After a fortnight mostly in the gym, I was feeling the need to do something fast-paced outside. I could have plumped for parkrun, but I happened across this local cross-country race which looked like it could be lots of fun.
Result: 9th/176 overall (36:08)
Date: Saturday 2 December 2012
Format: 5.3 mile run (cross-country, track, mud, ice, leaves/roots, field, streams!)
Event website: http://www.tadleyrunners.co.uk/welcome-to-tadley-runners/our-races/xmas-xc/
Full results: http://www.tadleyrunners.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Xmas-XC-Final-Results-2012.pdf (and the Tadley Runners’ race report)
Tadley Runners’ have a JPEG route map on their site, but I put the Xmas XC course on Mapometer so I could get an idea of the terrain and ascent (and I make it just a little longer than the advertised distance).
It’s billed as a “classic British cross-country course”, and it certainly lived up to that. The temperature has been close to freezing the last few days and we’ve had some heavy rain earlier in the week, so the course had a bit of everything.
The start was a kilometre or so on stony track which let everyone get into their stride and find their pace. I found myself at the head of the second bunch as we started the cross-country proper. There was single-track muddy path to suck your shoes off. There were ice covered puddles. There was virgin leaf-covered woodland with branches to duck, fallen trees to skirt and hidden ditches to take you by surprise. There were root-covered banks to climb, and ploughed fields to sap your legs. And, as promised, icy streams to plunge in and scramble straight out.
Altogether, splendid fun (and all for a tenner; what value!). I stuck with the two other guys I had started out with, and we just about kept the back of the lead group in sight. I mustered a sprint finish, but the other two were just a bit stronger at the end.
The Tadley Runners’ organisation was great, the route was well signed with orange/white tape hanging from the trees and marshals at important points, and there were even a couple of knots of spectators. I tried to grunt thank yous to most.
The variety of clothing choices was funny. I wore long legs with short arms and I reckon the runners were splt about 50:50 between bare legs/covered arms and vice-versa, plus a minority fully covered up and a few hardy souls in your “classic British cross-country” get up of short shorts and singlet! My road shoes (still with their tri laces in) just about stayed on (me, and the course) but they required the washing machine when I got home. 🙂