Cross Country Cirencester Park fell on a Saturday which meant we did it after Abingdon parkrun. This was the second of our races in the Gloucestershire League. In fact to not break my longest tourist streak it meant we only just ended up arriving in time for seeing the first race of the day. This was important as it is the athletes I coach!
Facilities at Cross Country Cirencester Park
The Facilities for Cross Country Cirencester Park consisted of three portaloos. This was a lot less than at Cross Country Stroud and you could definitely tell the difference from the queues. In fact after my race we let the gents in the queue behind us go first so that they could get to their race on time.
Quite funnily this included the winner and he thanked me for this on his approach to the finish!
Parking was free and which carpark you used depended on which race you were there for. Obviously they knew this wasn’t exact and with car sharing people would be split.
The Times, Courses and Distances for Each Group for the Cross Country Cirencester Park
- 11:30am U12 Boys and Girls
- 2K – 2 small laps
- 12 noon U14 boys and Girls
- 3k – 3 small laps
- 12:25 U16 boys and Girls
- 4.9k 2 large laps
- 12:55 SW, M65 & U18 boys and Girls
- 6km 1 small and 2 large laps
- 13:50 Senior men, M20, M35+
- 9.6KM – 4 Large loops
Organised
Cross Country Cirencester Park felt a lot more organised – with lots of clear signage as to where to go etc. We had no tent this time and there was no bench or anywhere to sit. Luckily the club I coach with had chairs on their tent and let me sit there to change my shoes.
Before my race I went along and stood with my young athletes (and the rest that do different days) who were warming up.
The Young Athletes
It was amazing to see how well the young athletes are doing. One who has moved into the next coaching group is still only 11 but had to run in the u14s as he is now year 7. It was so wonderful to briefly catch up and am so pleased to say that he managed to finish 5th overall.
My current athletes also did very well. With one finishing “second” but with the same finish time as first place. But each and every one were just amazing.
My Experience of Cross Country Cirencester Park
Soon the children’s races were over and it was time for mine.
The Club Colours
Last time, at Cross Country Stroud, I had started running in my club vest but got too hot and taken it off. As I knew it was hot from running parkrun I didn’t even want to start running with it on. My husband suggested that we could pin my number to my cropped top.
To be honest I can’t even remember why I went and checked, but I asked the man at the start if it was okay. Turns out he had my name and number on his form of people he needed to speak to. This is when I was told I would be okay for that race but not at Cross Country Bath as it’s the Counties.
So I ran without and, oh my, did lots of people talk to me about it. Saying how I was lucky but they had not disqualified me!
The Cross Country Cirencester Course
The Cross Country Cirencester Park course felt a lot flatter than the one at Stroud. Due to this I probably went off too fast. There was one long gradual hill, but it was just on the one bit of the course. The rest being mostly down or flat.
Shoes
Glad I wore trails as the spikes seemed to scrape a bit on a section by the woods. Saw a lady just trying to keep on the grassy bit in the middle. It was mostly grass. As it was hot and dry the ground was quite firm. Apart from a muddy bit where like a tractor had gone through.
Inspiration Around
This time I managed to keep going because the lady in front looked so strong. Think she felt me like hanging on to her (not literally) and she ended up walking. It was a little while before I walked but it was the turning point. Told myself I would manage to keep going until the hill. Once I started walking though loads of people overtook me and it took quite something to run again.
Sprint Finish
Despite no-one being close enough to catch, or to worry about overtaking me, I did my best to sprint the finish. With a better time than the first cross country race. This time I finished 90th in 32:56 out of 111 senior women. The previous race was 40:06.
Visit Mum of Three World who has also taken part and has posts on her Cross Country