The wind saw off any chance of a good time, and while I was pleased to continue the improvement since I was ill early in January, I finished in just over 26 mins - and felt a little low. Sian hasn't run since New Year's day, and so she was glad to get a race in. The wind was blowing just as the weatherman promised, and the start was manic, at least two people fell over around. I was a little cautious but only a little, and after things settled I could see Gordon Lee and Lewys H. a little way ahead, but I was going OK. The wind really kicked in on a small climb around 2 miles - I guess most years you don't even notice the slope but it was hard work for me into the wind. Having dropped a few places, I did get going a little bit better in the last mile, I didn't lose any places on the run in, which I think is good against younger athletes (although I'm sure some coaches would say I should have been trying harder earlier). I finished about 30 secs down on Gordon, who is 4 years younger than me, but I'm not 100% and I still feel if I get back to my form in November, and it's not blowing, now I've had a good look at the Prom course I could be close to 25 mins. (A lot of ifs) The whole race did seem a bit of a struggle, but the conditions didn't really suit me, I think on a better day I would have been able to stay with the field around me, rather than struggling on difficult parts of the course, and then not really being able to capitalise on my easy long striding down the gentle slopes. We've been away for the weekend, Jan McKenzie, a friend of Sian's from when she lived in Bristol married Chris. They invited us to their wedding in Windermere, so we travelled up on Friday and drove down to Alsager on Sunday morning. We spent two nights in the Castle Green hotel at Kendal (not far from Windermere), where I understand the Fell Runner's ball sometimes take place. Indeed Chris, and some others at the wedding are well into Fell running and even more adventurous stuff - I think I'll leave the racing to them ..and Helen F. ..and Chris U. and so on, and so on. ...well I've got until Wednesday to sort myself out for the MOD Cross Country Champs, which is more of a challenge this year, but at least I feel I'm improving all the time.