Watford GP BMC

So after Luke Cragg had a run in with the official about the colour of his vest (not quite sure what the problem was) and solicitor Matt Barnes had to come in and mediate the situation we were ready to get going.

It was a packed field with 28 runners so there were a few elbows and I played it safe not wanting to hit the deck but ended up close to the back, luckily Pollard let me out down the home straight and I shot up towards the front. Not much happened then for the next few laps, it was a case up keeping in position just behind the front two guys and try to relax.

I had asked Cragg to keep it more 68 than the 68/69 it had said on the entry list and fair play he did, I probably would have been just as comfortable a second quicker per lap but he did his job perfect so can't complain. As we were approaching 3k I did give a couple of shouts to pick it up if he could and we I went through 3k around 8.32 which was around 14:13 pace so I knew we had to make up a lot of ground to break 14minutes. Luckily a Dannish fellow took it up for a lap or so before Luke Cragg wanted to get back to the front so I let him though and kept shouting to 'wind it up' to try and encourage him. My Legs and breathing were surprisingly good but I think I was just lacking a bit of sharpness with it being my first track race and only one track session since last summer.

Jon Pepper then went for it just before the bell and started to get a little gap, again the change of pace was the problem more than me tiring but lucky for me he went quite early so I had time to wind it up and catch him by the last 100m to take the win. I don't really think anyone was that interested in position and even as I was going to the line I was thinking more 'get the time' rather than 'get the win'.

After the race I was slightly disappointed but taking all things considered like driving for 3 ½ hours on the day to the race, lack of track and specific 5k work, first track race of the year and probably not quite quick enough in the first 6/7 laps it was a good effort and hopefully I can build on it over the coming weeks.

Thanks to Cragg for the spot on pacing and coming back after his job was done, im off to sharpen my elbows for the next race!

Simx

p.s nearly forgot, it was a personal best of 14:06