23rd March Chickening out on a fowl day (R7)


Today I achieved a notable first, although not one I am eager to repeat in a hurry. Today for the first time I didn't actually complete a race that I had entered.

Today was the annual Chicken Run over in Hayfield on a day which could be summed up in the Crowded House song, 'Four Seasons in One Day' but more of that later. It's the 3rd time I have entered this race, on each occasion chosing the longer of the two options; the 15km Fowler run as opposed to the 10km Fowl option. Today I had once again chosen the longer option but things didnt go to plan.

Setting off steady at the start and the first short sharp incline was part of the plan, but having to then reduce that steady speed to a snail like crawl behind all the dithering Dasiys trying to avoid the slightest bit of mud was not. For heaven's sake this is a trail run!! Then there was the queues negotiating the styles, having to walk single file up slippery slopes I am not sure anyone could manage to run up and then struggling to get past anyone on the way down.

And I've not even mentioned that inbetween the periofs of blue sky and sunshine there were bursts of horizontal hailstone and biting wind that seemed to be against me whichever direction I was running. Don't get me wrong it is a beautiful course to run (those bits that can be run) with stunning views of the surrounding countryside but after just a couple of miles, mentally I had quit. 

So when the point came where the Fowler and Fowl routes split, I chickened out and took the shorter option, trying to convince myself that it actually gove me the chance to run a 'new route' but who was kidding. At the end of it all I think I managed to run my slowest ever 10km, which considering all the running I have been doing recently is disappointing and does not bode well for the notoriously 'bumpy' Eyam half marathon at the end of May.

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