Martin Cox showed everybody how to run up hills at Longleat this year, the Aldershot youngster Aaron Harris did very well to be right up with him in the middle of the race, and I was third. Sophie Williams from Birchfield was comfortably ahead of Anna Lewis with Sian third. There was a stronger field at the front than in previous years, and it's all a bit tight on the early part of the course, but Martin was very positive from the start which helped to space out the field, and I was a little surprised that there was only Martin and the Aldershot man ahead of me after a short while. Unfortunately for me the two of them were tussling away in the middle part of the race and I couldn't stay in touch with them - so I was left on my own. Martin always looked the more likely winner, and he got away on the last hill section, in the end winning by about half a minute, with me another half minute back. Alec was in a group that was over a minute behind me, I doubt whether he would have run if Martin hadn't. I'm still not running as well as I should be, but I am getting back into the swing of things, I ran faster on this course last year, but I usually do run faster when I win this sort of race (it's a different game from coming 30th in a big race while clocking a really good time for my age). There's no question though that I was working very hard up the last hill section, so my aerobic endurance is improving but still needs attention. Sian is getting back into the swing of things, she pointed out that she has been a lot quicker in the past, but she wasn't that far behind Anna Lewis so she is making progress towards fitness. ...and the fine weather continued, smiling on Mike Gratton who organised the event, and making it another enjoyable day - so doubtless it will be winter again next race.