Running race 31:50 [4] 9.53 km (3:20 / km) +45m 3:16 / km
ahr:145 max:157 shoes: Saucony Havok XC 2
East league XC/BUCS trial race. Livingston.
Really enjoyed this. Something I've been trying to build towards since being injured. Was incredibly nervous beforehand as it was top 4 on the day to be guaranteed a spot on the team. The other boys all seemed to have hit a pretty speedy spot of form and if I'm being perfectly honest, I hadn't had the opportunity to race, too really give it all and properly go for it, in an XC so far this season.
Started off realising that the pace was fairly brisk and so was sticking on the back of the harie pack of 6, trying to do the least I could without losing contact with the boys. After the first couple of km the pace started settling and I was really trying to control my pace and hold back until the moment came. Hit the downhill and started to put some pace in, shaking off Tharme and then Alex Muir. I could see Eddie about 20m ahead and was catching him pretty quickly too so thought I'd reel him in. Caught him on the second lap on the trail around the back, really tried to keep my momentum going. I knew that if I could shake him off then I could probably hold it together until the end but he wasn't shifting from my back wheel. Managed to close the gap up to Elisha and Sasha to about 8ish second but certainly wasn't able to draw level.
Finally got a small gap on him when he slipped around the corner at the bottom and really tried to keep my momentum going. My effort to ditch him had taken its toll however and I was starting to swim a wee bit. JimmyD and another lad came past a pretty decent pace after enjoying my free ride a bit earlier. Eddie seemed to bonk at about the same rate as me, but thankfully about 20m behind me. Ground it out to the finish and managed to perk up more the closer we got to the finish.
Good fun, good day out. 3rd harie on the day. Buzzing. Bring on BUCS!