Sarah's sub 3 - part deux by Sarah_Doodge

I’ve felt pretty tired this week after last Sunday’s race [see “wacky weather” 22 Jan], so I’m pleased just to have made it through my usual schedule, and I have had a couple of runs that have kept me entertained.

Firstly I did a small 5k event in Hyde Park, aiming to run it fast.  I felt pretty tired going into it though, and one mile was even at marathon pace ie should have been much faster.  So not particularly quick and rather unevenly paced, but still good to do a bit of faster running, all part of my quest to try to find another gear this year.  What kept me entertained though was the hoards of bemused but enthusiastic tourists cheering me and everyone else along.

This weekend, I was in Cornwall and planning to do a 20-miler, and I found that by complete chance there was a 10 mile race going literally past the front door of our friend’s house (and I mean literally down the narrow street of his Cornish fishing village!)  Sadly a couple of our group also aiming for sub 3 were injured, so I decided to run 10 on my own first, and then do the race (although at my steady long run pace).  My entertainment on this run was the landscape - the whole 20 miles was incredibly scenic, in and out of idyllic villages, and with views out to sea and the river Tamar estuary at Plymouth. I had to scoot some wild ponies off the path at the start, then wound my way up and down the South West Coastal Path to get myself to Mount Edgcumbe country house where the race started (somehow – see my map drawn on a piece of newspaper below!)

I looped round the grounds past lovely trees and some cannons looking out on the Estuary, with a huge naval frigate setting off somewhere.  The race event was themed “Devon vs Cornwall” as the course started in Devon and went over the border in and out of Cornwall.  I was flying the green Devon flag (vs Black Cornwall) as I have close family there – everyone’s times are added together to see which county wins.  I find it a real treat doing events where I’m not going flat out, and it’s great to have encouragement from people on the course, and be handed water, when you’re out on your long run! I thought my first 10 miles were hilly, but really think this race could be classified as a fell race (having done a fell race in Devon before) – there were several hills where we were all walking, and several very hairy downhills! Most of it was off-road and I’m pretty pleased I managed to stay upright on all the mud too!

The final huge hill to the finish:

I am now completely exhausted, but full of sea air and views and hoping the lactate drains out of my legs soon.