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