Northern XC Champs 2012

This was the race I was really looking forward to.  With being ill over Christmas, not being able to shake a cold off I missed a few races.  I have raced once this year which was the Greater Manchester XC Champs and was well looking forward to the Northern XC.  Having won it twice before and medaled a few times in bronze and silver I was looking forward to having a good run and trying to get in the mix.  It was always going to be a tough race, but boy did it turn out to be far tougher than I ever imagined.

Build up to the race had gone well, I even knocked out a half decent session of 16 x 400m on the Tuesday before the race.  race day was looking good, the snow of the previous night we had at home hadnt fallen at the race venue and having had an easy week my legs were ready to run.  War up was the usual two mile run which I did with two new team mates Tom and Josh.  The usual banter on the warm up as Tom and Josh seem to the kings of banter.  A few strides and it was time to race.

I set off hard and worked hard from the far right of the starting line to get across to Steve Vernon and others who were making head way in to the lead.  I got to the front and ran with Steve and the others for a mile or so.  Things were going good, I felt relaxed and enjoying it.  I really enjoy racing, thats how I got in to my running by entering a race and I still get that same feeling each time I enter a race, pin on a number and get on the start line.  After about two miles we came back up towards the grandstand and I was feeling tired, flat and sluggish.  Thinking it was a bad patch I pushed on and tried to stick with my team mate Carl Hardman.  But there was nothing I could do as I watched Carl disappear with the leading group.  There was no way I was dropping out as thats an easy option and I also had other Salford runners hunting for team medals and me dropping out because I was having a bad day wasn't going to help us win a medal.  As I completed the second lap I was just running as hard as I could.  In a sad way I kind of enjoyed the course even though I did have my fingers crossed for mud and hills.

In the closing stages I was passed by a few athletes and there was nothing I could do.  Crossing the finish line I could feel I had raced but wasn't dead on my feet.  I was just hoping that with Carls great run up front, my 16th place and some good packing by the other lads we would be able to sneak a team medal.  Carl and I got off after our warm down and soon got a text message that we had managed to sneak the bronze team medal.  Alty took the gold in what seems to be a very close ran team event.  Big well done to Alty and the lads on ending the long run by Leeds AC on winning the team event.  It seems a good time for Northern teams, building in strength and fielding strong teams.  Hopefully some of the northern teams wiull make waves at the national event. 

A big well done to all who raced at weekend and to all the organisers of the event.  Great venue and good course.  Put us some more hills in it next year!!!