I’d been looking forward to my 3rd run at the Compton Challenge 20 mile trail race for a while and was pleased that the weather forecast had gradually improved over the previous week going from ‘freezing cold, wet and windy’ to ‘mild and might not rain till the afternoon’. Arriving in plenty of time I collected and attached my race number, had a banana and a pee, then hung around in the start field chatting with the collected runners. Spotting another chap in a Vegan Runners vest I went and introduced myself to Rob who was entered in the 40 mile event and was planning a run walk strategy for an 8 hour finish. I was hoping for 3 hours 30 mins which would be a PB, if I walked the hills and ran the rest this should be achievable if I paced myself right.

A few minutes to go and the organiser, Dick Kearn, appeared to tell us that we’d be running twice round the field at the start instead of the usual once, this was good as last time I ran I’d clocked the course as 19.9 miles and did want to be sure I was doing the full  distance. He wanted everyone back for 7pm so he could get down the pub. 9am and we were off!

I trotted round the field with Rob then we were down to a walk as we entered the bottleneck through the coppice. Soon enough out onto the road then through a gate, down a path, over a field, through a gate, up the road, up a narrow path, through some trees – you get the idea. I walked one hill on the first section but still kept a good average pace, soon enough we were descending to Hampstead Norreys where I ate a gel and grabbed a cup of water at the checkpoint.

The narrow footpath shortly after meant another walk, the chap in front of me tried to run it but gave up as I was catching him up just walking and still had enough breath to tell him so. Some gentler climbing through a pleasant wood then we were up on an old airfield, mostly we stayed high till joining a lane for a steepish descent and some round the houses to the ten mile checkpoint were I refuelled on sweeties and squash knowing the main climb was not far ahead. My run could easily of ended around mile 11 as I tripped over something while daydreaming and found myself flailing about trying, successfully, not to fall flat on my face. A later chat with a Bearbrook Jogger who was not far behind and was careful not to trip on whatever had caused my comedy dance revealed it was just a clump of grass but she did commend me on my recovery.

Not for the first time Rob caught me up, he was taking his planned regular walk breaks but ran faster than me so evened out to a similar pace. We walked together up the steep path before the woods above Streatley, I took off running as things levelled off in the woods. I slowed to pick up a dropped route sheet – the organisers really don’t like litter – and handed it to a marshall at the road crossing commenting that it was the first bit of rubbish I’d seen. Soon we were running high above the Thames near Goring then descending a steep grassy hill where Rob flew past me and several others in a sort of coordinated free-fall that led me to ask if he did fell running when I caught him during his next walk.

Aware of a long, steady climb up to the 15 mile checkpoint I had deceived myself that I might not need to walk it. I soon realised my error and, having walked 2 steeper stretches, this turned out to be my slowest mile. I was well on target though and in good spirits knowing that it was more downhill than up after the checkpoint. I refuelled on gel and squash, refilling my bottle with squash while I was at it, then on my way for the last 4.5 miles. Rob caught me just as I was leaving, also in good spirits.

Much of the last stage was along the Ridgeway and similarly surfaced old tracks. My feet were getting a bit of a pounding as the recent dry weather meant even the grassy bits were rock hard, I wasn’t complaining though as the last thing I wanted to run on was wet chalk. Taking a last walk up a steep bit bit of a slope around mile 18 Rob caught up again and I wished him well for his second half. I descended onwards to where the 2 routes split and made very sure I followed the sign for the 20 mile route, I managed a wave at the photographer about here so must have been feeling alright.

Following the arrows through some of Compton, round a playing field, up an alley then there was the finish in sight and me with enough energy left to actually overtake someone before the funnel. A 10 minute PB at 3:25:18, 69th of 126th runners, and not one bad moment – I do like trail races!