Goring 10k, 2019

It was a damp and blustery day. We set off with a full change of dry kit expecting to get thoroughly wet and cold. We trudged from the Goring station car park to the race HQ at the primary school, which was getting a bit overwhelmed with a thousand or so runners, and we were asked not to flush the loos (I'm glad I didn't have to sort that one out).

At race HQ before the start

The lovely Mrs S and I stripped down to race gear, did a few warm-up and activation excercises and headed off to the start line.  There was a friendly bunch around me and we had a good chat while we waited for the off.  Watch out for the headwinds on the return leg, I was warned.

The first km was a steady 40m climb, which thinned the field out nicely.  By the top I was able to count the runners ahead and reckoned I was in 15th position. Then a good downhill section before heading south and onto a slight climb on a section of field into the wind - wow it was tough.

I had caught a few runners as we got into a flat section along the Thames before heading east and into open countryside.  There was a stiff sidewind, and I appreciated what the guys at the start were telling me - the last section was all south west, right into the wind, with a decent hill to boot.  At 7k there was a right turn, and boof, the wind was quite something.

It was a steady grind for a few minutse, back to the top of the original hill. At the top of the descent I overtook a youngster and pelted downhill, terrified that I had broken cover too soon.  He really kept up the pressure behind me.  The finish was 700m further on from the start and I had to work really hard to keep ahead.

But I did, just, and finished in 38:56... always good to finish in xx:5x!  I was pleased to get 6th overall and the M50 position, and even more pleased to be the champion Super Veteran, which I think is a cracking title.

Mrs S came tearing in to the finish soon after alongside some very tidy-looking competitors.  The hills really are your friends with the right attitude!  A lovely course, made more interesting by the conditions.  Super stuff!

Here are my stats and here's a flyby sequence showing just how the race became on that last hill - I had no idea they were being such a threat.

Super Veteran... I could get used to this...