Hill Running race 1:48:29 [5] 8.91 mi (12:11 / mi) +1360m 8:16 / mi
shoes: Inov 8 X-talon 212 #3
Mixed feelings on this. Set off faster and feeling good. Climbing well and going faster than last year. Felt like I was working hard but not going over the limit. Got a stitch as things started to flatten out near the top and lost some time there. Struggling to push through but it went away eventually. Still moving similar pace to last year overall here though. Hit the top in 14th in 1:08:40 (1:10:20 last year). Plateau section was ok but felt like I was mincing and struggling. Lost a few places. About 2 minutes slower than last year down this section. After Road section hurt like hell but had enough for a 5:45 mile to regain 3 places and managed to sneak 2s under last years time.
Last year I felt like the Ben was my best race performance ever. Was a bit down immediately afterwards but feeling a bit better after a of a more in depth look at my run. Climbing shows I'm fitter. Wee bit annoyed about the stitch but just one of those things really. Descending just let me down a bit today but I know that's a weakness anyway. Didn't wait around for the prize giving but I think I was first U23