Despite a period of dry weather, Wessex turned up to a pretty damp and soggy Itchen Valley for race #2. The drive in was pretty slow with ongoing work to upgrade the car parks (seemingly never ending from the first of last year’s CC6 races). The start area had plenty of standing water (with associated biting insects) and perhaps because we were one of the last to arrive we had the soggiest pitch to put up the club flag.
It was a lesser turnout (7) this week after our high of 12 runners for race #1. Chatting to David S before the start he told me this was his 98th RR10, only two away from the hundred club for Wessex (joining Doug, David H, Steve and Richard). That is impressively consistent running and aspirational to we newer members.
We squelched our way to the start line and it was pretty raucous, with the organising marshals trying to bark out instructions before they would let us start. A wide start, across a grassy field for a few hundred meters, then funnelled onto a narrow, gravel path and up a slope. Then it was back onto the grass. It was wet underfoot and the grass was long, draining to legs and treacherous at points – as the faller in front of me demonstrated. We then dipped into the woods, with some low hanging branches and tree roots to avoid. We made our way back to the start but the trail had some deep puddles and mud to wade through before starting a second lap. I was pretty heavy legged towards the end of lap two and had slowed a little but managed a kick at the finish to move up a couple of places.
All Wessex home safely in the order Andrew (121), Nigel (166), David S (242), David H (243), Chris (247), Derek (259) and Richard (261). Enough finishers to give Wessex (A) a team result.
Race #3 is at River Hamble Country Park on May 22nd, hoping for a good turnout and a drier course.
Wessex Road Runners 