XC league 2013: Prospect Park, Reading

Today's race was the start of the 2013/14 cross-country season.  The first race was at Reading, instead of Farley Mount where I've run it for the last two years.

Getting to Reading is a right pfaff.  The city of Reading may be a lovely place for all I know... but unfortunately my only experience of it is horrendous approach roads and flyovers.  Really, really awful.  That said, Prospect Park is a decent-sized place near to the centre of Reading, and it was a remarkably balmy (18 degrees) and sunny October afternoon.

I got there quite late.  I met Mick and Mark A and just had time to learn that there were too complicated laps.  A quick pee in a hedge and I was at the start line only just in time.  The course is flat playing field with a stinger of a hill in one corner which you go up and down twice in each lap.  Crikey, was it hard work - but it was the saving grace from what would otherwise have been circuits of a big playing field.

I must have started too fast.  I overtook a number of runners in the first few minutes, but once over the hill I found that I was struggling with my breath, and others were one by one overtaking me.  Into the second lap, a gasping push up and down the hills and back onto the endless grass circuit.

I finished number 72, which was actually quite respectable.  I had to have a full-on knackered lie-down on the grass afterwards.  I was very pleased with my new spikes, which were comfortable and did the job perfectly. I still have bruised big toenails from the Clarendon 2 weeks ago.

Game on... one down, four to go.