Quote Originally Posted by Travs View Post
Midlands Cross Country Relays today at the always decent Aldersley Park in Wolverhampton.

6km of generally decent ground considering the recent weather, ranging from slightly rough field, to disused railway line muddy "trail", to good running on the grass near the leisure centre. What i particularly like about this venue is the numerous changes underfoot.... coming up a steep bank, onto good running on the railway line, then onto the slosh of a muddy field, then back to good stuff.

I went out on the opening leg today, and benefitted from having a large field to chase.... positing up 22:14 (although it was a couple of hundred metres short of the advertised 6km).

Pushed on well on the 2nd lap and made at least half a dozen places.

Both our teams were a little understrength today, however we were 9th senior team and my masters team were 7th. Had we thrown all our eggs in the masters basket we would've had a medalling team, but our fastest v35's were used in the senior team instead.

First time i've ever worn spikes today... having always previously worn fell shoes... i am converted!

By far and away my best ever XC run today.... whether i just had a freakishly good run, or it was a bit early in the season for my clubmates, but i was matching (and beating) some of the guys i would class in the next bracket up in the club.... ie decent club runners who are regularly capable of 5km times comfortably in the 17's on the road.

Proof will be if i can live with them in a few weeks at the first league race. I certainly put the effort in today... recorded a new max heart rate, and my watch has advised me to take 3.5 days rest!
Well done Travs. My cross country days are long over but you are right about spikes - they make a huge difference.
As to watches advising rest - if I obeyed mine I would run about three times a week.