smrac distance make running a habit; consistency brings success

Met League XC (2) Claybury – Jamie wins, Bradley and Rebecca 2nd

U13 girls - Perhaps a little too fast from Rebecca at the start but another good run none the less in 2nd.  Well backed up again by Ella in 4th. 2nd in the league despite only ever having half a team out!

U13 boys - Jamie took the race by the scruff of the neck leading from the start and holding on well in the final straight when being chased down by an Enfield runner.  Ollie looked to be running well too. 2nd in the league now.

U15/17 girls - Katie I and Maddie went to the front from the start in a change of tactics.  Katie showed how good she is at cross-country by coming home first of our runners with Maddie not far behind.  More to come from Maddie who is in heavy training at the moment... it takes a while to get used to and today's race came off the back of a heavy session on Thursday.  Everyone should remember that consistency pays and every run and session adds to your fitness.  You'll see that when we back off.  Behind our first two Christina looked to be going well just at the back of the front pack until a back pain forced her to stop.  Damn those Marines at school!  Lauren worked through really well.  Behind, Eve and Faye were close together with Katie B not far behind and Florence and Bella following behind them.  I didn't see the finish so will have to check the results to see the final order! The girls returned to the top of the league overall.

U15/17 boys - Bradley and Jack finished like a train for 2nd and 3rd but it would have been good to see them commit a little more early on.  Give yourself a chance, these are the races to try things out in... you were closing a little in the final third of the race! Eoin won the battle of our U15s and was running with Adam in the closing stages.  Then followed Tomm (smiling from his Middlesex selection) and Ollie.  It was good to see Joss able to run again too. 2nd in the league overall.

Women - Liz K beat Liz K.  Kipling ahead of Killip.  Kipling was making her Met League début and ran well, feeling better than in training this week.  Killip was slightly down on last race but seemed to enjoy the hills none the less (she'll deny it though!!).

Men - 5 men!  Tim was first home in a position that doesn't match his training at the moment.  Noel was next in officially his worst run ever (this coaching malarkey doesn't give me much time to train!).  Stewart matched his finishing position from last year and was followed home by Ian and Gary.  With Grant and Andy there we'd have 7..... There is a time when we'll have the full 12 I'm sure, especially with all the U17s coming through.

Ross ran at Bushy Park, sensibly avoiding the tough Claybury course following injury.  He was 2nd in 16:26.

Well done all, a good hard run as part of your training for the major races later in the winter.

FULL RESULTS NOW HERE

Info for next year: Parking is at Ashton Playing Fields athletics track and the course is a 10min walk from there.  Please don't park at the course as the residents get royally peed off! Take the A406 and exit onto the slip road A1400 and then at the Charlie Brown roundabout the the first exit onto the A113 Chigwell Road.  Then proceed past the junctions of Broadmead Road & Snakes Lane east and under the M11, and then take the first left which is Ashton Playing fields.

The track is at the top of this map and the course where the arrow is.