Mind games and the Stockbridge XC

Following the dreadful weather this week, the glooming forecast, the mud, the hills and the early start, the easiest thing in the world would have been to stay in bed and read the Observer sports section in the hope of finding more articles on Paula.
Fortunately I (and 20 other Harriers or all ages and abilities) decided otherwise and headed off to Stockbridge and ran the 'George Skeates' fun run.

Theres' something for everyone with this race. Either the 8 mile course for runners/walkers/riders or the 3 mile fun course.
It's basically two miles up, two miles across, two miles down and then a nice flat two miles to finish.
The ups are tough and a good part of it is real XC.

I ran with Ian most of the way - trying to hold him back most of the time :)
Lots of mind games going on - trying to float effortlessly up hills and picking the best point to overtake anyone in front who looked to be fading. Ian ran very well and came 6th, I came 8th, DaveK 10th and DaveA 14th. A great result for the Harriers.

The important thing for me in a race like this is just getting on with it. There are times everything hurts, my legs cramp up, there's no one watching. It would be very easy just to hide in a bush or walk home. But these are the runs that strengthen the mind as well as the body. Come July when I compete in the European Masters in Slovenia it will be runs like this that will make the difference.