'Not the Roman IX' 12k, Stratford-upon-Avon

Two races, two wins so far this year - so not bad going!  It won't last though!  The 12km 'Not the Roman IX' (and its predecessor the Roman IX) has become quite a regular fixture in my race calendar, mainly because it is local and is a very well organised race.  This year I used it as a good quality tempo run, and it also provides an opportunity to race over an uncommon distance - so has PB potential if you've not raced 12k before!  It's a rural course on the edge of Stratford-upon-Avon, a bit undulating with a steep downhill section in the village of Loxley which can be tricky when its icy, especially as there's a sharp corner to turn at the bottom!  Stratford AC always do a fantastic job with the organisation and the course is really well marshalled.  The only problem they had this year was that the portaloos had frozen overnight and wouldn't flush!  However, volunteers were soon in action flushing them with buckets of water after each use - not a pleasant job, so a massive thank you to them.

It was freezing cold as we waited on the start line and my body didn't really feel ready for action when we set off.  Despite it being a local race to me I still somehow managed to not give myself enough time for a proper warm up.  However, after the first few strides I got into my running and found myself near the front of the field, in a group of men including one of my club mates, Simon Riley.  I stayed with this group for the first 5km or so, then they started to pull away from me up the first (& only) significant hill.  They continued to open the gap out of the top of the hill, and down the other side through Loxley.  I took it quite steady down here as it was a bit icy and I didn't want to risk slipping and injuring myself (though the organisers had put some grit down) - I'm a bit of a wimp on ice, especially when it's combined with a downhill!

A couple of blokes had passed me on this downhill section but at the bottom, with the sharp corner safely negotiated, I got my head down.  I managed to pull them back again and then set my sights on Simon who had opened up quite a gap by now.  Much to my surprise I gradually pulled him back too, and we ran the last few kilometres neck and neck, neither of us letting the other get an advantage!  He eventually beat me by 2 seconds on the sprint finish (I guessed he was going to do that!!), and I was 9^th overall in 44.03.  I won the women's race by almost 3 minutes, making it my 5^th win in this race in the last 7 years (I couldn't run the other years because of injury!!).  I seem to be building up a nice collection of engraved wine glasses - I'll soon have enough for a dinner party!

What was even more pleasing, though, was that with great runs from my club mates, Zara and Susie, we managed to win the women's team race.  So, a very satisfying morning's work all round.