The XC thread

92 watchers

Ocelot Spleens Oct 2022 3:03pm, 30 Oct 2022 35,031 posts	Ocelot Spleens I stand corrected, a brave few have ventured out!
SPR Dec 2022 11:22pm, 10 Dec 2022 39,195 posts	SPR XC season so far report. Missed first Bham league fixture with flu/ heavy cold that hung around for a while and affected fitness. Last week did the second league fixture at the venue that we did the XC relays. Ran well for current fitness and negative split to run the same pace as the relays for an extra 4km. Today XC champs, new course which was a good challenging course. Loved the hard pack bits and slight inclines (where not super muddy) and downhills but not the steep ups and the very muddy bits. Hamstrings took a beating fighting to keep pace on those muddy sections. 12 or 15mm (I was wearing 12s that are probably 9 now) spikes would have worked there but the majority of the course would have been tough in longer spikes I think. Gap has me running all apart from the last mile within 6 secs of each other. Felt like another good run for current fitness. Team Silver in Seniors as well. Next league is in 5 weeks. Hopefully a good block of training moves me further along by then.
Gobi Dec 2022 9:34am, 11 Dec 2022 78,593 posts	Gobi Well done chap. I ran in North Staffs yesterday. 2nd race of season only 1 in staffs. 28th overall and 1st v50. Solid run off no speedwork
Mrs Jigs (Luverlylegs) Dec 2022 9:41am, 11 Dec 2022 36,003 posts	Mrs Jigs (Luverlylegs) Enjoying the European XC this morning! Fabulous mens U20 race, womens U20 was good too.
Mrs Jigs (Luverlylegs) Dec 2022 9:42am, 11 Dec 2022 36,004 posts	Mrs Jigs (Luverlylegs) bbc.co.uk
SPR Dec 2022 10:43am, 11 Dec 2022 39,199 posts	SPR Good work Gobi and congrats on the win. Interesting comment by Radcliffe about using longer spikes in the front and shorter in the back. Might be something to try...
larkim Dec 2022 10:59am, 11 Dec 2022 19,807 posts	larkim Good battle up from in the u23s. Not a bad course, good mix of terrain for this level of XC. The quirky indoors bit is a fun addition, even if it adds little of real importance. Good running Gobi.
Mrs Jigs (Luverlylegs) Dec 2022 11:33am, 11 Dec 2022 36,009 posts	Mrs Jigs (Luverlylegs) Excellent results Gobi! Sorry I missed it earlier.
SPR Jan 2023 8:47pm, 22 Jan 2023 39,411 posts	SPR 3rd league fixture last week at Warley Woods. Felt it was my strongest run so far on a challenging course. Looking at previous results Vs others this season suggests this is correct. Ran out of legs a bit on the last lap as any incline felt like it had a big effect but was able to keep things going although not moving through like I was in the middle of the race (was beaten by someone that had moved through the field at around the same rate but was stronger than me on the last lap although I finished just behind him after closing on the last km). Doing the Midlands champs for the first time next weekend as the Warks Champs moving to Dec has made Jan less busy. It will be my second longest race ever at expected 12km! Given what I said above about legs at the end of the race a week ago, it will be interesting. Probably will need to be a bit more circumspect with middle portion pace. I'm hopefully getting stronger though so that should help.
larkim Jan 2023 9:01pm, 22 Jan 2023 20,043 posts	larkim Hadn't planned it, but ran XC in the NW Sunday League today at Town Park in Runcorn. Didn't expect much from the course even though I know the area well, but it was everything an XC race should be. It's a pretty low key league with just one mixed seniors race, but really enjoyed it. As I'm only 2nd claim for the affiliated club that's in the league I didn't race it with any intent and ducked out before the finish line, but even at. 90-95% effort it was a good workout. I enjoyed it so much I've entered the Nationals, was mulling it over and as it's in Cheshire for the first time in ages (ever?) it seems too good an opportunity to miss!