It has been 24 hours since I arrived back home after making my Lancashire debut at the intercounties yesterday.
I am only putting my blog up now because of how shattered I was after getting back - it was some drive, totalling 250 miles round! And I tell you what, my glutes have been on fire today, I feel worse than I did after London last year!
I have to say that the course offered by Cofton Park (Birmingham) was a very good, testing and technical one. The experience was certainly one of the toughest I have had in recent times running.
A few things probably caught me out on the day - I set off too quick (shame on me!) a 5:19 mile probably wasn't the best decision considering it was largely uphill! Furthermore, the temperature was much warmer than I expected and a bit of a shock to the system after months of winter training! Finally, for a crosscountry course, there wasn't actually that much mud - probably in part due to the warm conditions encountered. This was a shame on a personal note as I feel myself to be stronger when thick deep in mud!
But the whole day and experience has been one that I will take a hell of a lot from and hopefully a big lesson that I can use to build on and come back stronger next XC season.
I was probably a tad harsh on myself immediately after the race yesterday as I know I faded badly on the final lap, but I suppose that is what pushes us to always try and come back and do better again and again - the passion and determination to be the best you can and always striving to improve yourself.
It has been a fantastic crosscountry season for me on the whole and one in which I have come on leaps and bounds. The only dissapointment had been that I had to miss a few of the mid-lancs races and couldn't complete the campaign this time. And getting the opportunity to represent my county and end the quest for the vest is an unbelievable way to bring it to a close.
Time to turn my attention back to the roads now, but I can't wait already to get back on the XC scene again next season!
