Running race 15:51 [3] 5.15 km (3:05 / km)
shoes: Asics Hyperspeed #2
English National 12 Stage Road Relays. Leg 12 (short). Late change on the day to move me to the lower risk prospect of the short leg.
Risk somewhat increased when the other 11 guys put in heroic efforts to send me out with a 62s lead. No chance of relaxing though as AFD had a sub-4 miler on the last leg! THe only fear/nerves I can equate that sort of pressure to was lining up for first leg at WOC in Finland. Strange sort of retiral this!
I went out deliberately hard (3:00 for the first km, mostly uphill) to make sure AFD couldn't get me in their sights. After there was still no sign of them at 3km I could relax slightly and protect my hammy on the downhills. Lapped CAAC with 400m to go then he came sprinting past towards the line - deliberately slowed (after a glance to make sure AFD were still nowhere in sight) and lapped up the glory.
Great result for the club - previous best was 7th last year and our last national title was XC in 1905. Reward for the enthusiasm put in by all the legends of the club!
Running warm up/down 25:00 [3] 4.5 km (5:33 / km)
shoes: Asics Hyperspeed #2
Minimal warmup to avoid overaggrevating hammy. 3km after prizegiving.