Three days before the event I was on the ladder a lot decorating and wondered if it would have an impact on my performance as my legs were aching. On the day I had the customary cycle ride, this time from Leighton Buzzard and I did not help myself by choosing a new route that I had not checked on the map. I came to a dead end which meant I had cycled an extra 2 miles or so. The cycle journey took in total about 1 hour 20 mins but with the absence of any wind, it felt an easy ride. Last year I recall after cycling a shorter journey on the fold-up bike from Tring, the legs were tired earlier into the race.

Started off at a modest pace, held back by slower runners around me which with hindsight was probably beneficial. The first 5K is fairly flat just negotiating road crossings and footpaths in Wendover slowing us a little as we approached the Chiltern Hills. We then had the three climbs through Halton and the RAF base where we turned left and back down to the Vale of Aylesbury for 3K. I was gradually picking up places but not many on the downward section and generally my position was stable in the 2nd half. Could not see the clock when finishing and there was no chip timing for a change. In fact the 41.29 turned out to be my best of 2009 and 15 seconds faster than 2008.

That was not the end of my exercise for the day and I increased it by cycling from the bottom of the Vale to the top of Wendover Hill Woods, a tourist attraction where I was relieved to have a break in the cafe before a short walk and the longer journey back to Leighton Buzzard.