Midland Women's League cross-country

My second cross-country outing of the season proved to be a bit more enjoyable than the first.  Being on 'home turf' at Leamington I certainly had plenty of support around the course - so a big thank you to everyone for that - it really makes a huge difference.  The unseasonably warm weather also made it more pleasant and I actually raced in crop top and no gloves - unheard of for me in November!  The dry weather also meant a lack of mud which suits me just fine!

I wasn't particularly looking forward to the climb up Beacon Hill, twice, but when I actually got to it I just got my head down and concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other.  Coming down is nearly as bad as you're running on a camber as well as downhill, so I always feel I'm being thrown in all directions! 

I made my usual fast start and was up in the leading group for the first couple of hundred metres.  Then, as so often seems to happen, it felt like the whole field was overtaking me, one by one!  I suddenly dropped back to about 31^st position.  It wasn't until halfway round the first lap that I felt I could get into my running - after we'd negotiated some narrow twists and turns, Beacon Hill, a stoney downhill stretch, a woodland path littered with tree roots and the dreaded (for me anyway) ditch - which thankfully was actually quite dry due to the recent lack of rain!  After this I started to pick up and worked hard to pull places back. 

I continued to gradually move up through the field on the second lap, and even managed a 'sprint' finish to overtake someone on the run into the finish.  I eventually finished in 14^th position which I was happy with.  Even more pleasing was that I was 2^nd Master (and 1^st W40), with 8 of those in front of me being university students who probably weren't even born when I'd already started my running career!!

To make it more of a worthwhile session (6000m isn't really that far is it?!) I ran the 5 miles from home, along the canal towpath to Newbold Comyn, and then ran back again after the race.  Quite a satisfying afternoon's work.