Nottingham Inter Counties

I just realised I hadn't written a report for this race so it's just over a week late so i'll do my best from memory!

My week leading up to the race wasn't great as i'd been suffering with a shin pain from running fast downhill the previous week and also managed to pick up a head cold in the pool when i'd been aqua jogging so my preperation wasn't exactly ideal! Luckily I got a couple runs in on the Thursday and Friday prior to the race so I knew I could at least get round!

The plan was to go off nice and steady; as usually the leaders really go for it on that course, and just get into things and then try and work my way through. I went off holding back and typically I find myself on the back of the lead group going through the woods. I don't know if they went off easier this year or if I was just feeling comfortable as I have some track speed in my legs. I decided to back off a little and try and settle into a more suitable rhythm.

After the first circuit I was sitting in around 20th position feeling fine and ready to begin to pick off a couple who were dropping off the front group. On the second circuit I started running with Hinchy hoping we could work together and move through. Just before the bottom of the hill approaching the 3rd circuit I felt myself begin to slow. I was in around 16th or 17th position but soon tailed off from Phil and found myself being passed. The next 10minutes of running was quite tough, it always is when you're battling with people who are chasing you down. I dropped back to around 25th or 26th postion and it wasn't until I got through the woods on the final circuit that I began to pick up slightly. I passed a couple into the headwind and then turned into the final km feeling a little better. I ran the little loop that goes back through the woods and dropped down the hill trying to stride out. In the home straight I managed to get passed at least one runner and finished in 22nd position.

Afterwards I wasn't that disappointed as I knew my week hadn't gone too well and i'm never going to run great over 12k, but compared to my run at the Midland cross I classed it as below par. Especially because I was only 30 seconds behind Nicholls that day and at Nottingham I was alot further down (i'm sure he has picked up in those weeks between though)

One the whole I didn't let the result effect me, I just wanted rid of my runny nose and sore shins all week so I had to take the extra care with myself. Hopefully come next season I can have some better outings over the country than I have had this year.