ECCA 10 & CC Breckland 50

[Jon H]

The plan this weekend was a 10 on the E2/10 course on Saturday afternoon/evening, stay over in the area, then a 50 on the B50/18 course on Sunday morning.

E2/10 is a very fast course on the right day (i.e. still), but very exposed to any wind that's about. This time it was headwing going out, reducing the speed to the low twenties in places. Tried to pick it up on the return leg, but you never gain as much with a tailwind as you lose into a headwind. Finished in 22:44, OK, but I was aiming for a 21 which I've done on this course before.

The 50 course was all on the A11 west of Norwich and looked to be a pretty fast course. All dual carriageway and pretty flat (Norfolk not being noted for its mountains), some of it was on concrete roads which whilst being noisy and uncomfortable are fast, and some was on super smooth new tarmac - none of your rubbishy tar and chippings here.

Started well enough rolling along nicely at 27-29mph, then got to the first turn and back into a headwind for the next 12 miles. This reduced me to a grovel, and by the halfway point my average was less than 24mph. Picked it up on the next tailwind section, but just not quick enough. At the next turn back into the wind I was still below my 25mph target, so I packed at around 33 miles the next time I went past the HQ. So, the target of sub 2 hours for a 50 remains for next year.

[Snoop Doug]

Packed!!! Criminy jinkers, what's the world coming to...? A mega 10, bad luck on the 50 Jon - here's hoping for better weather for the rest of the month.