English
After going on a run of cyclo cross wins, then getting a chest infection a week before Bradford National Trophy, it’s been a case of recovering and building back up again ready for the National Championships on Jan 10th in Sutton. With getting over illness, lots of snow and ice as well as Christmas craziness, which for me includes 5 family birthdays, I was half expecting it to be a frustrating struggle to get back up to speed. Actually even though my hours are a little bit lower due to weather conditions, my training is slowly coming back on track and the rest has probably done me more good than bad.
After missing a few races, my first race back was a South West Cross League on Dec 27th in Bristol, which I was hoping wouldn’t flair up my chest like it did in Bradford (my own fault for thinking that I was recovered enough to race) and I could get to the finish this time. For most of the race I felt like my legs were a little stiff and I found it hard to push the strain of race pace, but was by no means a race to complain about. From the start I managed to pull away and by the end of the race I nearly lapped the whole field, with second place a couple of bike lengths in front as I crossed the line. This was a pleasing race for me as sometimes you can spend weeks and weeks feeling pretty poor in training, but it only ever takes one good day to turn everything around and feel back on a positive once again.
New Years Eve. Every year (if not ill) I take part in a 5km running race (The Nos Galan) which has been run for over 50 years and is always well supported with this year being 800+ runners and spectators going into the 1000′s. Its quite an event to be part of. Despite only ever doing running in the circuit training sessions I do, I always enter the race to give it a slam and enjoy the fact that the last possible race of the year comes with zero pressure and is purely to enjoy getting knackered! Not only was the race fun, but I’m pleased to be writing that I ended up coming across the line in 2nd only 20 seconds behind the winner. Needless to say I’m very happy with this race as some of the guys there obviously do a lot of running, I’m chuffed I was in the mix for the win and probably had the biggest smile on the podium wearing my dhb Earnley base layer and 2XU Compression tights! Good Day!
Nos Galan Report & Results
www.nosgalan.co.uk/index.htm
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