This seemed like a good idea, a summer evening half, ran on country roads in the Cotswolds, and actually that's just what it was.

Starting in the village almost straight away climbing for nearly a mile with the sun beating down i was thinking what am i doing!

Then Danny; the other BVH rep; trundled passed me and created a lengthy distance between us but still perhaps closable. That is to say until i had to make a pitstop at about 4miles, which immediately doubled the distance so much so that he was out of sight.  At mile 7 we started on the worst hill on the course that didn't flatten till well into mile 9. I was feeling fine at this point, grateful for a steady start and the use of 2 gels.

Then who should come into view but Danny and this spured me on to push and try to close in. It became apparent though when i finally did pass him with a mile to go that it wasn't all my own doing as he was starting to struggle with a painful calf niggle . My finishing time was probably my slowest for a long time but in view of the heat and those climbs i was satisfied to be feeling well enough for what these type of nights are supposed to be for,.. fish and chips and a pint on the village green.

This is a race that's well worth the trip down for, well organised and marshalled, plenty of water and well, it's just a lovely place to visit.

Steve H

Race website here

Pos.	Name	Time	Cat.
110	Stephen Hopkins	01:46:10	MV45
120	Daniel Wilson	01:47:57	MV45