Three pairs of muddy shoes (yes three!) produced over this weekend (5th and 6th December). i shouldn't complain after all the flooding in the north we were spared by comparison in the south east.
Saturday morning was number checking at parkrun then off to the Sussex Cross Country fixture at Lancing. The standard at this event is very high and I only just escape coming last (on this occasion 104th out of 119). Still, it's good fun with lots of team support and camaraderie. I have only recently started competing in these events, last year in fact. Pretty weird to start now at my age, I guess.
It was great to watch the men's race after ours had taken place. Thrilling finish as Paul Navesey took Chris Smith (GB international mountain runner who is a second claim Haywards Heath Harrier) on the line to come third. The guys who were first and second were quite a way in front so they must be pretty special.
Pic below of harriers with Eliot waving patiently:
Saturday morning was number checking at parkrun then off to the Sussex Cross Country fixture at Lancing. The standard at this event is very high and I only just escape coming last (on this occasion 104th out of 119). Still, it's good fun with lots of team support and camaraderie. I have only recently started competing in these events, last year in fact. Pretty weird to start now at my age, I guess.
It was great to watch the men's race after ours had taken place. Thrilling finish as Paul Navesey took Chris Smith (GB international mountain runner who is a second claim Haywards Heath Harrier) on the line to come third. The guys who were first and second were quite a way in front so they must be pretty special.
Pic below of harriers with Eliot waving patiently:
Sunday and the Downland Devil 9. I needed to do another event and left it too late to get a place in the Mince Pie 10,. so off to the Lancing area again for something described by Neil Dawson as 'quite hard'. Mmm. The race HQ was at Coombes Farm which is a couple of miles from Lancing College. Excellent organisation by Worthing Striders with a cosy, converted barn to lounge in before the race and plenty of hot drinks. Then the race itself. To be honest it was more XC than the XC fixture the day before. Lots of hills, up and down on muddy, slippery tracks. Confess I got a bit frustrated with it all and only really enjoyed the grassy, sheltered sections towards the end. Stunning views when there was time to look. Big thank you to all the marshals who were out on exposed hillsides for quite a while. Finished in over 1 hour 40 mins. Caz Wadey took part too and Richard Bates from HHH.
Pic in the car park afterwards. It was raining.
Pic in the car park afterwards. It was raining.
Nice mug instead of a medal:
I bet you are wondering about that third pair of muddy shoes - come on, keep up.
Maureen invited me to go with her to the Glow Wild event at Wakehurst Place on Sunday evening. This is a magical walk through the gardens lit up by lanterns in all sorts shapes and colours. Really lovely. Thanks, Maureen. (No pic, sorry, as I din't take my phone with me - shame.)
Maureen invited me to go with her to the Glow Wild event at Wakehurst Place on Sunday evening. This is a magical walk through the gardens lit up by lanterns in all sorts shapes and colours. Really lovely. Thanks, Maureen. (No pic, sorry, as I din't take my phone with me - shame.)