Competitive Spirit

As any half decent runner, or any sportsman for that matter knows there is always that underlining competitive nature that affects you all the time. Even on board games I refuse to help Lee if she doesn't understand the rules or just needs some help....I don't want to lose my 'Cluedo' title!!

It doesn't matter what it is I want to win, even if I enter a race as training it is still hard to not follow and try and win it, this happened in training yesterday at the fantastic training ground which is Afan Argoed....

Sunday morning and only 13 hours after I finished the 10k in Birmingham I joined Lewys Hobbs, Steve Davies and Dai Rees (son of famous veteran athlete Martin Rees) for a 15/16 mile run which was suppose to be 'easy'. The loop started at the bottom of a mountain which is famous for its forest trails and has now got a mountain bike centre for people to stay and ride the fantastic trails on a weekend, so there are some 'nasty climbs'. We were doing a tough loop but we all agreed a slow pace was on the agenda and started off like this, a very long climb after 10mins took as winding up the mountain passing quite a few bikers on the way (they returned the favour on the way down).

A good chat, some more ups and downs and before we new it an hour and half had past. Then as we came out of the forest we had to run out on the roads back about 4miles to the car park. Along the winding mountain roads which take in some great views we ended up talking about cycling and all of a sudden Lewys started throwing out a challenge... "race to the end boys?!" and also making some playful 'brake-aways' like in cycling. I didn't respond and the legs were quite tired but Dai Rees closed the gap and then I and Steve played catch up, then Dai shoot off the front and Lewys chased him down....I could see this turning serious so made a counter attack myself and got a few seconds.

With 2 miles to go Steve was done and dusted and looked in a bad way but the other 2 were bouncing, attacking and then slowing down while I was trying to keep on their tales as best I could hoping they would tire each other out. With about mile and a half to go while Lewys and Dai watched each other I made my big break...I was gone! I could hear them talking behind and then "I think he is going for it", my legs were tired but I had to go from far out to have any chance. Lewys was starting to panic and shouting "where is the turn!" I kept my head down and made a left turn, the finish was now a mile away and a short sharp climb hit me like a wall deep in the legs. As we took a left turn and over a bridge (bridge below) Dai and Lewys caught me and went flying past, I pulled over "I'm done"....but I dug deep and thought 'what would lance do' and pushed again...I caught them a few seconds later before shooting past with a last attempt to take the win but straight away they tailed me and ripped past sprinting all the way to the finish. I strolled in third with Steve pulling up the rear. I was knackered but it was good fun...Lewys then reiterated "I'm like Canellara, when I go you wont catch me" which is what started the whole thing 4 miles back.

Next time I'll be ready!!

Simx