I am over 40

For the first time ever, in a chip timed race, I ran over 40 minutes for a 10k.
40:02 to be exact. I was slightly surprised, and not in a good way.
Having ran a 39:30 two weeks before, at what felt like an easier pace, I thought on this beautiful Sunday morning I would be on for a decent time. I went out rather conservatively, first mile only a little fast at 6:13, and went well enough. It was a warm day, and the course probably has no flat bits on it, but is all ups and downs. I think although we started and finished in the same place almost, the downs don't compensate for the ups.
I have also noticed that in all my recent 10k races, my legs get very tired at 4 miles. Not the usual tired you might associate with running a long distance, but a kind of sudden onset of worn out. I am putting this down now to the sketchers go runs I bought at London. The are lovely to wear, look good, but the way they force you to adapt you stride and foot strike, obviously takes it's toll on your legs after a few miles. I am very flat footed so maybe it affects me more than others. Anyway I am going back to my brooks flats to test the theory.
So back to my over 40, tiring badly on the last 1k, I looked at the watch and thought I would just creep in under the 40. As I rounded the corner and saw the clock at 39:56, I knew it was over, and even with the sprint finish, I hadn't made it. I think I got too complacent, thinking that it was a given to turn up and run a sub 40. That will teach me.
A nice surprise, after I had gotten home, I got a knock on the door from a clubmate. Myself and two other club mates won second place team, with a small cash reward to boot!

While I am not running particularly well right now, very much in keeping with the Gerry Duffy school of thought, I am grateful that I get to run, that I am still relatively fit and healthy. My small gripe at not getting my sub 40 10k time is small in comparison to those that have an illness of whatever type to bear. As long as I can go out and enjoy my hobby on a sunny (and often not so sunny ) day, then I am winning.