After a quiet start to the week with some easy running on a slight knee niggle, the week ended with a fantastic race at "The Northern Cross Country Championships" at Sherdley Park, St Helens (pictured but without the mud!).
On a very cold, windy but sunny afternoon over seven miles of a rolling and extremely muddy course, it offered the chance to race with (or at least be on the starting line with!) some of Britain's top xc runners. With a team of six to count in the Championship, and due to injuries and illness there being only six Macclesfield Harriers to make it to the start, everyone had to race hard and finish. No pressure then! I had a really good race and whilst at one stage being in fourth position for the team, dropped back to sixth. But remembering one of my "running intentions" from a previous blog, on the last big climb of the day I dug in to work alongside & then pass the team's fifth placed athlete. With lungs and legs on fire I remembered the track coach shouts of "relax those shoulders!", shortened my stride & got the arms working, dug in for the last fast mile and came in to a huge cheer from team members & supporters alike. One even said I looked "quite relaxed". I'm not sure if they meant on the course or at the finish!
It will be back to a few easy recovery days now, and following a mid week track session it's on to the first road race of the year next week end over the very fast course of the Alsager 5.
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