30 January
Rain blew in before the race (first photo). Snow was forecast later in the evening. (See second two photos showing the calm after the storm, the following morning).
Village Hall HQ toasty, 136 entrants in full winter regalia. Saw Richard Boucher and Dave "Disco" Hurrell from Plymouth Tri Club and Plymstock Road Runners. Richard is training for an ironman and had about 10 miles to do the following day, so was planning on taking it steady.
Race got underway. Good position at start. Climbing first on road, down through an icy stream and up on a track to Didworthy. Slushy. At Shipley Bridge, rain changed to sleet, then horizontal snow brought on a bitter north easterly wind blew directly into our faces for a few miles on the valley floor. Visibility poor. Head down, endure. At least the tarmac path was the easiest surface to run on of the race, so I tried to maintain a good pace.
Approaching Avon Dam, branching off the tarmac path on to gravel and passed a few runners on climb up to Dartmoor. Briefly caught my friend Dave adjusting his backpack. By the reservoir, the path became disjointed and slow going. I jumped/stumbled over boulders and through pools of water. Pleased when the path forked right, becoming wider and easier and climbed again. The snow stopped. The fallen snow reflecting light from the full moon made it easy to see the path. Reached the highest point at about half way and it was beautiful. I was mostly running by myself at this stage, but caught a few people and was in turn caught by a few others. Picked out a chain of head torches to follow and fluorescent posts marking the course. This was a really enjoyable section of the race, one of those moments you feel very alive.
Gradual moorland descent. Every darker patch of peaty ground signalled a particularly boggy mire where you needed avoid tripping. Downhill became more uneven, rocky and steeper - over streams, between gorse, ducking low trees. Got caught by others as I'm not very agile. Great camaraderie as we encouraged each other through it. Someone tripped and fell in front of me but managed to get up again.
Snow returned, but this time the wind was behind us. Clumsily over a gate, lost time, had to make it up again up a hill, then off the moor at last and more downhill on road, before a sharp left turn led up the side of Brent Hill and on to a really slippery section. Could feel my calves tightening up and realised I was close to cramping, so eased off very slightly. Over a road, into fields. A marshal directed 4 runners in front of me the wrong way. I got ahead of them, knowing the only way out was over a stile and called for them to follow.
A mile later, calves telling me cramp was about to bite, but I was close to the finish. Over a railway bridge and had to do a funny looking cowboy gait just before the finish line to avoid full on cramp, letting someone past me, but I didn't begrudge him that. Couldn't have done more.
1 hour, 29 mins, 32 seconds. 17th position.
It was a shorter course and had less ascent than Oh my Obelisk, but the ground was more uneven, so it was slower going. I was pleased with the time. Definitely benefited from my recces. Really special race.
Photos of Dave and I at the end:
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