According to my training diary I haven't raced at Keith since 2010.
In the morning I already felt stiff and had a bit of an ache behind my right knee. I decided to go anyway. I was only ever taking it as a hard training run, so it wasn't going to be a let down if I had to back off a bit further and take it as a slower training run.
I had a bit of a warm up and chatted to some team mates and some other people I knew. One of the more serious contenders was in his first race back after several months off. There was a bit of chat from him around his plans to jog round at the back. I pointed out that I thought he was maybe underestimating how slow things would be at the back compared to what he was used to but he insisted he would struggle to keep up.
The race had one of the most unusual starts that I think I have ever witnessed. There were a few jokes about the front runner hanging out at the back with us. Even to the point of someone telling him we had much better chat and if he hung around a while we would tell him some fishing stories. Then while we were still giggling away about that a guy in the middle of the pack suddenly turned round and ran back towards us, having lost his shoe to the mud. The giggling rapidly turned to full out laughter and it was hard work for a few of us just to keep running without wetting ourselves.
About 5 minutes in the serious chap jogged past looking much too comfortable and I reminded him that 'I told you so' about how slow things were at the back. He wished me a good race and then disappeared up the field (to eventually finish 4 minutes ahead of me).
By about 8 minutes into the race, about half way round the first lap (of three) I was already in a big gap. No-one in front that I could see, and clear from anyone chasing. This was pretty much the story for the next half hour as I worked my way round the course at a decent pace in splendid isolation.
The final half lap I was being caught slightly. I figured the gap was too big for him to cross and there was no way I was catching anyone ahead but I upped my pace anyway. Once I pushed on a little more I actually felt a bit more comfortable. I managed to reopen the gap behind me but couldnt see anyone ahead to catch.
Finished 48th of 58, which wasn't great, but my average pace was 7:42 / mile for a slippery and hilly course which was better than I expected.
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