10 October 2010
Huddersfield hills (remember Stainland) but in a pleasant woodland setting with a brass band playing Chariots of Fire. I managed to build up a lead as we careered through the woods and held on to take an unlikely win.
I was lucky to get to chat to Ron Hill afterwards, 40 years since his Commonwealth gold in the Edinburgh games. His 2.09.28 in the marathon that day was the first sub 2.10 marathon in the world. I asked him how long he'd have needed for the Woodland Challenge in those days. He reckoned 5 minute miling for a tough cross country and with a wry smile said that on a good day I'd have needed sub 30 here to worry him. But he admitted that it had seemed hard work today all the same.
1 Rob Downs 37.44
261 finished
Results at http://www.woodlandchallenge.com/2010results.htm