Diary of an Athletic Nobody –

It's been over a month since my last update so apologies to my legions of non readers. I went away for new year to Thailand with the wife and while I still managed to get some running in it wasn't anything quality. I then contracted some terror death bug and was laid up for a good week. I was pleased that Helsby half marathon was cancelled as I although I would have taken part, I wouldn't have been any sort of shape to run well.

I've knuckled down with the training and got a decent few miles and despite the poor weather some decent sessions. The North England Cross Country Championships were due to be run at Knowsley Safari Park.

Now, I had no intention of easing up for this even so ploughed on with the training and covered an impressive 92 miles in the seven days leading up to the race on Saturday. I knew it was going to be tough as the forecast was for snow then a temperature rise which meant by the time the senior men's event was run, the course would be a tad heavy.

The heavy snow on the Friday didn't deter competitors and close to 600 finished the senior men's race. I was on call so left it late travelling up and missed the junior races and the start of the women's race. The course was already a bog and just warming up watching the women's race I knew it would be tough run.

For the start you are herded into pens and first 400m were uphill. I'd though about latching onto Dave Edwards from Knowsley as he always runs the xc by starting off at a sensible pace and winding it up but with the amount of bodies running and Dave in a different pen to me I found it impossible to pick him out. This didn't bother me as I was always going to treat this a tough training run and I went off slow and was practically walking as the runners funnelled onto what passed as the best surface.

By the time the second lap came around I started picking my way through the crowd and I have to say I was really enjoy it. The course was ankle deep mud alll the way and after the end of the 2nd lap I could see a few of my compratiots whom I'm like to have been closer to a fair way ahead, not least the winner Steve Vernon who only a few mins off lapping me! On the third lap I had a good nip and tuck race with Rob Williams from Knowsley, I'd pull away on the stright and downhills and he'd reel me back on the up hill. Paul Riley caught be up with about a mile to go and so I stayed with him until the run in.

The support all around the course was fantastic, especially from the Striders who'd made the effort to either stay on after their race or just come along to cheers us on. That's what I love about these big events, every corner had spectators on and in the sections were the course looped back the crowds were great.

I finished just ahead of Paul in just over 56 minutes, I felt great considering and although I could have started off a lot quicker I don't regret it. Penny Lane came 25th team out of 50 - very good considering we aren't an athletic club. I rested the following day but didn't feel the effects of the mud so really pleased with that.

Not sure what race I'm doing next - probably Parbold - March is going to be busy with Trafford, Liverpool and the 12 stage but another four weeks of this sort of training and I'll be flying for the lot!