Race 4 - No-one finished before me!!!!! :o)

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I was unbearable this morning. I had no idea why, but I was really nervous. You'd have thought that I'd got used to the routine and the like.

I paced about like a pacy thing, was dressed in my racing kit an hour and a half before the start. That said, my BP and HR were lower than they were yesterday. Curious!

It was a GORGEOUS day. Sun - Blue Sky - Cool and with a nice breeze. Couldn't have been better :)

We set off at about 10:05 and Adam headed off into the distance, albeit a little slower than he did the last couple of days.

Steve, Tim and I were in a little group initially, and I was waiting for the first downhill to test out my Left Foot.
I whizzed down it and it didn't grumble :)
Ooooh! I thought - That's good!

I let the brakes off on the next couple of descents and found myself a short way ahead of Tim And Steve at the 4mile Drink Stop after Hawkshead.
Theresa (who has been the most INCREDIBLE support) was a little way ahead of the station with a selection of drinks for those coming through, and told me to drop it when I was done and she'd collect it :)

I was running the next couple of miles really smoothly, and the foot was conspicuous by it's lack of noticeability ;)

The climb after mile 7 had me feeling a slight tightening in my Rt ITB - nothing too worrying - but one that I filed in my "To watch out for" box.
Mile 6 and Theresa had 'extra' water (I had no drink at this station) and asked if I wanted it - I did - It was brilliant. This was a pattern that repeated at EVERY station at which I didn't have a specific drink!
Shortly after this, I saw Adam ahead. I thought "I'm not getting faster - I wonder if Adam is OK"

Caught him at about 9 miles, and he said that he was having a problem with his Left Leg, and couldn't run down hill. I went past, expecting him to follow, but he didn't :(
Coming in to Newby Bridge I suddenly thought
"Sh1t - I'm in the lead - What on earth do I do now....."

I focused on my next drink at 14 miles, and Theresa met me before the station with my bottle again - with some words of encouragement.
I can't tell you how valuable she is to this event! Amazing :):)

The next section is quite undulating - and 16 and 18 miles were the spots where I'd had to stop the last two days. They passed easily - And the flat section to Bowness was really enjoyable.

I LOVE the section from just before 22 to the end - and with 4 and a bit miles to go - and feeling great - and with my running having a real spring to it, I headed for home :)
At about 23 I could hear the footfall of another runner when the wind was in the right direction. It didn't sound like Adam so it was going to be eight Tim or Steve.

And Steve is an incredibly strong runner, and I felt like he was bearing down on me like an exocet.

Realistically - I could only run my own race - and so I did :)
Last four full mile splits:
7:13
6:59
6:52
6:56

I glanced back as I ran into Clappersgate, and couldn't see anyone.
Was I about to record my first EVER race win..??

I hammered up the last slope and to the Finish Line.

3:16:29

And 40 seconds later Steve came in :)

AWESOME day.

Waited for Tim and Adam to finish, then went for a shower, and then dived into Lunch while there was still hot food around.
And cheered everyone else in through the open windows :)

And took my lovely wife a glass of water after she finished :)

It sounds like the physio team have had a really busy day today too.

Well - we HAVE run over 100 miles in the last 4 days....!!!

:)

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