Well it's been an interesting and enjoyable few months since we last spoke, I've started my AS levels (year 12) at SHSG (Southend High School for Girls - the 6th form is mixed!), competed in the Southend 10k and began the cross country leagues! After track season finished, and my emotionally traumatising first few weeks at SHSG had drawn to a close, the cross country relays approached on the 27th of September. I was due to run the 2nd leg of our team in the U17's race with my friends Michael Williams and James Hiscock. I had a really good run and was ranked in the top 15 of all the runners' individual legs. Michael and james followed that up with decent runs and we did pretty well to finish in the top 7. I was pretty pleased with that performance as it put me within around 10seconds of some elite runners (like George Elliot).
On the back of this performance, I wanted to do a good time (sub 37minutes) in the Southend 10k (5th October) after running 37:49 last year. I felt good leading up to the race and had my new brooks racers, courtesy of Runner's Edge, to compete in and I had a good feeling about the day. Mum was there with some of the Fittology crew (her beginners' group, back in 2012, and now intermediate group!) that were looking to set good times for themselves, some running the distance for the first time so a big well done to all of them! I set off pretty quickly (and when I say pretty I mean far too quickly!) and completed the first mile in 5:38 :') dooming myself from the start! But I did go on to run consistent miles just over the 6 minute mark and the final mile was a brisk 5:51 so I was very pleased with my performance, mainly because I'd run (on average) lower than 6 minute miling, but a little disappointed because I was just outside of that sub 37 minute time; finishing in 37:06. So a sucker punch to be so close, but onwards and upwards and besides, a PB is still a PB! :D
Finally, yesterday (the 18th) I competed in the first cross country league at one tree hill. Without a shadow of a doubt the HARDEST cross country I have ever competed in!!! Oh jeez... there was literally no flat bit apart from the first 20 metres of the race... (and even that had a camber!). So a tough one, but our team, considering it was injury laden and minus one of our fastest runners (Adam Foster - hope he recovers quickly from his hip injury after he was hit by a car whilst on a bike ride during the Summer! He has been back training, but he feels as though it's too early to race) performed decently. I had a solid run, albeit with growing pains (I kid you not, I am actually beginning to grow), and finished, outside my aim of top 15, but a good run nonetheless; in 17th, James (even with a back injury) finished in 21st, Michael (again with knee problems) finished 37th and Ryan (who fell over, threw up and did just about everything else!) still managed to finish the race. So something to improve on for us all, but decent performances.
I'm looking forward to competing in the Chelmsford 10k at the start of November and also the subsequent cross country league events, that occur all over Essex. Cheers for reading guys!
Keep reading and running!
Eddy
P.S: Yes I really did sprint to the front of the 10k to get my photo in the paper :') not really, just a very brisk start! As mentioned, too brisk! :')
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