The Bristol 5k and 10k Winter Warmer

Last weekend saw me take a trip over the border into Somerset to test my legs at the winter warmer 10k race.
The course looked great on paper with a mixed terrain route and the bit that really hooked me in was the first 2km of each lap was uphill.
On arrival the event field was full and as I hadn’t run since last November a swift decision was made to start about halfway down the pack.
That was a poor choice as I spent the first kilometre working my way through a sea of slower paced runners, when the course came off the tarmac and onto trail proper my legs felt good so I carried on steadily working past people, the long tarmac descent after the first  turn around wasn’t great, my knees have never liked running downhill on roads .
The start of lap 2 saw the gloves come off ( literally ) and I decided to push hard and pass as many people as possible , the 2nd climb was just fun in every way , passing 10k entrants and getting through the 5k back markers.
At the 2nd turn around I could see a few runners ahead and made it my goal to pass them in the final 2km, a quick glance down at my watch gave me an idea on pacing , I opened my stride up and went for it.
Crossing the finish line with a chip time of 49.44 , was really happy with that as it gave me a new 10k PB on a course that was far from flat .
Was even happier when the overall results were published .
1st in my age cat by about 3 minutes and 27th overall from a field of 243 .
Looks like the winter bike miles have started to pay dividends and all bodes well for great start to Tri training and racing this year .