After doing W8 R2 and killing it (on a slight downward gradient), by going for 8 minutes more than I needed, this time I did the allotted 28 minutes on my there-and-back route, which sadly is down hill / up hill (by a very slight gradient)...
Oh my, what a difference! It took a lot of (MGB) Mental Gremlin Bashing to get to the end.... but I did, and I guess that is what counts.
So, I'm picking a new route for my W9 R1 on Thursday, and hope that the weather holds.
I'm still on schedule to graduate before my Half Century... although I expect I'll be well into my 51st year before I do 5km in 30 minutes!!! LOL
PB