Our first SOG of the Autumn season as we'd missed Houghton due to being in the Lakes. It was another lovely morning - sunny and warm. There are few car parks at Stanmer Park and we ended up parking right up the end by the church and walking back to the Start/Registration area.

I hadn't exactly woken up and wasn't feeling very enthusiastic at all and did think about running a green course. Unfortunately, as Mike had the money and went off to pay without me, I ended up with a Blue course map. I did dither a bit getting ready - I was talking to people and enjoying the sunny morning !

Having been organised by my hubby, we walked up the hill to the start (well it was climb we didn't have on our course). There was a bit of a wait at the start for the blue course, so we all got chatting. Dave & I were a little depressed that Mike and Neil were both starting behind us and would no doubt catch us up very quickly. It was still a bit of an uphill start, in view of those waiting to start too, so I had to run and keep moving... Once out in the woods at the top, it was lovely, more runnable than I remembered it being from the SE Relays last year.

I overshot control one a bit (still half asleep is my excuse) but found control two fine, just ahead of Mike. The course took us all over, up and downhill, with some contouring inbetween. I even helped Neil into one control, much to Mike's disgust ! Neil had thought he'd overshot, where I was certain I hadn't gone far enough. Sure enough, I was right ! Found it easier running today, not as tough on my knees and I made no big mistakes with navigation either.

I paid particular attention in the area in which I got confused in the SE Relays and made sure I went in on the right path. I took 72 minutes and Anna 65, so I wasn't that far behind her. Saying that, there were some fast times today.