A month ago, an 8 mile Cross Country race had sounded a
wonderful idea. It conjured up ideas of a jolly run in the countryside, rolling
pastures and a whisky in the local pub afterwards. At no point, did I stop to
consider it might involve 4 hours sleep, 50% of the course underwater and mud
up to my eyeballs.
It had rained the night before SO heavily, I actually wrote
a note to the organisers checking if it was still on. I was replied to (in the
tone of one speaking to a small child or one of limited intelligence) that this
was a CROSS COUNTRY race. Nothing short of the organisers closing the grounds
of the park would stop this race. Or possibly an earthquake. With extra lava.
Navigating a couple of flooded roads to get to Coombe Abbey |
The marshals were all ready and waiting for the runners to
arrive and were handing out free car parking passes which was a nice touch. The
car park had a new lake in the middle of it, which I’m sure wasn’t there before.
The ducks hadn’t spotted it yet though so there wasn’t the obligatory crowd of
toddlers throwing Hovis in.
Here's the car park. Now where shall I leave the car? |
Managed to build up the willpower to leave my nice warm car
and dash to the building to retrieve my number. It was bright and the sky was
periwinkle blue but the wind was very cold. I was asked my name by the lady
with the numbers and she checked that I belonged to Northampton & Rugby AC.
When I confirmed, there was a bit of a tumbleweed moment. Really lady, you
don’t need to give me an evil look. I’m no competition here. Trust me. Look –
I’m even wearing ROAD shoes for a cross country. Although judging by the
conditions out there I should probably be wearing flippers.
Had a wander across to the crowd of yellow hi-viz jackets to
have a look at the course and spot the ‘Start’ sign propped up against a tree.
Ah. So it looks like the start is on the grass then. The grass under an inch of
water. Thanks, guys. No really.
The start is under the trees with the sun shining through them. |
About 5 minutes before the start all the runners moved
forwards towards the start. Or possibly a couple started a huddle for warmth
and we all joined in. The organisers gave out the safety briefing but it was
impossible to hear anything over the crowd of 250 runners and the wind. Except
the phrase “You’re not supposed to enjoy this, you know…” Well, that’s a nice
positive start for my first proper cross country race. Set the tone early on …
I heard the cue to start – an air horn audible even over the
wind and the crowd of runners started at a walk and then we all broke into a
kind of a sloshy trot over the bumpy ground under an avenue of trees. It was an
indicator of what was to come as the grass was already sodden and boggy from
the people running in front and it was impossible to move without being
splashed and kicked by the runners in front.
As we came towards the end of the avenue, the crowd
separated out a bit and we all turned right at the end of the trees, around a
marshal and a large tree stump and across a field to a fence with a narrow gate
in it. The grass was even more sodden and boggy here and my feet were
immediately drenched in icy brown water. We ran across the bottom of the field
and around the perimeter following the fence. The grass was wet and under an
inch of water in places. I was beginning to regret wearing road shoes …
Am I allowed to stop running, yet? (Photo by Dave Storer) |
I didn’t know have a clue what pace to keep as I’d never run
an 8 mile race before ... or a cross country like this. I had decided
beforehand to try to keep to about an 8 minute/mile which wouldn’t be
particularly quick, but I wasn’t sure how much running on grass would affect
the pace. My Garmin was showing about 7:45 m/mile when I finally got around to
looking at it which was fine, but the Garmin miles were showing as about a half
mile behind the mile markers on the course which was a bit worrying. I had a
horrible feeling I would need to catch up that half a mile at some point …
We came right around the field and back the avenue of trees
we had started under but going the other side of them and the other direction.
Due to the numbers of people and the deep standing water, a few people had to
jump the fence and run on the road. Me included. Back over the fence and
diagonally towards some straw bales we had to jump onto to clear the fence,
across the road and more straw bales. Down the soggy grass avoiding the patches
of slippery mud where mole hills had been trodden flat by running feet. Splat!
