Three years ago I ran this race, and I don't think I enjoyed it then. But there is something about being part of a big event like this that draws you back. Around a 850 women charging up a hill is not something you see every day (though arguably, with the state of global politics, maybe we should be).
The socials went out early in the week that it was muddy; a recent thaw in temperatures and a slight increase in the precipitation, plus eternally high footfall had turned hampstead health slippery, so by the time all the kids had charged across it first (plus most of the womens field in my case), the course was muiddy. Even just getting to the tent area from Hampstead was incredibly slippery and muddy. My mud fearing city sister was not particularly impressed as we climbed through brambles to find the area my club was congrating in. Only six of us had made the journey this year; numbers for cross country are never wonderfully high but the cost of travel to London has put most people off (and maybe the mud photos).
I went off hard, I suffered, I tactically walked more than once to bring my heart rate down and save energy on what was effectively a constant mud slide. I cursed my overweight body and lack of strength. My dodgy hip and glute complained at all the stabilising I was asking them to do. More than once I questioned what on earth I was doing, and what for, and whether I could walk off the course (my sister would have killed me).
I came in 618th of over 800, second Chorlton woman home. It wasn't a stunner of a run, even by my standard, but I was there and I counted. Maybe some kid saw me in my awkward outfit, with my fat thighs, battling at the back and thought 'hey if she can do it'.
Here are a few of the photos
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