Bridgend XC - Gwent League

So while old 'Wicksy' was at the World Half Marathon in Birmingham I was getting ready for a local cross country league in Bridgend. There were top runners at the race even if they weren't actually racing with Greg Newhams (62 half marathon) a marshal for the day and top man Mark Morgan cheering on our training group for some motivation, which I think helped all the lads and is good to see him getting back to some shape after a fair few years out.

In the actual race there was a pretty decent field actually with youngsters and oldies alike and most of the training group on show. It was a bit drizzly but the ground stayed pretty good for much of the course although there were a few patches of twisty mud sections which eventually caught me out.

There was no sort of pressure what so ever and a call to 'go out and see what you have got' and actually looking forward to it I had no plans to sit in today. The gun went and the whole field went out a decent pace with 800m man Joe Thomas at the front but I then decided to put the hammer down and at least make it a tough outing for everyone and shot off up the straight patch of solid ground. A few of the lads followed and the field was split already but then going into the second field I took a left instead of right which lost me a couple of places after Marc Hobbs gave me a shout "Jonesy...wrong way!". I joined back in about 4^th place and then decided to take a few minutes to compose myself before another go! Now this is where I have to learn and quick if you want to be decent at cross country as the next patch was a twisty, muddy, single file run which you can't really overtake people. I got stuck in about 7^th as a few jumped ahead before the section I didn't know was coming, the lead guys were moving away as I got trapped with mate, Lewys Hobbs. As were approached firmer ground again I started to chase down the group as James Thie gave me a shout along with Mark Morgan and by the next turn I was on the back of the back and made up 150m, I just went straight past and hit the front. I felt good so pushed on and coming back down the other side of the field I was leading with about 20m but again as I hit the mud section a couple of guys caught me (Thomas and Marshall). I managed to just about hold them off as my legs were going everywhere and losing footing all the time 

Last lap and I headed the field and James Thie was shouting to his athlete "stick to the plan" which made me think he was about to shoot past me but never did, I got all the way up to the top field before an athlete from further back had caught us up and pushed on. All four of us were in touching distance as we hit the last muddy section with me in 3^rd but couldn't quite get to the front to have any chance of holding some good cross country guys up in all that mud. As I thought they ploughed through the tough section getting a decent gap on me over about 1200m as I looked like Bamby on ice!

I held my position to the end and felt good on the last 400m which was firm again and just felt frustrated it couldn't have been firm the whole way round, but then it wouldn't be cross country!!

Good fun actually and all the training group went well. Bring on the next one then.....

Simx