in damp conditions and met up with various Romsey and OS runners in a loud and rather claustrophobic gym hall.  Becky and I agree that I'd keep bang on a 4:10 min/km (which would get us home in sub-1:30) so she had a benchmark to chase if it got tough.

It poured outside for the half hour before the 10am start, but by the time we were ushered outside it was just a drizzle.  Everyone was grimacing a bit as rain landed on bare shoulders (the field was predominately club runners, so a lot of singlets were on display). Vicki, the race director, gave a briefing that no one had a hope of hearing, and we were off.

Becky went off at an ambitious pace around the playing field, and I caught up with her on the road. We'd agreed that to get under 1:30 we should be aiming for a 4:10 min/km pace, but we did the first km in 3:56. But once on the road we got settled into a decent pace.

Approaching Hill Top, the first significant apex of the route, we had an exciting encounter with a couple of loose donkeys, but otherwise it was steady going.  Onwards past Exbury and as the skies lightened we got great views of the Isle of Wight.  We were knocking out consistent 4:02 - 4:06 kms and as we went into the second half it became clear that we had built up time in hand and that we were in a strong position.

The last third has got some interesting hills before getting into the rather dull long drag on a main road back towards Fawley and the finish.  But by this stage Becky really had the bit between her teeth and we lifted the pace.  It was great fun.  And then into the sports field and the final push on the grass to the finish line.

1:25:56 - four minutes ahead of target!  Here are my stats.  It was an absolute pleasure and privilege to run this with Becky and witness a really technically accomplished and gutsy performance from one of Hampshire's best runners.  Just to prove the point, she was also second lady.  And later it transpired that not only had the lovely Mrs S knocked 3  minutes off her half marathon PB, but Becky, Liz and Mrs S had scooped the third female team prize.  Hats off to the ladies!

All smiles from Romsey

Hursley 10k, 2019

This race is a perennial favourite. Yes, it does get a bit over-excited in its over-use of glitzy bet-you're-as-excited-as-we-are communications, but that doesn't detract from a friendly local race with a cracking good chase around a forest. As usual, plenty of familiar faces were there - but what was unusual was the full-on heat of the day, already building by 10am.

As we set off, about 12 runners went decisively ahead, and I wondered whether I'd manage to keep my record of a top ten finish. I needn't have worried... into the third km we were into the woods and going uphill, where I took out about four runners in one go.

Soon after this I became aware of Matt Brown and David Currie ahead of me. I gradually pulled towards them, and spent a few minutes on their tail, happy to let them set the pace. With a couple of km to go, Matt was ushering me past him, and I left them both behind as we went through the final stages of the wood and then out on to the long avenue to the finish.

I was on my own, and I had to work hard to keep the pace up approaching the finish line. I heaved to the end and flopped down in the sunshine.  I was 6th place and 1st M50 in a time of 38:29... here are my stats.

With the Sleaths at the finish

Crafty Fox half, 2019

It all started so well. The start line had about a dozen fit-looking chaps ready on the front line. We started, and they all dropped back and I was leading after about 50 metres.

With Mark A and Susie P at the start

Unexpectedly ahead

This is a slightly unnerving place to be so soon in a race.  But on cue, a couple of minutes later a guy in blue cruised past me.  Great, I thought, someone to follow.

As we ran up the first hill, we started hitting gates that proved quite fiddly to open.  I made a bit of a meal of going through one, and bloke in blue was suddenly a good distance ahead.  Through some woods, out the other side and onto a long straight path at the top of a ridge.  I was comfortably in second place, with the sounds of closing gates receding behind me.

That was when it all went wrong.  I was looking closely at the next gate, trying to work out which side the latch was on, and II missed an arrow pointing left.  I went through the gate and carried on in a straight line, not worried that I couldn't see Mr Blue as a Land Rover was driving ahead of me and would have been blocking his view.  It was a steady downhill drop and I pushed on at a good pace, albeit feeling increasingly nervous that I hadn't seen any signs for a while. Eventually I reached a road and with no signs to be seen, I knew I'd gone very wrong.

Feeling very cross with myself, I tuned around and headed up the long drag to where I'd gone wrong.  By my calculations it was a 3.6km diversion with 80m of descent and then re-ascension.  I went through the gate, and joined a throng of runners on a narrow track.  I had a difficult job to maintain any kind of pace while I dodged and weaved around the runners ahead.

Over the next half an hour or so there was much leaping about on narrow tracks as I slowly moved up the field.  The runners ahead slowly thinned out, and as I took the long drag up to Bulbarrow I had to work noticeably harder to overtake others.

From Bulbarrow the views were huge and magnificent.  From here it was all downhill - over the downs, through a few rutted fields (thanks for the tip-off, Mrs S) and out on to a road from where I could see the finish.  I managed to reel in a couple more before leaving the road and pushing through the final fields to the finish line.

20 minutes behind schedule... sorry love!

The lovely Mrs S was looking very anxious, as I knew she would be - this had been a big incentive for me to push hard and prevent unnecessary worry.  For what it's worth, I finished my 26.95 km half marathon in 2:02:16 - here are my Garmin stats.

Honestly, what an eejit I'd been.

The Beast, 2019

The lovely Mrs S and I last ran this race in 2017 in awful conditions. This year was quite different - it was sunny and calm.  We arrived in good time, met a bunch of RRR friends and headed to the start line at the edge of the downs.

The start

We started by zig-zagging around the downs, and narrowly managed to avoid crossing paths with a herd of skittish horses.  Several folk had started way too fast, and I cruised past them over the first 15 mins.  There were some interesting cross-country sections and a few stiles, but nothing too technical at this stage.

Then out onto the coastal path, where the inclines and terrain started to get a lot more juicy.  There were a few sections where I had debate whether it was more efficient to walk or run, before rounding St Aldhelm's Head and encountering That Valley, where it was all about tentatively jogging down the stone steps and walking hard up the other side.  I arrived at the top satisfied that the tough hills were done, and cruised downhill past Chapman's Cove and on to the track that opens in to the road up to Kingston.

But this year's course was different.  We were routed off the road and back south to a gnarly hill called Houns-Tout Cliff. Dozens of steep steps left my legs all a-wobble, but I managed to overtake someone near the top.

Oh, those steps

Check out the cheeky unexpected Houns-Tout Cliff in km 15

It was then a flattish chase to the woods next to Kingston, then downhill through fields and then through a wonderfully technically wooded boardwalk section with crumbling stiles and limbo dancing branches.  The final section uphill over the downs was really tough, but I was rewarded by a final overtake in the final downhill hurtle to the finish field.  I heaved over the line in 6th place in 1:35:36, which was, rather bizarrely, identical to my time in 2017 on a shorter route but in worse conditions.  I was very chuffed to get the M50 award in a competitive field.  Here are my stats.

This is a really tough, well-organised and interesting race in a fabulous part of the world. Beastliness has never been such fun.

The arrival of Beauty...

...and The Beast

The Romsey ladies found the whole thing a hoot

I came away with some silverware

...and so did Abi, Sue and Hannah - the winning ladies' team