The turnout for the race was a bit lower than expected. Some football match had been on in the afternoon and no sign of your average GP Joe.
That was a shame as this was a fantastic race over a testing but fair course.
All the main players who know a top multi-terrain race when they see one were there.
The organisers had spent the previous two days marking out the route, the sun was shining and we lined up for what promised to be a great summer evenings run.

Four Carnies there and great to Mike Mack back racing. Apparently this was only his third race in 18 months. No surprise to see Nigel there as this was his sort of run.

We started in the adjacent field to the rugby club and as we charged away there was a commotion at the front.
Sam Perkin was in reverse and heading backward with a look of horror on his face.
One of his potions had shaken loose from his nuclear substances belt strapped around his waist and the bottle had fallen to the ground. We were facing another Nancekuke. One drop of the contents of that bottle and we were facing more casualties than at the Tokyo underground a few years back and the runners would have been sprouting two heads and extra fingers and toes.

That made the first mile lightening quick as we tried to get clear of the area and the fallout zone as Sam retrieved the bottle.

We were soon off the road and into the woods. Helen was just in front and I settled in behind me ol' mate Paul Bullock from STARC. We were spinning dits on how slow we'd become and in years gone by we'd have finished the race by now and tucking into our pasties.
Ah, the good old days! Back to reality and after scrambling over a few fallen trees and a small patch of token gesture mud we were heading uphill.
We hadn't reached 2 miles yet. As usual the pre-race chat of "the first 2 miles is all downhill" was b*ll**ks.

We were now alongside the water that looked like the creeks around Trelissick and Falmouth. Our bearings were all over the place and good job the route was well marked.
Helen was flying as we followed the wide waterside path but soon the path narrowed, we entered an undulating wooded area and the sounds of her breathing behind became less and less as Paul and I pushed on.

My mind was now full of those "100 steps at Malpas" and "the last two miles are horrific" quotes from various sources.
Every time Paul reached a set off steps I was dreading the inevitable only discover half a dozen or so.
There was no escaping it though and the sight of a couple of marshals rubbing their hands together told us all that we needed to know - they were not the bearers of good news!
"Up you go lads".

"You go on, I'm walking" gasped Paul. "Same here" I replied as Sam caught us up and fuelled by stuff you see documentaries about, was actually running up the steps. The side effects had other ideas and suddenly we heard his vest tearing open and the veins in his neck bulging to near exploding. He was reduced to a walk as a third sprouting gonad restricted his gait!!

We managed to get back into something that resembled running as we reached the top.
It's true what they say about a country mile. The 5 mile marker stuck out of a hedge up the hill ahead of us just as I'd convinced myself we should have passed it 10 minutes ago and I'd either missed it or they'd not put one out!

The next mile was even longer and eventually after an age of hoping we crossed a large open field with that beautiful fluorescent yellow'6 miles' sign halfway across it.

The thing about an off road race that advertises 'approx 10K' is that you know the 'approx' bit actually means 'longer than'. Never gonna be shorter. You'd want your money back!!
True to form, we could see .21 of a mile beyond the 6 mile marker and that was still open field.
Finally we turned up the lane leading back to the finish field.

Sam had contained the spill and instead of hundreds of reporters and MOD scientists in white overalls, we heard the cheers of the spectators lining the entrance to the finish.

Paul and I had the polite banter of "you go first, mate", "No mate, after you".
Respect for your long time running friend. You can't buy friendship like that.
I opened up and destroyed him down the finish!! A win is a win, Paul!!!!

Soon Helen was finishing and grabbing 2nd in her age group. Brilliant stuff, a Carnie up there again at a presentation. Great to see and well deserved after a terrific run.

Nigel and Mike were soon after and had enjoyed great runs on what had been a fantastic course.
Well Done, Truro RC.

With the race done, we relaxed in the sun, relived the race, tucked into our pasties and waited for the presentation.
Nigel missed his chance on the podium for a spot prize. You had to be there but had obviously despatched his pasty and gone home.

If you missed this race, you missed out. See you there next year.

RESULTS