European Cross- Race Report

Pre-Race

This weekend marks one of the most important weekends for British running this side of Christmas, the weekend of the European Cross Country Championshps. This is the second time I've been at this event but this year I get a trip to Dublin . Like last year, the team looks very strong and we maybe in the privileged position of doing as well as last year, with everyone in the team going home with a medal.

I've run in a championship like this twice before and it's no secret both times I've crashed and burned. Last time I came down ill the day before and ended up running well below par and finishing 65th. Fortunately this year I've got my illness out the way by having it last weekend, good timing if you ask me. I've felt much better this week but have kept the training quite low due to the race and trying to maintain good health. I've been coughing a small bit all week but I don't thnk it's anything to be concerned about. The breathing has been a bit heavy but again, it's not too bad, I should be fine. Steve thinks I'm in good shape and can run well. With tnis in mind I think it's a sensible aim to try and be the first GB scorer home tomorrow. It won't be easy but I think it's possible. The only guys I know in the race are my GB teamates, so I suppose I have to judge myself against them during the race. Of course, this is assuming I don't fall apart again, my track record in a GB vest isn't exactly pristine.

But not only are there individual hopes and dreams tomorrow, there are team medals up for grabs. We're sporting a team of Richard Goodman, Wilko, Jonny Hay, Callum Hawkins, Matt Gillespie and myself. You look at these names on paper and you automatically think that's a strong team. But I don't really know what any of the other countries are like so I can't say whether or not we're capable of beating them. Wilko certainly thinks we can win so that's a good sign. In the race last year I was part of the bronze medalling team so to get on the podium again. I presume we'll have the usual suspects in the mix, Spain, France, Turkey etc. 

No matter how bad or good I run I'm sure it'll be a great race and very enjoyable. Wish us luck and I leave you with a little summary of the Great Britain Junior Men's European Championship's Cross Country team.

Goodman- lovely guy and acting very mature considering his age. Very keen and clearly loves his running.

Wilko- being his usual self. Just come back from the petrol station with some chocolate, typical.

Jonny Hay- Always talking and definitely needs a haircut. I'm sharing with him and so far he's managed to get us locked out of the room, but he's ok really.

Hawkins- One of two runners from Scotland and a great act.

Gillespie- Very generous guy and probably the quitiest on the team but very easy to get along with.

Me- the guy who can't stay on his feet in races. But I also like to think of myself as the glue that holds the team together...

Race Report

Well what can I say? 2nd in the European Cross, what a dream! But it dosen't finish there, GB&NI won the team race for the first time in 8 years. However, I think saying we "won" it is a bit of an understatement, maybe saying "total domination" is more appropriate. Although there were some disappointed faces after we all crossed the finish line, I think every person in that team gave everything and the result definitely reflects that.

But the race itself was probably the most enjoyable experience I've had in a race for a long time. The team all jogged together (apart from Jonny Hay who was going too fast) before the race around the warm up area and we did all our various drils together. During this time I felt very good and the legs were very bouncy. We then went to the call room to be given our front numbers and have the chips put on our ankles. You then head out this tent and onto the startline. GB had been given pen 16, right in the middle of the startline. This was a tad concerning as I was at the back of the pen and in the middle so if I had a bad start I'd have a wall of athletes in front of me. But we still had around 10 minutes until the start, so I kept my top on and did some strides. Steve wanted me to start hard and aggressively, so I did some hard strides out the pen to get the legs moving. To my surprise, I felt amazing! The legs didn't feel lethargic or drained. I could feel the spring in my step and I felt like I was floating over the mud. Anyways, we had the 5 min, 3 min, 1 min warnings and we took our positions in the pen.

The gun went off, and my first thought was to get out that pen as quickly as I could. I got out hard and kept the stride long for the first 400m or so. I looked up and realised I was close to the leaders! I couldn't believe it, I had just had the best start of my life. I was in contention with the lead group and in a comfortable position to move through and sit. I did this over the first lap and during the second lap I found myself in the lead group with 5 other GB athletes. Now I haven't seen the coverage yet, but I imagine that must look very good! 5 GB athletes in the lead group absolutely dominating the team race is always a great site. We then went into the first of the two mile loops and the group began to smallen, and in the end I think it went down to Wilko, the Belgian, the Norwegian and myself. I remember being in that group and thinking "Wow, I'm in medal contention at the European Cross!". This was a great feeling and one I didn't want to let go of. But my breathing was pretty bad. That illness I got last week gave me a cough and I was breathing heavier than usual during my runs leading upto the race, and it made the breathing really heavy during the race. It didn't matter though, I just wanted to stay in this group.     

Unfortunately with a lap to go a gap emerged, and the other three pulled away. Instead of being negative I just tried to remain positive and not let the gap get too big. I managed to do this and towards 800m to go Richard Goodman came past me. I went with him and didn't let him go and then I remembered where we were on the course, close to the finish, in fact, less than half a mile from the finish. I saw the group and I thought to myself "yeah this gap is big, but they're still catchable, I can still sneak a medal here". I kicked on, opened my stride and gave chase. Now this hurt, and it hurt a lot. I was already tired and had just put a big acclereation in. But I took comfort in the fact the Norwegian had dropped off and was slowing, but more importantly, I was catching up. I knew exactly where 400m to go was, and it was here the pain disappeared, and the hunger for a medal took over. They were coming back to me, I could see it. There was a medal for the taking and it was only necessary I open my stride up again. We came into the home straight and the Norwegian was just ahead of me, he was easily takeable, all I had to do was sprint. At this point I was so close to a medal I could almost touch it. I so badly wanted one so I started running as hard as my body would allow me. There was no holding back down that last straight, what you saw was me running at my absolute limit. It was like I was running from death. I think it would have been impossible for me to move my legs any faster than what they were going at. The Norwegian came back to me quicker than I expected, and as I went past him, Wilko was only a few strides ahead. The line was only 20-30 metres away and I was still moving at speed and he was coming back. Fortunately I was busting my ass hard enough to just get round him and sneak a silver, less than a second behind gold.

I crossed the line and I was f**ked!!! All I wanted to do was sit down, pick up the phone and talk to Steve. It was incredible, despite the illness last week and starting at the back of the pen, I was able to finish second in the European Cross. To think that everything I've done since September has been building up to this point, every decision Steve has made has been geared towards this, and to come good at the right time was such a relief. He said I would peak at the Euros, he wasn't half right was he?