This was my first race after 4 months of zero exercise thanks to complicated hip issues, so this was never going to be a PB hunt, which was just as well.
Registration was completed with zero fuss, and then a 500m walk back into the town ready for the off. A thank you to the marshals and sponsors and a handy last minute warning of some unannounced scaffolding and we were away. The course drops down to the river with a dogleg back through the park. At 3km was the first water stop, I didn’t need it, but with the heat increasing it was good to see. Back up through the town centre and a housing estate then a little loop in a industrial area wasn’t especially scenic, but then we dropped back down to the river and all was gorgeous again.
Following the river through the park was really something, and helped lift tired legs. Only to find the sting in the tail, a little dogleg at about 9km with a short but very sharp hill up to the church and through the gates. Back down the hill and into the park to finish. Goodie bag was of the cloth variety with a medal, banana, cake, and I’m sure I saw they were using eco friendly biodegradeable cups for water. A really nice race, great marshals and some really good local support. I’d do it again.