National XC Relays

I am in the pen and looking around at some good runners, which is always the case in the 6 or 4 stage relays...maybe in the 12 stage it's not so bad but it was full of quality. I had a very brief 'hello' with Draper as I havnt seen him for a while and last time we ran this close together would of been on a track in morocco!

As the runners started coming in to change over I was starting to think "Where the hell is Sharpy!" and then around the corner came the veteran of the team and out I went. I set off in 12th position which was a bit further down than I thought I would be but thats the way it goes.

I managed to pass one runner on the first turn and noticed Martin Williams just ahead who fair play to him has just finished his 3rd Marathon of the year and have heard he has had a few niggles so did feel for him a bit, until that was he shut the door on me going into one corner like a true pro! I thought the old fox is still fighting, luckily I squeezed through the next opening and had a clear line of sight going through the trees which is quite tricky to be honest and you can quite easily ease of the pedal and lose a bit of time.

I was sort of following hudspith about 6seconds ahead as a gage and coming out into the first hill I did feel it a bit and thought I might of been pushing a bit to fast or I was just struggling on the hill. Coming down into the end of the first lap I tried to relax and was thinking I will just push as hard as I can going back into the trees and then hold on for the last 'K'.

I got a few shouts from Skinner and other runners which was nice and past another runner or two before closing down on Hudspith and James Shane of Newham. I really wanted to give Paskar on the last leg a shout of getting a medal but knew there were some really good runners to come from other teams, I also wanted to make up for my bad run at the road relays.

Going up the hill I went past the two guys and tried to get onto the next two guys from Aldershot and Blackheath and by the down hill I had got them, the trouble was I was now running on empty and when I hit the slight dink to the finish line they both came back at me and got me on the line!! It was a bit fustrating but I gave it everything and just managed a pose for the Saucony camera man over the finish line.

Sadly Paskar could only get us up to 5th by the end but he had a good run. So as I said to Sharpy on a warm down "Thats two XC medals you have cost me now!" (fell over last year!) but the old guy is allowed some grace due to winning me a few in the past.....but my patience is wearing thin now!

Serious though, thats what a team is and when one runner has a bad day the others have to pick up the slack which we couldnt quite do....although Goolab did his best having nearly broke the 15minute barrier.

simx