Having just returned from the Lakes after a lovely relaxing week, it was a bit of a shock to work out exactly what time we needed to a be at Stoughton and b leave home to get there ! The reason for having to get there so early was so we could run early as we  were helping from 11am and there was a 2km walk to the start !

We actually left home at 07.15 and were the first to arrive (after Dave, the organiser and Ultrasport) at 08.20 !! It was a lovely sunny morning too, which was good. We got ourselves organised, picked up control descriptions and headed off on the walk to the start at about 09.00 - the first to follow it. It took us just under 30 mins to get there to find the start team ready and waiting for us. We were the first starters and head off up hill.

My legs felt ok after the week's walking and cycling, but I did find it tough - there were brambles all over the place (and courses had been planned to avoid the worst of it), which slowed me down a lot. I also found my knees were pretty sore again today, especially going downhill. I took it cautiously to control one, following a path further than possibly necessary and with a bit more climb than possibly needed too. I wanted to make sure I found it ok ! This was only my second time back in proper forest since injuring my ankle in February...

I was probably quite cautious all the way round the course actually, partly because of my knees and partly because of the brambles. My upper legs were ripped all over when I finished. The course was good and some of the forest really pleasant and runnable and the weather was good : ) My navigation wasn't too bad either - I was a bit off on one or two controls, the others were ok.

I just didn't have a great run at all... Afterwards we were both helping on download for a while in the tent, which was really warm due to the sun ! We weren't really needed that much anyway as there wasn't a huge entry. It was nice to catch up with people though, having been away.