I want to know who thinks putting the longest course with the most hills in, is the best way to start the Cross Country season!?! I mean, surely we need a warm up to that! However, I should also look at the fact I might have swapped training out for getting married, drinking and eating too much and going on honeymoon. And actually, I have barely trained since the Lakeland 50. So what happened today can only be blamed on me.
I have been struggling a bit all week. I have had some real stomach issues alongside the jet lag, and am starting to wonder if I do in fact have a bit of a bug. Everyone else seems to have. I'd done a few miles in the week but it was all low volume, focusing on getting back in the habit, rather than really training.
I had headed to Wythenshawe parkrun in the morning. It was a nice mix of footpath and grass. That said, parts were very soft and water logged making me think it could be a bit challenging at Heaton Park later. I am still having nightmare about a few years ago and the near apocalyptic mud. The parkrun is also not too busy for the course, with room to overtake at most points and a welcoming vibe.
So having managed to actually eat something once I got home (my appetite swings wildly from eat nothing to eat everything), packed an excessive amount of extra warm clothing that I then didn't use and convinced Martin to come with me, we headed off to Heaton Park. Heaton Park is a lovely park with a full range of facilities from toy farm to golf course. It sits on a hill above Manchester and offers amazing views of the city. It also catches all the weather, but when we arrived and managed to park in the already busy car park, it was bright autumn sunshine. We walked the dog the long way up to the start area where some amazing souls had already erected the gazebo.
Bringing Martin and the dog does add a layer of complexity to races. Martin gets a bit grumpy as he doesn't really do running chit chat, and I obviously want to chat to some of the girls I haven't seen since last season. Also, the dog gets anxious in the crowd and starts to suspect I am running without him, so misbehavers. This meant I was actually quite distracted until it was time to get team photos and head to the start line, and so perhaps not that nervous. My stomach, however, was feeling bloated and hard and portending bad times ahead.
On the start line I had a nice chat with a new recruit about Blacksheep stuff. Then off the gun went and we charged down the first short slope on mass. I was determined not to go off like a rocket, knowing it was a long course with some fairly long stretches of gentle climb, alongside the shorter steeper inclines. It was reasonably well attended given that the Manchester Half was on the Sunday, and there was lots of cheering at the start/ finish area (which you run through three times in total). The number of people actually helped to keep it slow. Its a broad course but naturally we were all bunched to start, dipping down, then cresting up and down again to the main drag through the park where we crossed and headed for the Pope's field where we do what seems such a long drag along the treeline. It goes slightly uphill, and whilst the ground was holding on the first lap, it would get muddier and muddier with passing feet. The Heaton course actually has some nice bits through trees but on this first lap, the first one claimed a few victims as people failed to spot the roots (sprayed white but less visible under crowds of feet). I think I was starting to form a little pack as we headed up the steep section, with a lady from Wilmslow, some runners from Bramhall and a lady from Didsbury. I felt okay, but not brilliant but it was a sensible start.
As we came out from the first set of trees, the weather was clearly changing. We rounded a raised football pitch and the rain started. A brief respite in another set of trees did not last long as the wind and rain barrelled in at alarming intensity. People pulled their pace back, taken aback by the ferocity and speed of the weather change. But at least fell running has hardened me to some things. Across the open area and a slight down hill into the final, longer set of trees (watch the slippery bit! the marshal cried). I tried to enjoy the trees and was pleased to see the garden centre and then enjoyed the down hill. The ground here was breaking more quickly, as the forest harbours softer sections of leaf mulch. Again, these things bother me less and I popped out the bottom of the woods on to the hard surface path that takes you back towards the supporters, still with the little group I had been in.
I think we are supposed to run in the muddy side path grass section before we cross the main drive of the park, but hardly anyone does so I didn't. I could see another Chorlton Runner I didn't know ahead and wondered if I could catch her.
After the drive you do a steady climb back up the grass towards the start area. Everyone is watching so there is impetus to keep running. My little group pulled slightly away from me and I realised this felt harder than it ought. I usually find uphill okay in these things, as long as it doesn't go on too long. I had a little twinge in my hip flexors, maybe from climbing Mount Kinabalu. But as I crested the top and went to start the second lap, the crowd and the down hill buoyed me. I caught up my little group and ploughed on.
As we approached the drive crossing, the course was now breaking up. On the far I paused to walk briefly, letting a the cluster of runners go, and a few more pass me. This was not good. I recovered the dizziness but my abdomen remained tense. I knew this rarely settle in a run and so managed to get jogging but for the rest of the race there would be no pushing; not unless I wanted an accident. My legs also felt very weak suddenly. I kept trying to jog but people were passing me. On the wood section I got a bit more pace on, especially as we dropped down hill, but the second ascent back to the start line was almost embarrassingly slow. People probably could see the wheels had fallen off. It crossed my mind to stop but I really didn't want to DNF. The cramp was settling but I felt weak and unfit: I WAS weak and unfit. I haven't run hard or far for ages. This was my fault but a DNF would not make it better. I was over taken by another Chorlton Runner who was running really well.
I started the last lap glad it was just that. The laps are about 1.7 miles each so it was not short distance to go but I knew the psychological implications of not. The dip down to the drive and the section on the other side were now very muddy. I managed to hold a nice line across here (I trust my mudclaws implicitly if nothing else) but the long drag through Pope's field saw me dropping back further in the pack. I waled the kick up to the turning in to the trees. As we rounded the raised football pitch one last time, the sun was back out and there was a gorgeous view over Manchester. The runner ahead of me took a photo, and I actually didn't blame her! Sod the race, it really is stunning at Heaton Park sometimes. I kept trotting forward, unable to muster much in terms of form or pace, I suspect because my posture was a bit hunched over my bloated abdomen.
Once again in the trees I moved a bit better and caught up another Chorlton Runner who was struggling a bit of an exuberant start. She is new to cross country and we have ALL been there. Its a real challenge not to be dragged along. The marshal at the top said well done to me by name but I don't know who it was (my apolgoies), and I was so ready for that last descent through the trees. I just ran through the muddy sections, at least not phased by them. The last bit around the path back towards the crowd was quite crowded with dogs but I just ploughed through. The crowd had thinned due to the imminent start of the mens race. The last climb was hellish slow. I think I lost another place or two but Martin and dog were at the top and I finished at a (slow) run despite my legs wanting to stop all the way up.
I decided not to wallow and went to get my warm layers on (though fortunately not as many as I had worried I would need). I asked other how their race went and most people were pretty happy. I like celebrating other's success so I just said 'period cramps' when asked about mine. Plus there is the communal cup of tea and biscuit after. Martin was getting a bit grumpy so we didn't stay for the Mens' race but we saw the fast chaps coming in on their first lap. Watching them do the full hill in Pope's field did not make me envious of their increased distance to us!
So lots of room for improvement. I am trying to build good habits to start with; early morning runs, sessions, and the much neglected long run. I have a road race next week so maybe i can heal my gut a bit by then, even if I won't suddenly get fitter. But that is the thing about cross country: you can't hide a lack of fitness or training. And if I am honest, I have been struggling with training since before the Lakeland 50, and haven't really done threshold training in months. Lots of work to do!
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