National Cross Country Championships 18/2/06
Callendar Park, Falkirk
With Karen pulling out of the race 24hrs beforehand, and unable to find a replacement, the remaining women decided not to bother, leaving only the PRC men representing the club. I had hoped Porty women might be able to give Julia and her Helensburgh team a run for their money.
The day was bright and reasonably mild making ideal conditions - soft underfoot with cloying mud in only a couple of small areas. A good turn out from the PRC men ensured a full team (6 to count). Ben and I arrived in time to get changed and have 30 mins warm up. We met the rest of the team and also John Blair, there to cheer his daughter Sam over the line in 13th place in the under 13s. And also Andrew Henderson, supporting Helensb
urgh and Portobello, as ever, ready with his camera. I gave him mine to hold until after the race. As I was running I wished I had said feel free to take some shots of the team, however Julia, recovering from the womens' event was ahead of me, and did a sterling job of working the camera without instruction. Well done Julia.
As the women crossed the finish line the men were ushered towards the start line. The event draws a very strong field in both sexes and although I can partly understand the organisers running separate events for either, I am at a loss as to why the courses are different lengths. Perhaps to let the women get home in plenty time to make dinner? You don't get a shortened ladies marathon (23 miles for the poor dears?) at the Olympics, or t
he 90 metres, or the double jump, so what's the story here? Many of the women looked stronger than many of the men; so it might make more sense to draw the dividing line according to ability rather than sex.
As it happened none of this was on my mind as
we made our way to the start. I was enjoying the view of the sun playing through the mature evergreens and casting long shadows over the undulating grassland. None of the hills seemed terribly steep or long though this may have been a comparative thing having run Carnethy a week previous. Ben pointed out that the hills may become more substantial by the third lap. The start line became inundated with a lot of serious looking whippet-thin guys. Since the course quickly funnelled up a slope and into a bend I determined to start fast and not get caught in a log jam. This I did sprinting nearly flat out and getting into the first couple of dozen to make the turn. I haven't been so out my league in a long time: as soon as I eased back about a hundred runners cruised past. We hit a couple of muddy corners then hugged the pond as I fought to catch my breath. Starting
fast may or may not have been a good idea. All of a sudden somebody was on the deck, neatly doing a forward roll and getting up pronto - I saw the PRC colours and it was Ben getting to his feet and jostling back into the pack, seemingly unscathed but wearing mud trousers. I hoped he was unhurt but before I could catch him he was up and away and looking untroubled. Gerry similarly reported someone going down at that first corner and lying cowering as 450 people tried not to increase his body-pierce count.
Round the back of the water and we hit the hill. More people going past. Then as everyone sorts out the order according to ability we settle in for the bigger picture. The first of the three laps - although the shortest - seems the longest by general consensus. After a
bit of up and down and out and back we pass the start line; this time for a longer lap. With less jostling for position its easier to focus on the track ahead or the surroundings and just dig in. Now and again the guy in front drops the pace and you are obliged to overtake. I drift back into focus and ask myself am I pushing the needle into the red. The answer appears to be yes and it's all a matter of
holding on and keeping good form, looking for the best line through the muddy bits and we'll try this side, this lap, as the other nearly had my shoe off last lap. Every circuit different voices would call out “come on Porty” or my name, or even “come on you can catch that Portobello boy” which I acknowledged with a hand signal. (Although its some time since I felt boyish.) Julia and Andrew shouted with such gusto from the hill they were on, I would make an extra effort and often gain a place, only to give it right back after I was round the corner and gasping.
During the first 2 laps I saw Ben way ahead as we navigated the out and back, but by the third he was too far ahead to spot. As he hadn't been racing for a while he was uncertain what shape he was in. Anyone who has run with him at
club recently wouldn't share that doubt - awesome - as our cousins across the water are wont to say. On the third out and back section I almost by accident overtook a couple of runners. Just as I was reflecting on my superior endurance we crossed the brow of the hill that let us see the finish and the 2 of them sprinted past. I did enough to avoid dropping any more places and enjoyed the last few downhill yards home.
