"Welcome Back, Old Friend"

So read the headline in this week's Athletics Weekly, when for the first time in twelve years the National Cross Country Championships made its return to Roundhay Park in Leeds. This is probably one of if not my favourite race of the year where I get the chance to literally be on the start line with some of the best athletes in Europe.

This famous race (now in its 123rd running) draws everyone from road, track and fell to see who really are the best runners and it was a chance for me to try to score for my team.

Roundhay Park is famous for one thing, "Hill 60" and I think that AW really captures what this race is all about -

"The rain of recent weeks made the going heavy but the speedsters were still able to turn it on. The steep downhill descent was negotiated either bashfully or maniacally depending on who you were (I was bashful!) and then, six minutes later, the piper had to be paid in the form of Hill 60, which is what it is: 45 seconds of leg sapping lactic. It makes for a superb amphitheatre and the huge crowds scurrying across the course from the top of the descent to the top of Hill 60 reminded one of blood-thirsty onlookers from Tudor times, flocking to the gallows to see who was up for the noose"

I survived the swing of the noose on all three 3 laps as part of the 7 mile race, but only just and there were times when I wanted to die! Although the previous week had been reasonable training wise I was still suffering with the hangover from a cold so was more than happy to "get round" in a time well down on previous national efforts (62.33) but was priveledged (if that is the word) to see the front end of the race as the leaders floated past me when I still had over a lap to go. Their style and running economy has to be seen to be believed.

Another highlight for me was the chance to meet up with and chat to Tom Williams co-host of the great new(ish) podcast http://www.marathontalk.com/about/ . Tom is a great athlete himself but was there to support some of his club and students and he exemplified the attitude of "the national" by really cheering everyone on for what is always a very tough race, including the start which for me is always too quick, as 1500 runners aim for the first corner only 400 metres away! Oxygen debt guarenteed!

The last week has seen me get in five good sessions including a tough track session on Tuesday including a 12 minute timed run (2850 metres but well down on where I should be at this time of the year) and a two hour 12 miler over the hills on the "Gritstone Trail" yesterday where there is still plenty of deep lying snow.

Weekly mileage 32. Annual mileage 249 (week 9)