European Mountain Trial race, Keswick

This is a race that I was looking forward to.  Having discussed with my coach that I wanted to put in a strong performance we changed a few things in training as the week when on and made sure I didn't hit a long run on Thursday evening like I did before the inter counties.   I still did a good 10 mile Thursday but kept it steady and didn't have a great deal of climb in it.  I only did one run Friday and one run Saturday.  I did my usual pre race run which includes a 5 minute hard effort in the middle of it.  I like this run as it gets the legs moving but takes no time to recover after it. 
Only problem with the race was it landed on a very busy weekend.  On Saturday Donna was pace making at the BMC in Watford.  watford is a long way from home but Donna decided to do the pacing.  It meant we were out from 12 noon and not back till midnight.  The next day the trial race was in Keswick which is 120 miles from home but in the total oppoiste direction to watford.  So a bit of time spent in the car this weekend.
The race attracted a very strong field.  It was very encouraging to see that such a good number of athletes value the event and want to try out for the GB and NI team which is selected from the race.
The race started and it was Huw Lobb, 2.14 marathon runner, who took it out in the early stages.  Chris Smith was psuhing the early pace with him and Steve Vernon and I just sat behind them until we started the real climb at the foot of Lattrig.  I wanted to push things along and moved to the front and led the race up lattrigg.  By the top of Lattrigg, as we started the short downhiull section Steve took a metre on me but I pulled this back as we went down the hill.  Then Nick Swinburn came flying passed us like we were stood still and as if he was on for a brucy bonus if he hit the bottom of the hill first!  The race then reclimbed Lattrigg and we pulled Nick back and pushed on.  After leaving Lattrigg on the second lap Steve had pulled a small gap over us and was heading towards Jenkin Hill.  Steve climbed very well and looked to be hitting good form.  As the race continued to climb Jenkin Hill and move towards the little man and felt as though I was pulling Steve back.  After the little man the race goes down hill which then showed how much of a gap Steve had on me.  Not massive, but I wasn't going to catch him.  The race finished on top of Skiddaw where the weather was windy but dry.  Steve won, I was second, Nick third and Adam Osbourne 4th.  A great run by Adam.  All four of us have been selected to run at the European Championships in Turkey in a few weeks.  The venue of the championships is the same place the World Champs were staged a few years ago.  Steve ran at the event but suffered, but I am sure he can fill me in on what the course is like.
Full results.
Many thanks to all the marshalls, especially the couple stod waiting for us at the finish line at the top of Skiddaw.  Can't have been fun!