The course was tremendous and despite what must have been towards 1000 folk throughout the day doing a number of laps each, it didn't descend into a quagmire. It all seemed very well organised, the races started on time and there was even hot(-ish) water left in the showers for those who did an extra lap warm down. The rain held off till we were nearly back in the capital and the team performed splendidly. A great success.
Report Peter Buchanan
Photos Andrew & Julia Henderson, Peter BuchananJulia Henderson 33.46
Helensburgh Ladies 12th of 25Ben Kemp 44.57
Peter Buchanan 47.11
Gerry Scullion 47.48
Willie Jarvie 48.49
Keith Mayfield 51.03
Andrew Jeske 51.19
Scott Jarvie 54.05
Portobello Men 20th of 31Total number of runners 1134
Full results here
Gerry has sent in his perspective on the race;
The last time the National Championships were held at Callendar Park, in 2002, I was a spectator simply taking in the atmosphere. On that occasion it had been snowing the night before, the conditions were bitterly cold and my impression of the course was that it was 'average', a couple of small hills but generally fair.
This time the conditions overhead were excellent but the course had changed. A testing, rather muddy, hill had been added which we would be taking on 3 times and a loop of a golf course which was generally flat which we would be running over on the 2nd and 3rd laps. I felt this was a better course than before and a real cross country challenge.
Thanks to Peter and Ben we had an excellent position at the starting line, not trapped in by a large group of runners but relatively free. Once started the large field of runners closed in, up a slope and a cry went up 'watch, a faller' as someone had slipped at the start of the first bend. Fortunately I just managed to avoid clattering the poor guy (what a start!) and so, I think, did others around me.
My pre-race plan was to take it steady early on realising the National goes the extra mile (and at least a half more) compared to most other cross country races) but of course once started and adrenaline flowing things change... I am sure fellow runners know the feeling! Around two-thirds of the way round the first (and short) lap I had the feeling that I was going too fast, and still Ben and Peter were in front. I slowed a little and must have lost 10 - 15 places in the latter third of the lap and early into the second. Maybe in my mind only, but I had a horrible feeling I was getting a stitch. The first lap I thought was difficult.
Approaching the steepish hill on the second lap my concentration locked in and I said to myself "just get on with it". As it turned out the extra loop on the second and third laps seemed to provide more recovery time as it was quite flat and allowed me to get into a stride, added to which I could see Peter about 100 yards in front. At the end of the second lap I was much more upbeat, and with shouts from the crowd, particularly from former club member, Julia, her husband Andrew, my sister Louise and brother-in-law, David, this gave me added energy to get on with the 3rd lap.
I picked up a few places into the 2nd and 3rd laps. Then, on the third lap getting towards the end of the golf course, with around a mile to go I was aware 2 guys were catching me and I heard one say "I could have been at home watching telly" - I couldn't believe it - how could anyone have the energy to say that and so coherently too, I couldn't reply, I was using all my energy to keep moving forward.
On the final hill I got a shout from Andrew to say " Peter's not that far in front", I didn't look up, maybe Andrew was wanting me to react to shoot a photo (brilliant photos Andrew, Julia, Peter). Half a mile to go on a straight stretch I could see Peter, heading in the opposite direction following a reasonably sharp turn, and a good 10 places in front. At this point I knew to concentrate on those around me as I was closing in on 2 guys.
The pace seemed to be hotting up and suddenly I was in a pack of 7 or 8 runners, from what I could see. I kept going with them round the final bend and into direct sunshine to the finish. I couldn't get by the pack and ended up towards the back of the group but still I finished contented, I had given it my all - another National over and an enjoyable day with the others from the Club. Well done to all Porty participants and thanks to Julia, Andrew, sis Louise, David and all who cheered us on.
Report Gerry Scullion
