RACE REPORT FROM ANTHONY FORSYTH (AKA PANTMAN) (Finished 2nd)

Cheers, guys!

Was a great day! A great race, great organisation, great company!

RACE REPORT:
OK - don't get too used to this... 2 races in 5 days, but no more for a while... These ickle ones just hurt waaaay too much!

Ran "naked" again - no watch or HRM...

The first few hundred metres were crazy -settled down a little, but still too fast. By mile one we were clear in a group of 5, with one guy getting a few metres ahead. Thought, "There is no way I can handle this pace", knowing of course that somehow I probably would.

Second mile, off the road and through some mud'n'puddles, I was breaking clear of the group and starting to hold to the gap to the leader. By 2.5M I was pulling him back slightly and clear in 2nd. By 3M the gap is not getting smaller and I'm aware there is one guy not too far back. By 4M we have decended through the woods (where I'm normally strong) but I have nothing left - then there is a sharp, short hill and I'm aware the guy behind is getting closer - damn!

Back through the mud'n'puddles and onto the road for a fast final mile. I take a few glances back and he's getting closer - damn! "Don't give up now, Pants!" I try and hold the pace - damn this is hard! I pretend it is the end of marathon - "It'll hurt more than this then - what will you do then, Pants?" All to no avail - 400m to go he pulls alongside... :-(

"Well done, Andy - good pacing!" Never beaten this guy before - top local runner - I'm pleased to have run him close. I settle in behind him, but he's not pulling away. "I can't let him leave it to 50m to go - I'm slow twitch - what the heck?!?!"

So with 200m to go, with him just having caught me, I drop back a metre or two (learnt that from Pedro Delgado, Tour de France 1998) and then kick... Holy Guacamole! This HURTS! Anaerobic state meet Pants - Pants meet anaerobic state! And what a state! The crowd are cheering and apart from sheer exhaustion my overwhelming feeling is of acute embarrassment - technique goes to pot, legs barely holding me up, face grimacing, arms everywhere. But I look back and...
He's folded! :-D

Round the final bend, keep the legs pumping for the last 50m and I know I've got 2nd! 1st ever running trophy! :-D (Don't count the one from Iceland - little more than a fun run, won very slowly by a long way)
I punch the air a few times as if I've won (it means a lot to ME) - I figure my appalling form in the final 200m has humilated me sufficiently - this can make it no worse... ;-)

I cross the line in 26:39 - mixed terrain, bit of mud, a few hills - and still 5:20 pace. I'll settle for that! And me, Mr Slow Twitch, wins a sprint finish! AND gets a trophy!

Not a bad day at the races... :D