Well about the only good thing to come out of today's race (beside smashing the Irish) was that i learned how to walk loads of hills in preparation for the upcoming 6ft track.
Out early to Belrose for the 14k internal Striders Equalizer over trails, that saw a nice little turnout from the HuRTS boys, with Fats, Eoin, Hamish, Christian, along with D. Tongue and the 'Super Crumble ...sorry 'Flake' back from his American holidays.
Tough old course this one, and with the recent weather we've had i knew it was going to be even tougher, Managed to snag a 3rd spot here last year and in the process beat Fats, but he was in no mood for pleasantries today as he told me prior to the gun going off that he would smash me by over 2 minutes over the 14ks ahead.
The first 3ks is all downhill and sat in 4th behind Fats and Tongue, with Criniti already half way around by this point, the first of the climbs then for a couple of ks and i knew then i didn't have it as two guys came past, Happy to hit the road at 6ks and get a bit of a reprieve only for another guy to go by ?
Kept them in sight for a few ks and even thought i was closing on them and then 'Mountain Man and 'I eat trails for Breakfast' Dickie Green got me on the 10k point of the race. With still loads of hills to go for the final 4ks i was then reduced to practising for 6ft as i nearly walked EVERY hill out there - Luckily every one behind must have done the same as no one else came by.
With 1k to go i could see the 3 ahead and tried to catch them and break the hour mark, but it was all to no avail as i crossed the line in 8th or 9th in 60.29 (nearly 90 seconds slower then last year)
A big, big reality check for me today with 6ft in less then 3 weeks, and has knocked the confidence somewhat and maybe need to reassess my goal times as i simply haven't done the work on the hills and time on my feet for this type of race?
Still on the plus side 60 mins is solid enough and if i can continue to get a couple of solid weeks in it will make it easier come race day.
Talking to Flakey after, (yes i hung around for a long time ) who came home in 80odd mins and in the process not only got chicked by the winning goal, but nearly 75% of the females out there( he out sprinted Barbara Becker, and he was thanking his lucky stars that 87 year old Frankie Dearn wasn't around :)
There was nearly a riot at the end as well, when the breakfast host (lovely young lady) laid out a full spread of food and drink, only when Eoin and i went for a 'Cuppa' found NO MILK ...... After a few chosen words that saw the lady nearly break down in tears she then run over and broke into the school canteen returning with 2 ltrs of milk in hand :)
What is it these days that makes it so hard to find a decent 'Cuppa Rosie ' in Sydney, First out at the Marathon clinic, no Tea, House of Kane has no sugar, and now NO milk..........thank God for Chez Highnam who makes the perfect 'English Breakfast' Cup.
Will be back out there this week, and i think the first thing needed is to find some hills to work on.
Out now for a few ales, might even call around Kanser's for a bit of his birthday cake left over from yesterday.
cheers
I spoke to the teary tea lady after you berated her. She said Timmy is running Six Foot so should HTFU and have his tea black.
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