Kernow '5'

With Launceston being renowned for being in a hilly part of North Cornwall, it makes a refreshing change to be able to advertise the 'Kernow May - 5 miler' as a fairly flat and fast course( with one hill at approx 4.5 miles, sorry). So said the race organisers, but in fact this race would have been more accurately described as 'flat for Launceston' - ie not at all flat! And we had a very stiff wind to contend with as well.

The first 2.5M are mostly climbing, and today they were into the energy-sapping wind. Then we turned and enjoyed 2M of mostly descent with the wind at our backs or sheltered from us by the high hedges. Then we had another tough climb around half-a-mile from the finish, with the rest of the route uphill.

My time was a minute down on the GWR Fulford's 5 in Exmouth in February (32:15), but I was fairly satisfied. I was 17th out of over 100. Cathy Newman was first woman in 30:44 -- what a performance!

This was a good little event. We got a nice momento to gather dust on the sideboard. I would recommend it. It's a good Bank Holiday day out. And we had an enjoyable walk on Bodmin Moor after lunch.

[Andrew Johnson]