Urban Race - Saturday Evening
St Ives
on a moist Cornish evening, from the car park you could at times you make out
the wind swept headland "the Island".
What to wear was the first dilemma, but the heavy rain as I was about to
go to the start persuaded me to put on a cag.
I had an open start time so I slotted in on a vacant space to find James
Hargreaves queuing behind me, with a two minute gap I wondered how long it
would be before he went past. My time
came to start and on opening the map, my first thought was where the hell is
number one, my eyes scanned north up the map and finally arrived at the site of
the control and off I went no plan just making it up as I went along! Not the
best route choice but moving well.
Simple route choice to #2 enjoying the music and confused looking public
on route. I have to confess that I don't
remember all the route choices, as they blurred a little bit and my GPS track
wasn't the best. Into #5 decision across
the beach, or a convoluted route on the road.
Took the baywatch option! Half way to #6 I regretted it, soft sand was
slapping my will to live, but you make your choice you have to live with
it. Also regretting wearing a cag, it
hadn't rained since leaving the car park? Into #6 and James is punching ahead
of me, surprised it took him that long! Breathing hard I opt for the up and
over option to #7, what was I thinking! Pass the Tate, just before #12 but even
being the great art lover decide not to stop.
Take the windiest back street option to #13, well might as well see all
of the town now I am here. The wind is
howling as I approach #19, stay high to #20 long grass makes me wish I dropped
straight down to the lower path. The
control at 20 is out of control, I catch the box, punch and get out of there,
wonder if it will survive the night.
Back into town now and steepest steps yet before #23 nearly finish me
off, was tempted to have a rest but someone's was waiting for me to get to the
top! More steps at #25/26, speed really ebbing from my legs, through last
control and push up the final set of steps.
Knackered, but grinning from ear to ear, that was brilliant. The navigation is easy on these events, but
making good route choices at speed, thats the real skill. I got around the 6.6km 230m in 55min 03sec,
15th/22.
