[April 2020: 2019 was a year of much consolidation but clear evidence of even more progress, in my 60th year! How right Pete Read (RIP) was, when he said it could take 6-7 years to reach a peak!
Evidence: As far as PBs go I only broke my best at 5 miles...which was always quite a soft target, unfortunately my efforts at 10, 25 and 50 were all on inclement weather days....especially the two attempts on the "E2" at 10's...but:
- Broke 20 mins twice on the E2 but in super windy conditions
- Broke sub 50 mins three times for a 25 on two different courses - becoming standard, and very close to a 4th on a 3rd course - becoming the 'norm' to exceed 30mph (near 50kph)
- Never broke 21 mins on my local potholed Hatfield course previously, I not only broke 21 mins on each of my three attempts (with a best of 20-31) but improved my 10 mile power average to just under 360 watts (from high 340s)
- Generally knocking out consistently good performances and regularly finishing in the top few in races all over the UK including National Welsh Champs and National VTTA Champs, as well as regional races
- Won National Age Gold medals in 'full fat' both for the 10m and 25m - in the former also faster than 2 age cats below and 6th Vet (O40) - and the latter finishing 28th overall
- 4th in Welsh National 50M Champs (again..third year running!)
- Broke 4 x National Age Records and equalled a 5th
- 20 open races - 12 top '5's
Hard to pick most pleasing performances, such was the consistency...one criticism, I got too many "seconds" both regionally and even at National VTTA level, although I won the National VTTA 10m in only the third race of the season - really thought I would go on to take at least a couple more but three subsequent 2nd's was frustrating.
The question is, will I continue to progress, there must be a plateau first...this could go on for a while!
The-End]