Inter-club Summer X Country

This is a very low key event, and not knowing this, but just seeing the words "summer x country" on our club website, I thought it would be a competitive xcountry race, and so approached it like that. It was the day after running the Elmton Chase, but I felt good so looked forward to running fast.

Unfortunately not many people turned up - I would estimate around 20. We did a steady lap of the Retford Rugby pitch then went out through the woods across trails and fields. There were just enough marshalls along the way to stop you from getting lost, and also some arrows and ticker tape.

Three runners got away fairly early on - the eventual "winner" Carl Thackeray, and Steve Battle running for Clowne as well as one runner from Killamarsh - and there was a group of us behind them. I made an effort to leave the others behind and opened up a gap (not sure how large because I was focussed on making efforts to catch the three at the front; I could see them most of the way, but didn't catch them.)

Towards the end we went into a field, the marshall said follow the arrow, I ploughed into the field running across plants etc, and said "where's the arrow?" The Killamarsh runner said "it's over here". He was quite a way to the right on the correct path. I rejoined the path, but he had a lead now, and as we went over the hills towards the Rugby club he gained a bit more of a lead, and even though I was working hard I couldn't catch him.

He didn't finish that far in front though!

Anyway, it was a fun event and I thoroughly enjoyed it. No, it wasn't a race, but I'll beat him next time!

Clowne X Country Race

"It's over the same course as previous years, but just listen up..." mmm I thought, well this is the first time I've run it so that doesn't help.."just bear that in mind and you'll be alright."

I had missed something here. What was it? Oh, there was no way I could get lost because I wouldn't be leading the field out like I did at Retford. No, I didn't want to drop back through the field again like that. Yes, it's ok to have a fast start to stay out of trouble, but then you have to deal with the lactic acid. I'm not quite fit enough for that; not quite a Gebreselaissie.

The wind was blowing cold, and the dark clouds were circling. I hadn't come prepared for this - a Clowne running vest, a pair of shorts and my Walsh's, oh and a grey woolly hat. A t-shirt wouldn't have helped keep me warm, though, as it would just have got wet, and these Ron Hill technical vests do an excellent job of wicking the moisture away. Plus, if you're running fast enough you should keep warm anyway.

I couldn't feel my hands for the first 20 minutes of the run. Keep you hands clasped together,I said to myself, to stop your wedding ring falling off your finger. A pair of gloves would have helped.

Paul Sadler was just ahead of me, yes and Stuart Platts and Scott Ramsden weren't that far ahead. Then there were four Kestrel vests. Over one stile, through the mud, over another stile, my studs slipped on the wet wood and I nearly went over.

Keep up the pressure, just try to gain on them through the mud. One Kestrel runner is taking it easier through the mud then speeding up afterwards. If I can just gain on him in the mud maybe I can keep with him and beat him at the finish.

We're coming to the end, just another mud-strewn field then can't be much further. Accelerate, you can catch them. That's when my foot slipped from under me, my right shoulder hit the mud and I slid forward a couple of foot. Straight up, get running again. Mud everywhere, at least I missed all the stones, so no major damage.

Round some more corners, then I'm scrambling over a wall. Keep on running...

Andy Ward calls out encouragement "come on you can catch both of these", and I've nearly finished. I start sprinting past a Retford runner, and a Kestrel is just ahead, then round the corner, keep on pushing, nearly there - I sweep past Stuart Platts, and sprint for the finish. The Kestrel runner holds me off.

I'm 10th, a good improvement on the Retford run. Scott finishes 7th, so just a few places ahead. Paul Sadler is back in 19th.

Damage done: scratches on right shin, cuts on right hip, small bruise on right knee, vest covered in mud.

Retford X Country Race

The sun was shining, and all was right with the world. Except I had a mini-panic that I wouldn't be able to find the start of the race. Yes, I had a satnav, but no it wasn't a great deal of help. Yes, I had the "postcode", but when I put this into the TomTom it didn't recognise it and made suggestions for somewhere in Northern Ireland. No, I wasn't leaving England, I just wanted to find somewhere in Retford.

Thanks for the wonders of a mobile phone (& Dave Johnson) I found the race start - helped by seeing some runners walking down a street, if it hadn't been for that I may have driven round a bit more in a daze.

Half an hour to go to the start of the Retford interclub X-Country race - time enough to do a warm up. So I ran round in circles for a bit - yes I felt good, did some strides and some sprint drills. They have a couple of football pitches, and alongside there is an old track (it might be cinder, it is certainly not one of these tartan ones, and if pressed I would say it was dirt, but it's marked into lanes and good for running on in that it's flat and level.)

Now, the start. When we eventually got to the start we were told we had to run to the corner of the field and round a cone. Anyone going the wrong side would be disqualified. Then there was some more bunting in another corner (anyone going the wrong side would fall down a hole), then we would go through a gap in the hedge and well...not sure where after this, but it would be self-evident surely?

I need a good start, I thought. Don't want to be tripping up over people going round that cone. So, "Go!" Got a good start and to my surprise I was first to the cone - what's happening here then, how come I'm in the lead, relax don't panic - to the other side of the first field and Steve Battle passes me, then I draw level - out through the gap in the hedge and there's three of us - which way is it then? No one seems to know - I spy John Proffit to the left, and presume it's that way.

After this more people passed me especially as the ground got uneven, we crossed stiles and went uphill. The rest of the race is a blur. I remember Scott Ramsden passing me and saying come on Matt keep it up, then Stuart Platts & they didn't get that far ahead. Even near the end I was thinking I could bridge the gap, but when we darted through the gap in the hedge again the race was virtually over and it was too late.

And I was working on closing the gap to the Killamarsh yellow vests right to the end, but the gap in the hedge beat me and the funnel came too quick for me to catch them. I did see Paul Sadler just behind me, but concentrated on trying to catch people in front rather than thinking about who was behind!

All in all good fun - but maybe I won't start so fast next time.