Cross County
Haven't done one of these for ages! Was good to see the club guys again though :o)
The weather was lookingn decidedly threatening, and after soem shenanigans trying to find the start (bad directions) I met up with the rest of the club (or at least the men, women were at Lightwater). We swapped stories as it had been a while since I saw a lot of them, and before long it was time to change and we were off.
I started way too near the front, and was quickly passed by a lot of people en masse. I found quite a comfortable position, got passed a few more times, but it was very crowded still, and a bottleneck in the course led to the human equivalent of a multiple pile-up. I got through the gap, and felt comfortable in that position.
The course was mainly downhill still, and continued like that, with lots of nice bits of uneven ground - all still fairly solid underfoot still though. The only downside of so much downhill is that you have to climb again, but there was a flat bit first - exposed, and muddy underfoot, which I didn't like as my feet slipped when I wanted to push forward. I edged to the side and more solid ground. Then a climb through a narrow track where it was hard to pass, but I gained on one guy and overtook him. Shortly after someone passed me, but as we continued to climb he faded and I passed him back. I seemed to be strong on the climbs, and passed another couple of people - off really, because I've done sod all hill training!
The course flattened out again, and we headed back to the start of the lap. I took another person just before the start, and caught a couple more on the downhill at the start of the lap. I was reeling people in throughout, but the field was strung out, so it wasn't happening too often. This continued through the rest of the lap - threw the forest and the twisty climb, then up onto the flat. I could see two people ahead and went for the first one. He was breathing heavily but I decided to take it slowly, timing my run to be on a flat bit. I was confident I'd left him behind as he seemed to be finding it hard work, and set about tackling the next guy who was 80 or so yards ahead. I pulled him back significantly, but ran out of course before I quite managed to catch him. All in all a good day out though - thoroughly enjoyed it. I'd originally not been that keen to do it, tempted in no small part by the fact it made me eligible for a place in the club FLM draw, but I'd gladly do it again. It was muddy but good fun. I enjoy racing :oD
The weather was lookingn decidedly threatening, and after soem shenanigans trying to find the start (bad directions) I met up with the rest of the club (or at least the men, women were at Lightwater). We swapped stories as it had been a while since I saw a lot of them, and before long it was time to change and we were off.
I started way too near the front, and was quickly passed by a lot of people en masse. I found quite a comfortable position, got passed a few more times, but it was very crowded still, and a bottleneck in the course led to the human equivalent of a multiple pile-up. I got through the gap, and felt comfortable in that position.
The course was mainly downhill still, and continued like that, with lots of nice bits of uneven ground - all still fairly solid underfoot still though. The only downside of so much downhill is that you have to climb again, but there was a flat bit first - exposed, and muddy underfoot, which I didn't like as my feet slipped when I wanted to push forward. I edged to the side and more solid ground. Then a climb through a narrow track where it was hard to pass, but I gained on one guy and overtook him. Shortly after someone passed me, but as we continued to climb he faded and I passed him back. I seemed to be strong on the climbs, and passed another couple of people - off really, because I've done sod all hill training!
The course flattened out again, and we headed back to the start of the lap. I took another person just before the start, and caught a couple more on the downhill at the start of the lap. I was reeling people in throughout, but the field was strung out, so it wasn't happening too often. This continued through the rest of the lap - threw the forest and the twisty climb, then up onto the flat. I could see two people ahead and went for the first one. He was breathing heavily but I decided to take it slowly, timing my run to be on a flat bit. I was confident I'd left him behind as he seemed to be finding it hard work, and set about tackling the next guy who was 80 or so yards ahead. I pulled him back significantly, but ran out of course before I quite managed to catch him. All in all a good day out though - thoroughly enjoyed it. I'd originally not been that keen to do it, tempted in no small part by the fact it made me eligible for a place in the club FLM draw, but I'd gladly do it again. It was muddy but good fun. I enjoy racing :oD
posted by XFR Bear @ 5:15 pm
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