Rain Valley Half Marathon

The weather for the Burn Valley half marathon this year didn't look to good at the start with it raining heavily, not that it bothers me that much. Plus once you've got going you don't really mind that much. But fortunately after the first 15 minutes the rain eased up and then stopped, then the conditions where just about perfect. I always said when i was cycling i hope it chucks it down, that way i knew half the field where already beaten.
Anyway this year i was determined not to go too hard at the start and i actually succeeded this time. I felt i might of gone a bit too easy in sections for the first ten mile but the last three miles i was going as hard as i could. The plan worked a treat as i finished a minute and half faster than ever before round this hilly course. Around the 7 mile mark as you cut across a farm yard i took an early bath, well a mud bath that is. I slipped on some cow s**t stuff and dived into the mud, i was getting up and looked around to make sure no one had seen me, i was sure no one had seen and as i set off again i took another dive into the mud. This time i got up and concentrated on the job in hand, but it was hard to concentrate as it now looked like i had a pair of enormous mud gloves on. I tried to scrape off as much mud as i could and seeing i didn't have anything to wash my hands with i used my initiative. Perfect ! my head was that wet my hair doubled up as a mop. Hands clean i was happy in my mission once again. I managed to win the race in 74 minutes and 33 seconds, as it was another of the Blacksheep series championship races i was even more delighted. Tony Lambert was second and i must be next in line on his hit list.
It looks like i'll be heading to Kilburn next weekend for the 7 miler. It's funny how i don't like that race. I train round that circuit upto twice a month through winter and would love to live there but when it comes to racing round there, i never do very well. Probably with the fact i always get carried away and set off way too fast. Hopefully i wont be flogging myself round the
course as i want to be fully fresh mentally for one of my favourite races at the end of the month the James Herriot Trail Race.
There's just two more races to go now in the Blacksheep series, Burton Leonard 10k and the Wetherby 10k, now i have got a good lead i just need to make sure i don't get an injury. That's why i always try and get in the full amount of qualifying races as soon as possible.