Didn't feel like running flat out at the Cardiff Park Run (I'll leave that until next week now) so decided to run at Newport instead. I knew from the website that the course is gravel / hardpack mud (I'd say 80% gravel now after running it, and it was all solid with just one one 10m muddy section, so not 'slow' as such) and looking at the course average time it was 3 minutes or so slower than Cardiff. I thought I'd take it easy, set a decent but not fast time so next time I run here I'd easily get a pb... I set off a few rows back from the front line, which was a mistake as I lost severl seconds (perhap 8?) getting past slower people. I soon got some clear space and for the first mile was making great time, overtaking people and enjoying the new route. Started gettting tough during the second mile (and started lapping people even while on the first lap myself!) and there was a group of perhaps 5 runners about 20 meters ahead, so they were the target. I never reached them. One dropped off the pack and I got past hime but the others must have sped up for the last mile, as I (at least I tired) sped up after the 4th km marker, but just couldnt get any closer to them.
Was breathing hard throughout, certainly wasnt the easy run I'd planned. My watch showed paces of 6:30, then 6:44, and the last was showing 6:45 ish, so I wasn't expecting a great time (but anything under 7:00 is fine with me) and suddenly the 200m to go sign appeared. I crossed the line at 20:22 by my watch, but it only registered 3.05 miles. I trust that the course is accurately measured to 5km, and assume the watch struggled in the trees... So all in all a fast first time, which will be tought, but not impossible, to beat next time. (Would I have tried harder to break 20:00 if I'd known...???)
