Handicap XC
One of the most feared events in
the club calendar is the annual cross country at Epperstone in December.
The course begins to climb
gradually at first, but then once you are at the top of the first
field, it gets a lot steeper, causing even the fittest of our runners
pain. Eventually, after what seems a lifetime you get to the top of the
climb as the course flattens out to give some much needed relief
followed by a steep downhill section which eventually takes you back to
the start. The bad news is that this is only the end of the first
circuit - you now have to do it all again and again ...
As well as fighting against a tough course, the elements can also make life even more difficult. Sometimes it is extremely cold and icy making parts of the course slippery and trecherous. On other occasions after prolonged winter rain the pathways can becom very muddy which get worse with every circuit, making it difficult to keep on your feet (you also end up with several pounds of mud stuck to your running shoes). To be fair though sometimes we have had pleasant, mild weather with the sun trying to peep through.
Although some runners are obscessed with time, really just finishing the course is an achievement. In particular you have to admire those runners who come back year after year to do it, irrespective of the weather.
When
the run is over competitors do then have something much easier and
certainly more relaxing to look forward to - SRC's Christmas meal in
the evening. Together this is surely two good reasons for joining the
club!
Race Report 10 December 2011
The ground was well frozen, but this generally made the running conditions good, except for the steep downhill section on Hagg Lane - fortunately there were no casualties.
Around 18 runners put up with the extremely cold conditions to battle with and successfully complete the course. The results were:
| First
Three Males |
First
Three Females |
Handicap
Winners |
|||
| 1 |
Paul
Grogan |
1 |
Frances
McKinnon |
M |
Paul
Orton |
| 2 |
Jim
Semmelroth |
2 |
Jane
Matthews |
F |
Fiona
Thornewill |
| 3 |
Paul
Orton |
3 |
Fiona
Thornewill |
||