National Cross Country Relays
Wow, it's been a LONG time since I ran a proper cross country. Mansfield didn't dissapoint. The conditions were absolutely DOG SHIT.
No joke, we got there early for Sawyers race in the u13's and my feet were already soggy. Couple of hours till Jacobs race with a few minutes where it didn't shit down with rain, then another hour before I was off. Luckily for my race it was dry - we'll the air was.
Started leg 1. Ditched the Garmin, I knew it would be pointless, using GPS in trees and on that course there could be no good coming from wearing that. Aimed to start slow, get comfortable then push through the field.
Started slow #tick got that part right! Tried to relax, first bend was OK, then first hill feeling bang on. First downhill gave a taste of the next 19 mins or so. Slipping sideways, the spikes did very little to aid traction. It was pure mud fest.
First 500m or so is fine but after that, the section in the woods goes pretty much - up, left, down, right, up, left etc. etc. in around 40m sections, there is absolutely no part to get anything remotely like a rhythm going. All the while your feet are sloshing through mud and slipping out.
After about 1200m you hit the car park and finish the drag - probably best part of 800m uphill to the farthest end of the park. Nothing major, just with that underfoot it's a bit cunty. Then loop and back down, on the only section of the course where you can get some rhythm going for about 250m. Finish the circuit with a roller coaster down then up and crest past the start to lap 2.
Got a decent over take going through the first mile or so but stagnated for the rest of lap 1. lap 2 was less so, just surviving the woods, fuck that was hard work just staying up. Had no idea on time or pace at this stage, was just glad it couldn't possibly drag out much longer.
Passed my last few coming to the far end and then couldn't quite hold on to the few in front on the finish straight. Was about 12 secs down on Tom (although wasn't sure it was him at that stage) but put up a pretty half arsed effort at a finish to be fair.
19.36 finish time. Almost pissed myself laughing at that time but looking at the results that's not a million miles off where I would probably expect to be. Finished 99th on leg 1. I'd say an utter disgrace but to be fair you literally could not have picked a worse course for me. Too tight, narrow, twisty turny, too boggy. I am after all a tarmac snob - and a flat one at that !
No joke, we got there early for Sawyers race in the u13's and my feet were already soggy. Couple of hours till Jacobs race with a few minutes where it didn't shit down with rain, then another hour before I was off. Luckily for my race it was dry - we'll the air was.
Started leg 1. Ditched the Garmin, I knew it would be pointless, using GPS in trees and on that course there could be no good coming from wearing that. Aimed to start slow, get comfortable then push through the field.
Started slow #tick got that part right! Tried to relax, first bend was OK, then first hill feeling bang on. First downhill gave a taste of the next 19 mins or so. Slipping sideways, the spikes did very little to aid traction. It was pure mud fest.
First 500m or so is fine but after that, the section in the woods goes pretty much - up, left, down, right, up, left etc. etc. in around 40m sections, there is absolutely no part to get anything remotely like a rhythm going. All the while your feet are sloshing through mud and slipping out.
After about 1200m you hit the car park and finish the drag - probably best part of 800m uphill to the farthest end of the park. Nothing major, just with that underfoot it's a bit cunty. Then loop and back down, on the only section of the course where you can get some rhythm going for about 250m. Finish the circuit with a roller coaster down then up and crest past the start to lap 2.
Got a decent over take going through the first mile or so but stagnated for the rest of lap 1. lap 2 was less so, just surviving the woods, fuck that was hard work just staying up. Had no idea on time or pace at this stage, was just glad it couldn't possibly drag out much longer.
Passed my last few coming to the far end and then couldn't quite hold on to the few in front on the finish straight. Was about 12 secs down on Tom (although wasn't sure it was him at that stage) but put up a pretty half arsed effort at a finish to be fair.
19.36 finish time. Almost pissed myself laughing at that time but looking at the results that's not a million miles off where I would probably expect to be. Finished 99th on leg 1. I'd say an utter disgrace but to be fair you literally could not have picked a worse course for me. Too tight, narrow, twisty turny, too boggy. I am after all a tarmac snob - and a flat one at that !
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