XC...MUD GALORE!!

Wow, well that was an experience that I’d recommend to anyone regardless of whether they’re a runner or not - sooooo fun!!

It could have panned out  a complete disaster as Matt will agree, it was a rather mad dash and MAJOR panic at the start, the reason being – disorganization! We left the house in ‘plenty of time’ only to realize we needed cash AND petrol, so 12:30 ended up being 1pm by the time we got onto the motorway giving us an ETA of 1:22…the race was at 1:40 – eek plus I had no idea where in the 200 acre park I was meant to be, we arrived and eventually parked at 1:30 and I literally pegged it to try and find the Stockport Harriers ‘tent’ to pick up my number, BUT it was no-where to be seen, with 5 minutes to spare I’d practically given up and resided to being a spectator but luckily bumped into another Stockport Harrier who told me we had no tend and were gathered around a tree….of course, I should have known!?? 

Anyway, I grabbed my number, Matt managed to cobble together some safety pins, which I was still pinning onto me at the start line (its wonder i didn't stab myself!), managed to get my spikes on then before I knew it the gun went and I was off! Within the 1^st two steps I was CAKED in mud, it was like running through a bog and my ‘white’ spikes were an will never be any more :o(

But it was pretty awesome, like being a big kid again, once you’re that muddy you just don’t care and eventually it’s like the muddier the better, squelch squelch squelch!!!

It was an undulating course, 2 laps and only 6.2km in total so in theory a ‘walk in the park’ after last week, but really it was bloody hard work and I had no idea how I’d done, I managed to come 17^th out of 153 so not bad I reckon and was the 1^st Stockport Harrier lady managing to whip in front of a fellow Harrier in the last 20 meters…was a bit worried that was bad form but she seemed to be ok about it!

Unfortunately we never go a photo of how white they were before!!

So how about the Spikes? Well they’re great, you get so much grip especially on the uphill’s and no fear coming down, the usual worry of slipping on my arse was no more and I just went for it, one slight glitch was the fact that I turned my ankle AGAIN but managed to regain balance and I’m pretty much over it now :o)

Next one in 4 weeks and can’t wait to get the spikes on again.