A Test of Strength…

Today was my first ever X-country race.  It took place in Fredericton in Odell Park.  The course was 8Km with 3 laps consisting of 25% flat,  35% hill climb and 35%  descending.   It was mostly on crush gravel but the two toughest climbs were grass and roots!

Enough of that how’d it go?  Well for me my race started a few hours before on bicycle trainer.  There was barely any light as I sat and hummed out a few intervals.  I find this helps me work out the crud in the legs  before doing any running races.

So the start, our field was 66 dudes from different Universities in Atlantic Canada.  Also included were some independant runners from the area.  The gun went and quickly two groups formed as we were swallowed up by the forest.

Chirs Gairns was making his way to the front of the second group; knowing that he was a veteran of ‘cross, I got into his slip stream.  Joining me was the fastest guy on our team this year, Shawn Miller.  We both were paced by Chris for the first lap. 

My legs felt really good which I owe to my little bike workout.  By the second lap Shawn had moved about 10ms ahead of me and now I was pacing a few other guys.  This remained the same until the final lap where I caught Shawn and we ran together.

The goal for the day was to run  hard but to not go overboard.  I wanted to finish strong but save some in the tank for the next two weeks where I wil need it the  most.  Shawn and I fiished just 2 seconds apart; 20th and 21st respectively!  My unofficial time was 27:56 which is a new PB for 8K. 

Running through the woods was a  nice change than banging away on pavement.  Now that I’ve seen what kind of competition there is, I will be better prepared for AUS in two weeks.  This also made me hungry for next weeks race in Virginia. 

Thanks all for the support.   Happy trainin’

Cliff