This was the fifth Westward League cross country race of the season and easily the best course so far.
We’d managed to field a full men’s team in all the previous 4 races but due to sickness and injury, we only had two runners make the start line today (has the new men’s club captain got the Kevin Keegan touch? i.e. delivers nothing).
As it was, the new skipper called his team together before the start. “Can everyone hear me?” he shouted. “Err, there’s only me” said George.
Well, two it was and we lined up for the start in lovely weather on the edge of Dartmoor. A lap of the field and then it was off into the woods. The introduction to the woods was a wicked, muddy climb that had the Achilles tendons at full stretch. We’d have to do this three times which was nice to know as we toiled up it on our first lap.
George was on fire and producing a strong run as a result of his frequent tough long runs on the North Cliffs to Porthtowan and cross training on the rower and bike.
Chris was a bit further back and feeling good despite it being his second cross country race of the week following the RN championships three days beforehand.
As both are doing the Grizzly in 4 weeks time, the tough muddy course was just what the boys needed to get them ready.
After three gruelling laps it was good to get back to the finishing field and the last 400 metre climb up to the finish.
The final race of the series is at Bicton Arena on 16th March, a week after the Grizzly. It’d be good to get a team out for that one. See Chris for details.
Results:
43rd George Williams 41:51
58th Chris Harper 45:33
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