A pretty decent result so I’m happy with that, 12th is cool and a 50k PB is nice to have. I have mixed feelings about this one though. I wasn’t feeling “up for it” in the days before and I didn’t get as excited on the day itself, maybe because I’d done this one before and enough long races that I knew what was in store, but part of me thinks I might just have been not very bothered about it all! Laura and I started off at 08:20 when most of the field had already left, so we had time for some warmups and getting everything ready. The start was a little underwhelming as a result as just a small gang of us heading off, but that’s OK. Set off at the right pace and pretty much stuck to it (~5min kms) which was easy. I was working, but comfortably, and cheerily overtaking most of the field on my way along the Downslink. I said “hi” to most people, but that was as interesting as it got! That first 20k was boring as hell! The paths were so dry and dusty which got a bit tiring and crap after a while, so I was happy to get to the first village as there was a nice river, although navigating the parked cars and narrow pavements/street was tricky, especially trying to maintain a decent pace. Didn’t stop at CP1 or 2 as planned, kept checking my fluid levels and they were fine so pushed ahead. Huge bugger of a hill was a huge bugger, made a pal on the way up and ran when it started easing off, felt like hard work at this point, my heart rate didn’t recover walking up that hill, if anything it increased! Ran all the easy inclines, walked a few bits of the steep sections. Undulating bits were the same, walk steeps bits, bomb downhill. Pretty happy with myself for not walking up some long “easy” hills, felt good reaching the tops of these having run them. The CP3 arrived, I was pretty quick getting my fluids topped up and set off soon after arriving, probably lost only ~45s here. I hadn’t finished both bottles so only had ~800ml of fluid up until this point, but felt fine. Next big climb was OK and I ran most of it right ot the top, got held up crossing a main road annoyingly on the way! They changed the route this year to add some distance on so we started our downhill section down a rutted shitfest of a field, then dropped down a very steep track into a dusty farmyard to climb up a real shitter of a track. Bastards! The long flowing downhill after this was cool but I was pushing harder than comfort as my average pace had dropped to 5:26 and I needed 5:23! Kept pushing, toes were sore by now and went straight through CP4. There was another unwanted course change, instead of some steps up to a nice wooded bit and a field climb, we were sent up a long hilly road where coaches were parking… that was crap and I felt slow and shit walking up this. Final downhills into Hove were fine, I was really wishing for it to be over but was happy to see my average creeping back down… Once it got to 5:23 again I was pleased, knew I could get that PB – it was bloody hard work getting there though. Then was pretty much alone until the end, passed a few walkers who looked liked they and given up in Hove. I swore at a disabled old lady’s dog who got in my way (oops!) then got held up at every bloody intersection on the way down to the seafront. I was annoyed by this you can tell! Quick blat along the front, eased off a bit as I knew I had it in the bag, my colleague/mate was at the end taking pics (those used on Strava) so did a decent run to the finish line for his benefit ;-) Then that was that, I stopped, felt mostly fine. No real niggles during the race, a bit of upper-ham pain early on but it passed. Main issue was the damn big toe blister, but no knee or calf pain. Nice. I didn’t enjoy this race, the heat and dust was annoying (the headwind was very nice) – I think having to push harder than usual to get that PB meant I wasn’t getting the most from the countryside. I won’t do this one again, I’m done with it now. Serpent is much better. Glad I got it done OK and mostly unscathed. Biggest positive to me was Laura, she did so well and I am very proud of her.