Boulsworth, Baking and the Beeb

Not raced for quite some time but managed to do some training in anticipation of being at Trawden Show for the Boulsworth Fell race. Fell running is my favourite mode of running, it gives me lots of excuses for my average pace and despite popular belief is easy on my knees (but not my footballing glass ankles).

It was quite a stressful pre-race preparation: dropping my entries off at the Arts & Crafts tent (some photographs and a cheesecake), getting interviewed by the BBC about my cheesecake entry and then rushing to register for the race and then rushing back to the tent to judge the painting section before rushing back for the start of the race.

It was good to be back on the start line and I soon realised that all my training can't really prepare me for an actual race day experience and running with others. My strategy was to take it easy through the fields and try to get to the top at a nice comfortable pace and then open up on the descent.

My plan went well and I managed to stay comfortable all the way around the route and apart from twisting my ankle (that happens every race) and then the same ankle got eaten by a very hungry bog monster, right up to my knee. Anyhow it didnt seem to slow me down too much and I dug deep for the undulating track before the final boggy fields back down to the road: trying to keep up my steady but meaningful pace.

On the way down the rocky track to the road I was starting to consider a final flourish around the show ground and so started to push a little and noticed the runners in front coming closer but just when I was about to do my strong finish I ran out of track and it came too soon for me so finished without too much strain and pain. I then dashed off to see how my entries had done in the Arts & Crafts.

I got a couple of prizes for my photos and my cheesecake didnt win but I was interviewed by the beeb again about how disapointed I must be for not winning the cheescake prize (perhaps they were after an olympics moment). I explained that 'I'm still high from the fell race and at least I get to eat the cheesecake, oh and I got a prize for a photo of my pet whippet'. Thinking about it, I probably came across as a reet ecentric northerner in my Trawden AC vest.