The first race of the year, I love this race, I feel like a kid on Christmas day the morning of the race – excited, nervous and this year I was anxious as hell because I ran a shocker there in 2019, I felt some form of internal pressure to deliver.

Warming up, always good to see fellow harriers at a race, as well as friends at other clubs too, builds a great atmosphere. But soon we are on the start line, waiting for the gun, BOOM away we go, and as my hero Roy Orbison sings time to “step up and play”

Set off with Luke Jackson, a kid with loads of potential, made sure he didn’t go off too quick, both worked it well to synch into a good rythmn. Mile 1 fairly fast but we all know what’s coming the next 4 miles, but I seemed to take the hills well, definitely reaping the rewards from recent hill work up in the Yorkshire wolds, managing to tick some sub 7 miles off up the hills which is a first for me on that route.

Just up ahead of me I could see fellow harriers Mark Gadie, Mike Peterson, Kris Hoppy & Tim Groves, all good runners so I knew if I keep these guys in my eye line I’ll be running well.

Turn point half way, oh yes this is 4 dreamy miles of downhill and tail wind, but as I found out in 2019 if you hit the hills too hard you can’t maximise this fast part of the course. No issues this year, I made the most of it, in a great rythmn, only 12 seconds off my 5k PB between the 6th to 8th mile!

But, we all know what is left with half a mile to go, skidby hill! That hill kills me every year! Arrrggghhhh come on let’s have it, grunting and getting every last bit out of the tank, smashing a strava PR up it, dying over the finishing line to 1.06.30, a 1 minute 13 seconds course PB!

Over the moon with that especially as I hadn’t got massive distance in my legs post injury. Hopefully use this as a springboard to kick on! But I’d just like to say a massive well done to all the harriers lads I’ve mentioned earlier, some fantastic times & PB’s by those boy’s and we all pushed each other on nicely! That’s what the red army is all about!