Running race 34:45 [5] 6.58 mi (5:17 / mi)
ahr:255
Ah, the Yorkshires.
Even with the monkey off my back this week was a bit stressful. Mainly due to the fact that I arrived at this wek in my best pre-Yorkshire shape ever..and everyone at work has a cold.
Private target (in an envelope) was individual bronze. Seems far fetched, but after 5th last year seemed a fair target.
My main anxiety was the horrible 50m sprint to the bottle neck at the start.
I arrive well tapered, fit, confident, yes a little niggly, but ready to hurt myself.
The gun went and I went for it, but even that found me off the pace of the charge! Bugger. I hit the bottle neck and almost found myself jogging on the spot- what a waste of energy, hard starts always detract form my overall performance.
Luckily I got through and was much closer to the leaders than last year. I just ran as hard as I could. I noticed Tom Adams by my side (who I was certain would be up front for the gold medal battle). Follow him! And I did, but I found myself losing him through the sea of banter starters.
Steve Bayton came by after a lap, which in a way surprised me and in a way didn't; given he hasn't trained much but is clearly very talented. I decided I wanted to go with him and in-fact pulled away form him briefly but before I knew it he was up the road (field).
I then just concentrated on running as hard as I could- I wasn't sure where I was but felt certain I was around last Yorkshire spot. I saw Bertie up ahead who look to be coming backwards so had a good word with myself to work to him- passing him with a lap to go.
Knowing full well he's better than me I worked hard all lap and unleashed possibly my best sprint finish ever to hold on to what turned out to be 8th place.
Im so chuffed to get back in the team and not at all disappointed not to medal. The field had no real superstars but it was full of very good runners. I wish I had been more brave in trying to follow Tom or Steve..not saying I would have stuck with them-unfortunately if I find myself in a good position at the Yorkshires, my mentality is to protect it.
I really hope I can override this at the Northerns and go for broke.
So pleased with the team medal- some fab individual performances Bayton being one, but Wyatt Hill was my standout run- he really bloody attacked it despite expecting to race as a junior and good on him