The race was very similar though - not quite as hot as last year but still warm enough for shorts and T-shirt.
Another "ringer" Kenyan won the race in 1:06 - slower than last year. Similar number of finishers compared to last year too.
So fourth time of running this, I had been getting quicker each year, but this year there has been a distinct lack of running training, so I knew there would be no PB.
Organisation is excellent at the start is quick and efficient - lots of port-a-loos. Lots of volunteers handing out race numbers and T-shirts and in the baggage area.
Eleven o'clock came and off we went. The crowd at the start very quickly thins out and moving up (or down) the field is easy in the first mile or so.
Running through village of Cliddesden, lined with home team supporters really gave a boost and helped keep the pace up. The course covered lots of my training ground so I know the hills really well. The first accent up White Hill, after mile 3 was fierce - I even use this hill for hill training, but the speed we ascend that hill was still phenomenal. The pressure eased a little as the road flattened out and then descended passed Ellisfield church.
The decent was short lived as we started to climb up a short hill out of Ellisfield Green. There is a long down hill stretch here. After all that down hill, comes the inevitable climb back up hill - slow and steady rise of 2.4% over 1.6 miles. Cheered on by the lovely people of Ellisfield I ground out the climb. Even at the top of this climb the course turns a corner and still manages to go up hill.
The big dipper was a quick decent, followed by a slow climb - it is here that I started to slow. after cresting the top of this short climb, people started to pass me by. My Garmin had switched itself off at mile 2, and to be honest I was quite enjoying running on feel, but at the point I felt I was slowing down, and the runners passing me confirmed it.
Farleigh Wallop was quite until the very top of the hill, where there were lots of supporters and lots of noise. The down hill decent was speedy and I probably gained some time here but I was slowing coming into Cliddesden.
Back into Cliddesden for another burst of support, trouble is at the end of the village the support runs out and there is a slight incline to slow down on. The mile out of Cliddesden is long and straight and with no real support, a bit of a grind. this changes again once round the corner and heading back into Basingstoke where the supports start again. From there back into War Memorial park, and another climb. A dash round the park and onto the home straight. That was it, job done.
Goodie bag: Tech T-shirt (bright orange - eyes bleedin' orange I think it's called), medal, banana, water, jelly beans and chocolate biscuit,
Excellent race for old pros and beginners alike and the result 1:41:06 - so slower than last year.
