The XC thread

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SPR Dec 2025 4:02pm, 14 Dec 2025 49,565 posts	SPR First XC since Feb 2024 yesterday as a broken foot meant I missed last season. County champs at one of my favourite courses (definitely favourite of what we currently do) with a the potential for a team masters medal (at least that's what it looked like on paper some DNS might have changed that though) so was looking forward to it... ...and it went pretty badly! Lower back tightened up in mile 2, was just getting worse and I was losing power so had to stop around halfway for a few minutes (at that point wondering if would end up as a permawith the potential to DNF. Managed to loosen things a bit and then get going cautiously before picking up a bit on the last lap and felt better than when the issue initially came on. Happy to not DNF. Not had any back issues before and while I've not done my weekly flex session as regularly as I used to, I did do it on race morning and felt physically fine. I did start back with weights this week so maybe adaptation phase has had some effect. Only thing I probably could have done differently on the day is I did the first part of my warm up on road and doing it on the course (as I normally do) might have allowed my body to adapt to the off camber/ unstable surface at easy pace. Been out for short one today which was fine but probably need to monitor for the week. Hopefully no issues going forward although I may be very cautious to start in the next XC I do.
LouiseRuns 🌹🇬🇧 🇪🇺 Dec 2025 5:19pm, 15 Dec 2025 814 posts	LouiseRuns 🌹🇬🇧 🇪🇺 Is anyone here going to do English Nationals in February? Wondering if anyone has any local knowledge about which parkruns would be the most convenient in the morning? Thanks!
stilldreaming 25 Jan 2:16pm, 25 Jan 2026 1,679 posts	stilldreaming Derby Runner XC this morning at Allestree Park. One of my favourite courses, but a lot of walking on the hills 😉 Oldest lady in my club to run, so I'll take that (plus one minute pb on last year's results, though course was drier this year). 6+ miles with men and women running together in this League 😁
rhb 26 Jan 7:04pm, 26 Jan 2026 2,782 posts	rhb stilldreaming wrote:Derby Runner XC this morning at Allestree Park. I spent loads of time there in my teens, played golf on the municipal course & mtb'd in the woods up the top. Great place for xc instead of golf, some tasty hills!