Pace/Type: Race
Course: Ramsbury 5 mile
Shoes: Nike Pegasus+ 27
Clothes: Short sleeve top. Adidas shorts.
Health: Virus
Distance: 5 miles
Time: 45:19
Comments: Once round the playing field, then 5 miles of XC style running. The 3 friends I was with went off really quickly. I stuck to my standard slow start to feel my way into the run, I lost sight of the others quickly.
I was happy with my pace through the first mile, but maybe not so happy that I still needed a wee after going to the toilet 3 times before hand! I'd packed myself too full with sports drink for worry about running out of energy. Also, my breathing was a bit all over the place because what's left of the cold kept blocking my airways. It was clear by the end of mile 2 that this was damage limitation 
.
It started lashing it down and the MASSIVE hill that my so-called friend said was fine, was a real problem. Stopped twice, it just kept going up and up. At the end of mile 3 I had completely blown up and had a stitch.
The 4th mile was hurting really badly, although the stitch had gone! At the water station, I took one sip and poured the rest over my head. The course went through some of the nicest countryside you will see, lovely. And that in part made up for the pain through the last mile. I entered the field (once round to the finish) feeling like a shabby wreck.
Came up to the finish straight and both #1 and #2 came running out, so I picked up #2 and ran over the finish line with them both. Magic.
According to Mrs. Matt I didn't look like a shabby mess at the end 
, so I have to be thankful for that! Finishing time was 45:30ish (guestimate as I couldnt turn the watch off until I'd got #2 back to Mrs Matt). Which to be honest, I'm pleased with under the circumstances.
And as usual, within minutes of the finish, I'd told all my friends that I'd be back next year!
