Weather wasn't great for this one , been steadily raining most of the day but at least it wasn't windy or particularly cold so this wasn't too much of a problem.
As I collected my race number from inside the angel inn it seemed like the saltwell harriers were out in force as the place was full of red and white tops. After a bit banter I headed out to do my warm up and then attempted to find the start line (not an easy task).
I always think its a challenge to try and work out your pace on a course you haven't raced before, especially when there's hills involved (as there was on this course), so my strategy was to hang in behind Chris (from the harriers) and see how that felt.
Even tho I was pretty close to the start line I found the first half a mile or so quite cramped and difficult to get past people, but I could see Jim and Chris from saltwell not far ahead so I wasn't too worried.
The route twisted and turned around single track around the angel sometimes on paths I didn't know existed even though I run up the railway tracks quite often. Since Sunderland marathon I haven't done any speed sessions as I haven't really felt right, so I was a little apprehensive as to how I would feel in the race but at the point where the route goes up the old railway track to wrekenton I felt pretty good and decided to push on a bit and try to catch chris.
Maybe because I live in an area with lots of hills I think I have a strength in this area and past a few runners on the way up including Chris. Disaster struck at the top though. The route loops back on itself back down the track again, but at the turning point I took a wider line that I should have as did the runner in front of me. By the time the marshall alerted us to this Chris had already turned round and was away back down the track.
I raced back down but didn't manage to catch him by the end.
I thought it was nice to see the runners behind us running back up the track in the opposite direction, and it was a good point to spectate for too.
All in all a great race and one I will defo be back for next year.
