06\05\17 - Green & Yellow Fields 300km Audax

All ready at raring to go at midnight and the first 100kms was very quick.  From Manningtree to Barton Mills (75km) via Sudbury & Long Melford in the dark, I started behind most but was soon able to pass many of the 100+ entrants as I was feeling strong and had the benefit of a cross-tailwind.  At Barton Mills by 03:00 and then up the A1065 to Burnham Deepdale (154km) via Swaffham.  By 04:00 I started to get much slower as I struggled into the headwind on less favourable roads.  Soon the sky was getting light but there was no sunrise to see and then it began to rain.  It was the sort of drizzly rain that makes you believe you aren't getting wet, and then you find that you are soaked!  After Burnham the road headed in a more southerly wind-assisted direction towards Fakenhan, Dereham, Wymondham and Needham Market before returning to Manningtree (304km).
Got back at 15:00 with a riding time of about 13hr20min.  The promised warmer weather finally arrived at about 13:30 but by this time I didn't care.  My first 100 I took four hours and the rest I did at four and a half hours per 100.  All in all a good confidence booster.  PW.