Harlow Running Club

XCOUNTRY: Ware Joggers (Race 1 of 4) – 31st October

Race Length: 5 miles

Course Best: 36.52 in 2008

Target Time: 37 mins

Outcome: 39th in 37.45

Nemesis Score: -2 (2 runners)

Splits: 7:06 7:24 7:28 8:11 7:37

Conditions for the first cross country race of the season were pretty much perfect;   A little drizzle, not too cold/hot and a little 'give' in the ground rather than last years mud fest.  Given my  lack of fitness the race plan was to go off a little easier than normal, keeping track of those I should be keeping up with, then see what I had.

The start was the normal mad rush accross the field to a narrow adverse camber section 100m later on.  If this is muddy then the casulaty rate is pretty high, but I was very solid in my new MudClaw 330's.  Things settled down as we ran downhill to the stream.  My usual race nemesis was way infront and stretching away - given how they are doing at the moment I would have no chance of catching.  Around me was another, so I adjusted to just keep infront of them.

I was not feeling to bad on the first half of the race - a series of gentle climbs on tracks/muddy fields.   I was very glad that these were not too muddy (unlike last year).  Things were all good until just over half way where there is a steep climb out of a valley on a track.  A club mate passed me and a local 10K nemesis came on my shoulder.  I relaxed a bit on the down hill through the common allowing her to come past, but tagged on behind to negotoate the series of swing gates and bridges that litter this ection of the course.  I felt better for the break and for the fact that with just over a mile to go, I was probably in my correct position given the company.  What I did not bank on was how much out of me the next section took.

There is one killer hill on this course and what makes it worse is the fact that it is often ploughed.  It had been and recently!  This had made the earth soft, so runners in front had created steps.  All I can say is thank god it was not as wet as last year.  I have not walked the last section of this for some years, but my lest were shot very quickly.  My nemesis seemed to bound up the hill, and what was worse, once at the top, they seemed to run away from me very quickly.

The run in is along a road before a muddy field leading to the tracks on the out section.  Given my state, I was unlikely to catch anyone now, so I looked around to settle for position.  I was strangely on my own, just 2 women behind and no men at all - lucky as I would not have to go for a sprint to the line.  I pushed on through the winding tracks, but got concerned as when the twists and turns straightened, the Ware lady was catching.  As we got back to the slippery slope 100m out, she went past. Unusually I did not even attempt a sprint.  I preferred the gentlemanly pull aside to let her run, as to be honest, she may well have won it - a definate dent on male pride!  I will ensure I beat them next time! The other Safron lady had also closed by more than was comfortable.

I crossed the line blown, but I was not really expecting much from recent training/performances.  I know what has to be done next time...