After my poor performance at University parks last week, I knew I had some work to do this week.
I went out on Tuesday lunchtime to do out usual 8ish mile run up to Boars Hill and found the going harder than I expected. I wasn't wearing a watch but just kept going while wondering exactly how much fitness I had lost in recent months. Whern we finished and I got my breath back I was told we had just done the run in 58mins and 33 seconds - about four minutes faster than the previous week.
This morning was hard work. Just getting over the handlebar to cycle to work was very difficult and the thought of a one lap dash around Uni Parks was not a welcome one.
Still, with about 100 metres to go I saw Dickie (the mentor/sensai mentioned in my last blog) in the distance and thought 'oh well, I 'll just let him win again'. But something happened - a rage kicked in and I sprinted for the line.
I motored past him with about 20 metres to spare.
It seems a hollow victory beating a 63-year-old man but it's precious to me.