Sunday, February 25, 2024

Deeside BL

Race: Deeside 7.3k (Borders League race 5)
Time/Position: 25.43 (47th from 384 [1st V50])
The real fallow year can now begin after a successful start to the new year, with several important events bleeding over from last year's racing. Of these, the continuation of the border league season was something of a priority (this was my 89th or 90th borders race). A cold and unusually early outing over the familiar Deeside course, from the usual manic start on the athletics track up the sharp Kelsterton hill. I had planned to hold back for this, but my immediate peers started off very quickly and seemed to be disappearing out of sight! So I pushed through and actually kept a decent pace going for the double (or triple) climb. After this, and the left turn on top of the hill, this fixture always becomes a flat out pelt back down Golftyn lane to the stadium - 3.25km pace or so, which seemed reasonably similar to previous efforts when I was younger and fresher. I caught Jez and some other team-mates at the turn, and we pushed on in a fairly tight group, packing well. With one fixture left, I have a 30 point lead in the V50 individual category, with Buckley now comfortably top of the first division overall, and miles ahead (1000+ points!) in the veterans competition. Some kind of modest grand slam looks on the cards with only one competitive race left.

No comments: