CapTen, 2023

Last year, this race was a single loop (with a two-way stretch) of the west Dorset coastline. This year the course was different - a double circuit of east then west legs, converging on Seatown.

We met up with Alice at the start.

The delightful thing about this race (actually two races - the CapTen and the single-loop Bosun) is its competent organisation and understatement. It's very clearly marked out with little pink flags everywhere, but absolutely no razzmatazz. A couple of guys welcomed the field, but there was no PA system and no start line as such - just have fun and off you go.

It's hard to gauge how to pace this, when the first km has a hoofy 96 metres of ascent. I reckon about 16 people were ahead of me at the crest of the first hill. Getting to the top of Thorncombe Beacon involves three stages of climb with little dips in between. Then we skirted around to the left for the first of two steady descents - and then back on the coastal path for the steep climb up the eastern flank.

I was mentally counting off the hills. Two down, six to go. I passed the lovely Mrs S and Poppy on the way down to Seatown, and she said I was about tenth. after a juddery, steep descent and through the carpark, I swerved inland to begin the climb to the Golden Cap.

At 189m, this is a tough grind. Nothing too steep, but it really does go on. I was snapping at the heels of two guys ahead and feeling OK. The steps make it tough - you're forced into a lollopy gait. Then downhill - skip skip skip down more steps, keeping a very beady eye on your footing and then a plough down steep grass. I overtook one of the guys, and was not far behind the other as we pushed up the last of the hills on the first lap. He (Mark Peddle from Poole) pulled ahead on the second steady downhill section which went on for a mile on a narrow stony path. I passed Mrs S back at Seaton. 'Fourth place!' she called.

This was good news - it meant that some of the runners ahead were doing the shorter Bosun race. I glided ahead of Mark P on the climb back to Thorncombe, and was now on my own. Third place was now mine to lose. I glanced around on the big turns but I could never quite be sure I'd escaped him.

It was now getting really tough. The weather was warm (24 or so and humid - but thankfully the heatwave of the last week was breaking. Running downhill from Thorncombe, the weight of my sodden shorts threatened to pull them down and I had to hastily retie the string. Heading back up to Golden Cap, I struggled to walk with hands on thighs because they kept slipping off. 

After the Cap, one last minor hill, and the back on the downhill path. I was done for, but kept the pressure up, dreading the sound of feet behind me. Then onto the road, and finally the finish.

I was thrilled, but absolutely done for. I could barely move for a few minutes, and I was greedy for water. The sea swim was just the job. Here are my stats. The extra mile and 180m more climb than last year were behind my 16 minute longer time.

First lap: chasing him...

...Got 'im

It's really rather nice here.

In the end I was comfortably ahead of Mark P

Poppy serving as a handy cushion on the beach

Overton 5 mile, 2023

Being part of the Hampshire Road Race League, this race attracts a strong field. It's also unusual in being held as an afternoon event, and over the weekend the temperature had steadily built up. It was about 25 degrees when Mrs S and I arrived in Overton after a very cutting-it-fine journey. We had to run to the finish line, dump the bags and then run to the start line where we collected our numbers and luxuriated in the whole 10 minutes we had to spare.

I found myself next to Dave Shepherd and Jon Osman, two old rivals, at the start line. If ever there was a need to set off cautiously it was today, on this new course with a fast field on a hot afternoon. But the first km was all downhill, and I completed it in what I hoped was a sensible 3:27.

Settling in to the first hill, I overtook Jon. Dave was still ahead of me and he was looking strong, but as we crested the hill I could hear him gasping. This gave me a real boost. I cruised past him, and found myself gradually overtaking other runners. I felt myself tiring in the final third, but the heat was not the issue it had been on the Exbury 10k.

On the final section before turning into the playing field I saw the lovely Mrs S looking fresh. She had very wisely pulled over when her knees were sounding the alarm. I thought I was all set for a good finish, but a guy (Barry Dolman) I'd overtaken a few minutes earlier stormed past me and I couldn't hold him.

Spent, I flaked out for what seemed ages at the finish line. I looked at my watch and was delighted to see that I'd done it in 30:10; My best time at this distance for... well, since the very flat Romsey 5 in February 2019. Here are my stats.

The identically-shod bugger's behind you!

Outclassed

 

Lightning Bolt 10k, 2023

This was my first race in a few weeks. I hadn't done a heap of training, but enjoying being injury-free. So, low expectations of a strong result. And I wasn't in the best frame of mind when we arrived at the carpark in a field outside Chippenham - I had to sprint across the field in a squall of rain to get my number.

After this the rain eased, and by the time I was at the start line it was pleasantly cool conditions. I set off at a sensible pace, lifted it a bit in the second km and just kept going. This was also a Wiltshire championship race so there was a very strong field. In the later stages I found myself among some fast ladies. Going into the final stretch I had to dig deep to pursue a couple of ladies who accelerated brilliantly. I couldn't hold them, but it gave me a push just when I needed it.

I crossed the line in a chip time of 37:11, my best 10k result since Stubbington in 2020. I was delighted how it had come together. Here are my stats.

PS I tried this bicarb trick before leaving home. It was disgusting. Did it help? No idea!