With the incessant rain we've had throughout the winter, a sodden course was going to be a problem. As a result, they changed the course midweek, reducing it to 9.5k and changing the configuration to a slightly less muddy course.
I arrived with an hour and half spare and joined up with the Congleton Harriers crowd whom I've got to know over recent years, they also also offered me 'tea and cake' so I was more than happy to join them. Before my race started there were lots of other junior races both male and female, with the final races of the day being senior women and men.
With half an hour to spare, I changed kit and had a warm up run, and made my way to the start line, with the other 200 or so runners, and were sent on our way. I tried to just run my own race and settle into a pace I was comfortable with, and as the race went on pick my way through the field hopefully. I found it hard going and was being overtaken by more runners than I'd like. Not wishing to make excuses, but I also had a stinking cold and felt weaker than normal. The course was a 3 lap course, which zig zagged through various fields with varying degrees of muddy-ness, sometimes ankle deep! As the race went on I was able to start overtaking a few runners and move up the field a little which gave me some confidence. With the final few hundred metres left I tried to raise my pace, and make a run for home, I crossed the line exhausted and relieved. Coming 88th out of 158, I was a little disappointed not making the top half.
The Cheshire Cross Country Championships for me was a great experience and I'm glad I did it, but it was a bit of a rude awakening, and much tougher than I thought it would be. I'm sure with practice I could get better, but I don't think I have the patience! I'll stick to road and trail running for the time being.
Tony