Last night saw the latest round of interclub races, with Preston Harriers having their turn to host the event this time around.
It was the third race of the season and having won the previous two, the objective was clearly to try and keep up the momentum and add to that tally. However, having won easily last time out at Lytham, I knew that this one would be much tougher. David Rigby and Rob Affleck (who both missed Lytham, having finished 2nd and 3rd respectively at Blackpool in the opening fixture) both returned for this fixture.
The course was a certified accurate 4 miler, a two-lapper with some big undulations and testing sections to it. The start had been moved from where it had been last year - supposably to allow more room - although to me it seemed narrower than ever!
In hot and sunny conditions, I was a little bit slow out of the blocks and actually found myself behind a couple of my Wesham team mates within the first few metres of the race, as I struggled to work through the field in the tight bunch. However, I soon managed to get into my stride, squeeze through and catch up to the front to lead out from the opening straight alongside Dave Rigby.
Dave has been flying recently and setting pb's left, right and centre, so I knew that I faced a huge task racing against him in that form. I also knew though that if I want to win the series this year, then the outcome of last nights race could be vital come the end of the campaign, so I was determined not to let the opportunity slip.
The opening mile was fractionally downhill and so the pace was fast - we went through the first mile neck and neck in 4:51, but the second mile saw two big hills, and therefore the pace dropped quite significantly to 5:24. We shared the workload through that mile, as the lead chopped and changed a couple of times, with probably less than a metre ever in it between us. Mile two was also notable for Neil McDonald struggling to get his bike uphill, and therefore all the leading racers overtaking him!
Slightly past the 2 mile mark, the second lap began and having got my nose in front I held the lead through this mile, as Dave seemed happy to sit behind, ready to attack later on in the race. The third mile included the second time up the biggest of the two steep hills, and the pace was around the 5:05-10 mark. By the end of this mile I could start to feel my legs tiring, but I just kept setting myself little targets, to keep in front to the top of the hill, or to the bottom of the next downhill section etc.
Anyway, it seemed to work, as I now found myself just one mile from the finish and thinking "Just hold out for 5 more minutes of pain and it will all be worth it..."
That final mile saw us lapping many of the runners towards the back end of the race, and meant we had to duck and weave, shout to say we were coming through and saw us a bit short of room. I know Dave felt hard done by for this perhaps denying him the chance to make a move through this section. If we had still had a lead bike, perhaps more room would have been afforded.
As we turned into the final corners, I could see Dave trying to make a move on the inside around the final bend and made sure to close any gap and hold the shortest line through the corner. Having denied him the chance to make a break for it there, it all came down to a sprint finish over the final 200 metres or so. I managed to hold out and cross the line ahead of him to take the win. In similar fashion to the opener at Blackpool, only one second seperated us again.
It has been a close faught battle between us so far this series, and I'm sure it will stay like that throughout, which is great as the rivalry is pushing us both to run quick times and improve each other's performance.
The final mile was 4:50 pace, to finish in 20:05 (unofficial).
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