The BMC Bristol XC Classic 4k

Today, I lined up amongst a pretty small field of generally young and exclusively fit looking runners and thought, “Hmmm, I wonder if I am going to be last”.

My rule of thumb for a race is to finish just inside the top 10%. Today I finished comfortably inside the last 10%. It was definitely my worst placing ever. Now I can say with all credibility I know what it feels like to be one of the last in, but don’t be embarrassed. It didn’t feel much different to any other race really.

Four laps of a soft, slightly slippery course on the downs between the Bristol Zoo and Ladies Mile - rather pleasant really - I still felt good about myself at the end.

Why so bad? Lack of training, no spikes on my shoes, and my bad shin certainly played their part. But mainly I think it was the rather select group of runners - probably exacerbated by the cold weather which might have put some of the more casual types off.

Now there were a couple of blokes, much faster than me, who I finished quite close to. But that was because they missed the start. Still in the bushes when the gun went off apparently …

I came in with only four people behind me, and one of them appeared to have a very bad back.

Oh well, in the end my shin didn’t hurt at all. Was that the soft ground, the Ibuprofen, or the Thai massage?

Anyway, here are some pictures from the ladies and mens races respectively (thanks to Dave for taking the pics):

Ladies start

Whoosh

The one on the right (Kate Goodhead) wins

The men go out - I’m already out of sight!

Me on the left

The guy in stripes (Tom Russell) wins.

Results of the BMC Bristol XC Classic 2008 are here.