This was an interesting foray into the depths of Englandshire which was really a holiday. Anyway, I'd been convinced to help out at the aforementioned village show, namely on the bottle stall, however on the day of the event discovered that there was to be a cross country run. Well, as one would expect, the lure was too much and the running kit was adhered and the race duly entered.
Prior to the seniors race there was a junior race, consisting of two runners, and as it was over some open roads myself and Paul, the race organiser ran the boys round for a warm up for the seniors. The wining junior went of at sprint dropping us all, only to slow down on the first slight incline, but still going at good pace. It was at this point I dug in a chased, we were supposed to be making sure they got round safely. Once in sight I slowed up and followed him back and awaited Paul and the younger runner. Paul dragged himself in somewhat latter than the 2nd placed junior, looking a bit done in. Things were starting to look good for the seniors race.
The seniors race was over a longer course (6.14 k) and involved a fair bit of road, along with a couple of fields and some greenlanes. Quite a nice run for a sunny August afternoon, really. The elevation gain was a nose bleed inducing 30 meters, it was Suffolk after all ! So, the massive entry for the seniors lined up and awaited the start, all 3 of us ! This involved a fair bit of standing around awaiting for the Karate boys to finish their demo on the playing field, a long wait which ended my us deciding just to get on with it.
Off we went out of the field, up the road and in the general direction of the local ford, not that we ran through it, but over a wee bridge and away off along the road out into the fields. This continue for a while, Paul had been dropped long before the ford, with myself and a local having a nice afternoon jog and general chat as we went. There were a few attempts by my fellow runner to ease ahead which were easily met with increase speed, then the 'big hill' appeared up to Hill Farm, this is where we went on to the grass and track surfaces. The other runner commented..... here's the hill.... I retorted with.... don't think I'll make that..... then duly upped the speed, dropping him at the 1st down section. It was plain sailing after that and by the finish I'd opened a good 3 min gap. Once the local runner appeared, we hung around waiting for Paul to finish, and we waited and waited, then went off to find him and run him in. After that it was juice and cakes.
The prize giving followed at the end of the day, where we all got medals and I picked up Tinto's 1st shield and win. A return visit next year will have to be made to give back the shield and try to reclaim it again.
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