smrac distance make running a habit; consistency brings success

UK Inter Counties Championships – Birmingham

A pretty good day was had by those that went up to Birmingham to represent their counties.....

Senior Women - I feared Liz had started too slowly on the first lap but she passed people all the way and ended up in the low 50s a great end to her best ever XC season and ahead of all those she beat at the Surrey champs and right among some very good track runners. Now for that best ever track season....

U17 Men - Coughing all the way round Bradley matched my target for him as he finished first Middlesex in about 26th. Jack had a great run behind him, running strongly all the way. Both should now be getting their heads around what they need to do next week at the schools. As a point of interest in last year's U15 race Bradley was 70th and Jack 117th - their commitment to training is being rewarded.

U17 Women - A funny one this with each member of the squad having very different experiences of the race. Molly, Maddie and Florence were making their debuts while Katie had competed as an U15 two years ago. Katie felt she never got in to the race while Florence had a good one pulling away from Katie as the race went on. Further up the field Molly was having a blinder while Maddie was playing catch-up after having to come out the pen 8th for Surrey. It took Maddie 5 of the 6k to catch Molly but she looked very strong doing so. Molly tired a little in the last k but should be very happy with her first run at this level. Maddie and Molly will head to Machester next week all the wiser for these runs today.

U15 Boys - It was Eoin who lead out boys home - who knows what he could do if he took his tights off - you won't run many XC in warmer conditions than today! Luke and Tom followed. Solid runs from home but the Dave and I felt that a quicker start is required to get the best finishing position possible. Again, lessons learned.

U15 Girls - With Lauren unable to compete this weekend, Christina was our sole representative in this race. A strong start saw her well up and she was able to hang on for her best run of the winter. As she tired in the last few minutes she was passed for 2nd Middlesex but comparing this run with the start of the winter shows a whole load of improvement and bodes well for a successful summer.

U13 Boys - Jivendra didn't have a great run, saying he felt under prepared after rugby 7s had kept him away from training. Add on to that the bite marks in his head and another shoe loss and you can forgive him his poorer run than normal. On the plus side he made the right moves at the start of the race and he's sensible enough to know that not many if any of the 70 or so runners ahead of him will be able to touch him over 800! Jamie had a stormer.... After a slightly conservative start he worked his way through the field well and was able to pass Jivendra going up the last slope. A great run Jamie, well done.

U13 Girls - Rebecca made a great stab at a top 50 place but had to be content with 78th, a slight stitch perhaps robbing her of the 10secs needed to move up to 48th! Ella had her first inter-county run and finished exactly 30seconds and 100places behind Rebecca. These two spend a lot of time analysing results!!

Ross had been left out of the Surrey team after illness stopped him running the trial, but he had a good run at Bushy, knocking 20seconds off his best time and setting a new club record of 15:57. Running alone for the last mile this should be the proof to Ross that he has wintered well and is in good shape heading towards the summer. Just the little matter of the English Schools XC to get through first!