Phillips Accounting Easter Five - 23 March 2008...

Distance: 5 miles

In a time of...
hh:mm:ss
00:30:47

Finishing Position: 9
Number of finishers: 103
Putting me in the top: 8.73%

It wasn't until I was sat in the changing rooms at the Pavilion @ Warwick University, getting ready to start this race that I started to realise what I'd let myself in for. I was aware that the event would consist of a small field of runners, of whom the majority would be club runners (and therefore rather quick!); so I was already expecting a 'not so great' finishing position compared with my January race (Not The Roman IX), but as the other runners in the changing room started to lace up their muddy trail/cross-country trainers – my mind started to wonder what on earth was about to happen!

I wasn't really bothered about my finishing position, but instead I wanted to focus on getting a good time. I knew the course was in the vicinity of Gibbet Hill, a long and reasonably steep hill at the edge of the Warwick University Campus – so whilst my aim was to get as close to (and if possible break) the 30min barrier, I expected the course to cover the hill, so I revised my target time to 31 mins.

After warming up for 5-10mins I lined up at the start with the other runners, positioning myself just behind the front row. The race referee started giving out final race instructions; "Now as you know this is a 2-lap multi-terrain race…" – "Erm… pardon?" I thought to myself, he then continued "…in areas the course has become muddy underfoot and a little slippy/greasy, but nothing dangerous". Suddenly it was quite clear why most people had their cross country shoes on, and as the race progressed, I had to admit I was most envious!

The race was underway and I started strong, I was sat at the back of the lead group of 10 or so runners. "This is great!" I thought "I'm only 5 metres from 1st place! I could sprint and take the lead!" Of course that would've been a stupid move, and I remained Mr. Sensible and stayed where I was. After three-quarters of a mile I started to drop off the leading pack, they were going too fast for me to maintain their pace without blowing up further into the race. I kept them within my sights for some time though. The race went through part of the Warwick University student Accommodation village (or at least that's what it appeared to be) and then the off-roading began.

At first the grass was fine to run on, but it soon became the thick sticky mud that you struggle to walk through, for fear of either losing a shoe or slipping over. It wasn't long before my trainers were coated in mud and what little grip/tread the trainers had was simply clogged up with mud, I was slipping all over the place! I worked hard to try and keep the guy ahead within my sights but with the windy course I seemed to be in 'no mans land', nobody visible behind, and nobody in front. Eventually the sloppy mud turned into hard packed soil, then onto hard packed gravel/stone to finish the first lap. It wasn't a great feeling knowing I'd soon have to contend with the mud pit again on the second lap!

As the end of the first lap approached I was aware of the next competitor closing in from behind. I knew I was in a good position (better than I'd expected) so wasn't too fussed if he passed me. As he closed in on me I began to close in on the guy ahead and once I passed him he just seemed to drop away – I think perhaps he'd just overdone it on the first lap. The competitor chasing me overtook well before we reached the off-road section again, I tried to stay with him through the muddy sections but fell back several metres; the ground being even more churned up after the entire race field had travelled through on their first lap. I pushed hard to make up the lost ground in the small sections between the very muddy patches where it was a little firmer underfoot, "He's got me" I thought, "there's no way I can keep this pace up much longer". Then on a short steady descent my body seemed to take over my mind and gave a little kick of pace, I passed the guy and put a few metres between us. Adrenaline pushed me all the way to the finish line uncontested.

I had no idea of my finish time and after the mud pit I honestly wasn't expecting anything too impressive, perhaps 31-32mins owing to the mud (but thankfully no Gibbet Hill). I was able to find out I'd finished 9th, wish I was incredibly happy with as I'd been quietly hoping for top 20 finish – and later on in the day found out my time to be 30:47, which I was also incredibly happy with under the circumstances.

At this point in time I still seem to be progressing steadily, and have only had one disappointing race (that comes to mind) – the Coventry Godiva Half Marathon in Oct' 2006. With a 10k 2 weeks after this event, and a Half Marathon 3 weeks after that, I'm keen to see what I can achieve.

NOTE TO SELF: Buy some cross-country shoes!