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Thanks guys.

 Hi Blisters - long time no-speak. 76:45 - around a minute slower than I've run at Wokingham the last 2 years. Interesting you think it's a PB course. For me it seemed there were always slight ups, but never any downs until near the end. I was happy just to maintain contact with the leader, and wasn't too concerned that we were dropping off 1:15 pace as I expected some pay-back in the 2nd half. I guess it was there, just didn't feel like it, but then I guess the mind starts playing funny games when you've been out front for 7 miles and feel like you're being hunted down!

 Funny thing is, if good old Abingdon hadn't been cancelled, I'd have been training for that, and not gone to Cricklade!

Huge thanks to the organisers / marshalls etc. but an even bigger THANKYOU to all the runners going the opposite way who were applauding and encouraging me. The generosity of your encouragement was almost overwhelming - especially as you still had 8-9 miles to go, compared with my 4-5. It was truly memorable - thankyou! 

Followed approx 10mtr behind the race leader (who finished 3rd I think) from around 1-6 miles. Just couldn't get on terms with him until the slight climb at 6 miles. Suddenly he came back to me whilst I was in the middle of trying to put away my empty gel wrapper, and I found myself in the lead - first time ever in a road race. To turn the corner off the spine road and be behind the lead car was awesome. Gave me a great incentive to push on hard over the next couple of miles. Then the boost from the other runners in the opposite direction. Getting tired around 10 miles - still in front but no idea by exactly how far, and the course always seemed to be going up!! Tried to relax, and not run too scared. Dug in through 11, knowing that there was some downhill towards 12 (5'49" - counting the time down in 400m laps left. Mile 13 in 5:45 - looked back as I turned onto the grass at the Leisure Centre - no challenge. Crossed the line to win the race. Magic! At 41, I don't expect I'll be making a habit of this, so a very special moment - thanks Cricklade!