Race report by Karen:
Saturday afternoon saw the second instalment of the South East Lancashire Cross Country League at Heaton Park. The weather was not as pleasant as the October race, fairly grey and bleak, but was at least dry and not too cold, and thankfully Storm Claudia had mostly worn herself out by then.
Thanks to cross country captain James and Cathy for getting the tent up, providing a welcome shelter to get ready in, Mary will attest to this 😀
Louise, Jenna and I lined up at the start, with support from Greg, Paul, James and Cathy, and set off at the crack of the gun.
The usual fast start ensued down the hill, which was fairly boggy and splashy in places, then a left turn along beside the road, with a few fairly muddy patches to skip through. The lap continued clockwise up a short incline, a sharp muddy down and up through woods, then up and over grassy fields, down through some more muddy woods, before coming back along the path beside the shaggy cows (which I always like to see!) and back up the hill to the start/finish. Then repeat two more times, with the muddy sections getting more and more churned up with each lap.
Louise and Jenna ran strongly and I managed to see them both heading off on their second laps as I was toiling up the hill for the end of my first.
I was glad to cross the finish line, as usual, but enjoyed the race, and I’m fairly sure Louise and Jenna did too. The women’s race was just under 4.5 miles.
The men’s race was already underway and we saw Paul and then Greg complete their first lap. Sadly but sensibly James was not racing due to being under the weather earlier in the week and not being at full strength.
The men’s course was also three laps with a longer first lap to increase their distance to approx 5.5 miles.
Well done all, next round at our favourite mudfest Marl Pits on the 6th December 😃
Louise Read 41:59
Jenna Wood 44:45
Karen Taylor 49:31
Paul Edwards 40:36
Greg Kilshaw 49:38
