Longest and toughest and best of our cross country races, 3 laps, about 6 miles with over 800' of ascent all in, 5 started, 4 finished, one stopping after taking a tumble in the swamp section on lap 2. Got slower each lap, eventually finished second couple of minutes slower than last year.
Next Club race is the Pappert Cross Country, some new runners so we had a recce, couple of laps then I ran up to the Pappert Trig, cold, ground partially frozen and drier than normal, great views up Loch Lomond and surrounding hillls.
5 started this 3 lap cross country course behind the Pappert Housing Estate, 3rd time we've ran this race, an undulating course with plenty of mud and ditches to cross and a couple of fallen trees to negotiate, good Cross Country. First lap went well apart from going the wrong way round one of the fallen trees, slightly quicker in the second lap despite a stop for a lace re-tie, third lap slightly quicker again, finished 2nd and happy to improve on my previous times by about 90 seconds.
Last cross country race for this season, 3 suitably muddy laps round the moorland behind Pappert, managed 3 even paced laps, slightly slower than last year due to a wee route error on lap 2.
New Club race, traditional cross country, grass, mud, ditches, undulations, 3 laps just under 2 miles per lap, 7 of us set off, a couple took a wrong turn on lap 2 and decided to stop after 2 laps, 1 dropped out half way round lap 2. We had reccied it the week before but race day was much colder, ground frost had dried out the worst of the mud and bogs making for good running, stunning views up Loch Lomond to Glen Finlas in the early morning sun.