Splash!
The straw bales were fun ... the first time! (Photo by Dave Storer) |
A lone duck returns once the horde of lunatic cross country runners have vanished ... |
I followed the pack splashing through it up to about mid
calf and thoroughly drenching my shoes. At least the water was washing the mud
and layer of leaves off … I may be soaking wet but I’m sparkly clean! In a
muddy brown river water kind of a way…
Turned left through the water and up onto the arched bridge
which usually goes over a tinkling stream, today turned into a raging torrent
of brown water sweeping branches and leaves downstream.
Running wellies are the way forward! (Photo by Dave Storer) |
Over a green grassy area in single file, the land around the
path bumpy and ridged. Slippery, wet grass, the thump of feet and the panting
of the other runners.
Through the trees, trying to pick your steps through the
puddles while keeping the same pace. Splash!
It looks so peaceful and un-boggy from here ... |
Up past the start again and again the jumps over the straw
bales ... no longer fun ... now just exhausting...
Up to the tree trunk and the marshal shouting encouragement.
Round to the right... again and follow the path down to the bottom of the field
and following the long train of runners into the distance. Picking people off
more slowly. A chap in front keeps walking, then picking up the pace. I’m
getting closer. My next target.
Legs aren’t working so well now and the slippery mud and
sliding grass take a lot of effort to move over. No-one is passing me – we’re
all struggling with our own run. I keep telling myself that this is my first
time at this distance and I need to run my own race. Stop trying to chase
people. But this is how I keep myself going on a run. Pick the next target.
Just get past that person... and that one. Mile 6 sign ... past it and that
means only a mile (plus not quite another mile) to go.
Round to the bottom of the field and around a large circular
hole in the ground – a bomb crater left over from the war. Following the
striped tape around the edges and then down into the crater and back up the
other side trying to keep momentum.
Back onto the grass and following the path left by muddy
running feet, splash! Through the mud. Splash! Through the puddles. Overtaken
by a woman in pink, the first woman to overtake me although I know there are
others in front of me. Keeping her in sight, but my pace is slowing from the
effort to stop my feet sinking and sliding into the mud. Why didn’t I add the
spikes to my shoes today? Splash! Slide!
Past the Mile 7 sign... thankful for this as it means only a
mile to go, but I’m worried that my Garmin is only clocking 6.5 miles. Look
ahead across the field to the spread out line of runners in front.
Another crater, this time skirting the edge as the bottom is
full of water, the sides treacherous and slippery. A man in front of me slips
towards the edge and the woman in pink cries out as she nearly falls backwards
trying to scramble out. I take big steps out, walking rather than running and
still maintain speed and keep up with these too.
Lines of runners criss-cross the field and I can see the
avenue of trees which marked the start ... and the finish. Just focus on those.
Coming up to the narrow gate, I am overtaken by a woman in a Hatton Darts
teeshirt. I keep her in my sights and stay about 10 metres behind. My legs do
not want to move faster but as we pass into the avenue of trees with the finish
funnel – unseen – somewhere into the distance I urge them to go faster. I
slowly make up distance on the woman in front. As I draw up to her right
shoulder she sees my shadow mirroring hers and she ups her pace. There is no
way to honestly call this a sprint finish, it is a very, very slow version of
one. I push my legs into a parody of one – I feel as though I am running
through treacle - and draw past and into the finish funnel.
Finally finished ... triumphantly holding my cup of free soup |
I enjoy running cross country on my training runs. But this
was brutal. The flooding and the slippery mud made this a tough run for me. But
the feeling of satisfaction after completing it lasted all day.
Hmmm ... I wonder where the socks ended ... |
The Coombe 8 - organised by Sphinx AC
Haha Sarah, great post and a tough old run well done :) Hope the Mr has recovered too!
ReplyDeleteThanks Paul! :) I've been assured that his headache has gone!
ReplyDelete