Running Report

The Newport Free Grammar School ON's v The School Cross-Country (22-Apr-06)

JJ - 26 min 9 sec  

 19th Position Overall

With no marathon place this year and the Great North Run not until October, my #1 race of the year was the annual cross country race at my old school with the Old Newportonians taking on the current school. Yet again it was a sunny day, not my conditions at all. I had been due to run the course earlier in the week to measure the distance, only to get lost and eventually have to run around it backwards! The GPS measured the course at 3.29 miles going round the opposite way and I managed it in about 28 minutes, approximately the same time as I did last year. I was hoping for a better result this year and lined up at the start with some anticipation. The ON's had in previous years had a reasonable team, but with the winner from the last two years missing, we were not confident in the overall result.

Within 30 seconds of the race this concern was justified as the kids all raced off into the distance leaving the ON's plodding along in a line. Eventually I settled into my running, picked off some people as the race progressed and was particularly pleased to run all the way up the very steep hill about 2 miles in that is the signature of the challenging course. Not managed that since my 1st year at school, some 19 years ago! In the end I finished with a (modern day) P.B of 26 minutes and 9 seconds, coming in 19th overall and 5th out of the O.N team, my best performance for them so far. However, this is all put into perspective when looking at the results, the winner finishing in a very good 21 min 11 seconds! I was also beaten by three year 7 (1st Years in old money) boys. Hmm. 23 min 7 sec was the fastest O.N time and I think this might be achievable with some more dedicated x-country training. The school beat the O.N's by a landslide 62-182 and Justin Jewitt won the Old Buggers Cup (oldest runner to finish that hasn't won it before).

One year that will be mine....!  Mwaaahhh Hah aha ha!

The runners and riders for the 2006 race!

{Home}{What's New?}{The Pubs!} {How It All Began}{The Running Challenge}

{The Drinking Challenge}{Tim's Column}{Running Reports}{Links}