Euro Cross Trial - Liverpool

In the words of Kevin from 'Home Alone'....Woof!! That was a tough 10k run. Most runners will understand when I say there are different types of tough, you have the breathing out of your bum and going like the clappers....you have the leg burning churn...and then you have the dead, heavy legs and just try and get to the end. Saturday was the third of those and I suppose I should of been grateful the ground was pretty good under foot, it wasnt freezing and quite warm for November.

The race wasnt really in my plans but went up due to the team having a chance of qualifying for the Euro Cross Cup (which went out the window when Dewi had to pull out after half a lap) and I learnt its not the best idea to do it when your not the strongest on the grass, just returned from achilles trouble and not that sharp.

I stood on the start line quite relaxed and sort of had an idea they would go off fast to get the good line. When the gun went I went out the back and knew straight away it was going to be a long 10k. Chris Thompson, Swansea team mate (also not in great race shape) ran beside me and said "We are going out the back!" , I glanced accross and saw he was right...not many behind us.

So the first problem was now after 500m people were slowing up and I was struggling to get around and with little speed when the gaps did appear I could'nt jump in to them, by the time I built up speed there was another corner and the door shut. After a lap I managed to work up slowly and a runner passed me and said "Hi Si, we can start to pick them off now", I didnt even answer as I was already pushing it.

Making matters a whole lot worse was seeing Pollard up the 'road' and I knew I was going full boar as he went away, thats a low point in my running! So back to my race and while I listened to the guy on the mic describing the battle up the front I was edging round corners and slowing up on little patches on mud to protect my achilles, not to mention a couple of elbows with other runners cutting me up...no hard feelings I think thats just part of cross racing.

3rd lap and I was happy it was nearly over, me and Chris were having our own little battle going back and forth before we headed down the backstriaght to hit a right hairpin bend and then smash the home straight....I say smash, it was more get to the line. As we went up the backstraight though we didnt know dewi had pulled out so Marc Hobbs passed me and said "Central are coming behind". Now I thought Marc was going to be the forth counter so I did a Formula one style move and jumped in beind Marc up to the bend, then as we went around the bend I just went really slow to hold the central runner up while Marc shot off to the line.

I crossed the line (after about 5 people passed me on the straight) and as I went to stop it felt like I wasnt actually changing pace so god knows how slow I was coming down there!

I know some want to know about the 'trip' including the night before etc, so will talk about it in a blog.

Well done to the other RL guys.

Simx