Sunday League Cross Country - Royston - 03/01/2010 - 5.26 Miles
My first run of the year. Temp had been around zero for a week and this course is hilly so it was going to be tough.
Arrived in plenty of time as parking can be an issue and found there was a breakfast BBQ on the go! Smell of bacon the in air.
Lots of discussion about what shoes to wear. Ground was frozen and icy in places, trail shoes would offer some cushioning from the hard ground, spikes should give some grip on icy bits. Had some new spikes so changed them over and went with these.
After a little warm up we made our way to the start, large group of us waiting. Gun goes off and all the Trent Park runners disappear. Spotted a fellow club runner in the distance, knew he was slightly faster than me so decided to pace him around.
First part of the course was a small loop around the lower half of the heath. This was nice a wide so easy to pass people. Second part was 2 loops around the very hilly top part of the course. The first up hill the path was narrow so difficult to pass people had to pick your moment. Downhill was difficult as some people slowed down and you had to avoid running into them. Up and down another hill before an up hill into the woods. Run through the woods to a very steep downhill to a very icy patch, then up a steep bank before a series of small hills to a flat bit along to start again.
My pacer pulled up half way around the first loop of the second part. There was another club runner who was around the same pace as me so stuck with him for a while.
Second lap was tough. Walked up one of the hills to get my breathing back on track. Seem to work. Into the last part of the course my lace came undone stop to do it up and lost some of the places I had made up. Went off to try and make these up before the finish. Into the finish straight I could hear people shouting at the Royston runner behind me, I could hear him breathing hard so knew he was close. Shot off to keep ahead of him, could feel him gaining on me so went for it and crossed the line just ahead of him. Friendly pat on the back and a well done as I had beaten him across the line.
Time 47:02