"Stafford Common"

It's a race a week throughout November and last Saturday it was the third round of the North Staffs Cross Country League at Stafford Common. This tough undulating course is for some reason one of the least favoured ones on the circuit and given it isn't a counter in the club champs I found myself as the only Harrier turning out!

This year the course was surprisingly dry and on a cold but clear day I was looking forward to a good four laps of this 10k race. However after a good steady start it soon became obvious that it wasn't going to be a good day and by as early as the second lap I really began to struggle to maintain a rhythm (see photo for the proof, the eyes are closed in prayer for the pain to end!) and eventually finished well down the field averaging over a mile a minute slower than the first round of the league three weeks ago. Just shows how courses can take their toll. Let's write this one off and look forward to the next round of the Manchester League next weekend.

The day after I went out for a great ninety minute recovery run around Kerridge including an ascent up White Nancy which put me in a better mood!

Weekly mileage 25. Annual mileage 1147.