North Wales Cross Country – Baschurch – January 20th 2018
By Stephen Gill
The fourth one in the series and a closer venue than the last one in Bangor.
Weather was well, Wintery to say the least as the snow blew in over the course. The course itself was wet and muddy and just has a Cross Country course should be like. The course was actually in a worse state than last year, the large stream was larger and there was a pond like feature made from the latest British weather and some dodgy drainage of a field. Also we had a wall to navigate over.
The ladies were first off with two laps of the course. Grimaces or smiles? That is what I was greeted to as they came past for the first lap, Kim’s comment was how much water can there be on a course.
Great effort by the ladies in challenging conditions.
The men went off 45 minutes later and with the course in a worse condition than before. Three laps of mud and water. Starting at the back and running steady trying to stay upright was the order of the day.
Each lap became tougher as the cold water of the large stream sapped energy out of your legs before the steady climb back to the start/finish line.
A great run by the men in somewhat challenging conditions.
Women
Christine Symms 31.35
Kim Bennett 38.54
Samantha Hall-Davies 44.13
Karen Close 44.48
Men
Lee Rudd 40.48
Phil Goodwin 43.35
Stephen Gill 44.02
Dan Thurston 47.36
Kris Williams 52.03
The fourth one in the series and a closer venue than the last one in Bangor.
Weather was well, Wintery to say the least as the snow blew in over the course. The course itself was wet and muddy and just has a Cross Country course should be like. The course was actually in a worse state than last year, the large stream was larger and there was a pond like feature made from the latest British weather and some dodgy drainage of a field. Also we had a wall to navigate over.
The ladies were first off with two laps of the course. Grimaces or smiles? That is what I was greeted to as they came past for the first lap, Kim’s comment was how much water can there be on a course.
Great effort by the ladies in challenging conditions.
The men went off 45 minutes later and with the course in a worse condition than before. Three laps of mud and water. Starting at the back and running steady trying to stay upright was the order of the day.
Each lap became tougher as the cold water of the large stream sapped energy out of your legs before the steady climb back to the start/finish line.
A great run by the men in somewhat challenging conditions.
Women
Christine Symms 31.35
Kim Bennett 38.54
Samantha Hall-Davies 44.13
Karen Close 44.48
Men
Lee Rudd 40.48
Phil Goodwin 43.35
Stephen Gill 44.02
Dan Thurston 47.36
Kris Williams 52.03
Midland Counties Cross Country Championship
Saturday 27th January 2018
by Stephen Gill
Just the two of us from the club travelled to Nottingham’s Woolaton Park for this event. We must be the only nutters willing to put us through the mud that the normal Cross Country course puts you against.
This was a different course to the one they put on last year for the Nationals in February. Would it be a nice change?
The ladies had 8k to contend with which equalled 1 medium lap and 2 large laps. I watched and cheered Chrissy on the course as she went up and down a hill twice in my full view. They then disappeared from view. As Chrissy finished just as I started I had no idea what was hidden from view.
The men had 12k to complete which was 4 laps. Off we went up and down the hills and disappeared from view from the start area. Now the bit I couldn’t see was the bit that everybody came to hate.
Up and down a small hill with a nice tree trunk to leap over for good measure. Getting into a stride pattern another tree trunk as I felt like Colin Jackson hurdling away (younger people may need to google him).
As we headed around the corner the firmness of the ground disappeared as your feet started to sink in the ground. Mud , Mud glorious mud, there’s nothing quite like it for soothing the blood. Umm that is not the words in my head. Lifting my feet up was hard enough let alone run through it.
Only three more times to go - 😊
On my 3rd lap I was lapped by the leader who was awesome as he glided past me like gazelle. I was only embarrassed by another 9 lions chasing that Gazelle before I started my last lap.
These were words used by one of the top ladies about Cross Country running
You should try to learn to love it! It’s taken me a few years but I have seen the benefits. The physical and mental strength you get from a course like this is priceless not to mention the team spirit!!! I just keep saying to myself how easy it’s all going to feel doing a road race in the spring.....
I love the challenge
Christine Symms – 40.41 – 106th out of 250
Stephen Gill – 58.31 – 295th out of 473
Just the two of us from the club travelled to Nottingham’s Woolaton Park for this event. We must be the only nutters willing to put us through the mud that the normal Cross Country course puts you against.
This was a different course to the one they put on last year for the Nationals in February. Would it be a nice change?
The ladies had 8k to contend with which equalled 1 medium lap and 2 large laps. I watched and cheered Chrissy on the course as she went up and down a hill twice in my full view. They then disappeared from view. As Chrissy finished just as I started I had no idea what was hidden from view.
The men had 12k to complete which was 4 laps. Off we went up and down the hills and disappeared from view from the start area. Now the bit I couldn’t see was the bit that everybody came to hate.
Up and down a small hill with a nice tree trunk to leap over for good measure. Getting into a stride pattern another tree trunk as I felt like Colin Jackson hurdling away (younger people may need to google him).
As we headed around the corner the firmness of the ground disappeared as your feet started to sink in the ground. Mud , Mud glorious mud, there’s nothing quite like it for soothing the blood. Umm that is not the words in my head. Lifting my feet up was hard enough let alone run through it.
Only three more times to go - 😊
On my 3rd lap I was lapped by the leader who was awesome as he glided past me like gazelle. I was only embarrassed by another 9 lions chasing that Gazelle before I started my last lap.
These were words used by one of the top ladies about Cross Country running
You should try to learn to love it! It’s taken me a few years but I have seen the benefits. The physical and mental strength you get from a course like this is priceless not to mention the team spirit!!! I just keep saying to myself how easy it’s all going to feel doing a road race in the spring.....
I love the challenge
Christine Symms – 40.41 – 106th out of 250
Stephen Gill – 58.31 – 295th out of 473