Horsford XC
Well done to the 5 hardy cross runners who ran Horsford on a wet Sunday morning.
Report by Paul Woodhouse
An ideal morning for a XC with apprehensive thoughts of crossing the ditches in Horsford Woods.
Travelling towards Norwich the rain was falling steadily and the temperature not really trying to rise above 5 degrees.
We made our way to the sign posted car park and walked the short distance to the registration with the rain still falling. This was nice and easy, £4 on the day just giving your name and club.
The marshals at the station were very friendly, one even asking about joining us as a second preference club.
Hopefully we can look forward to welcoming Maureen along in the near future.
With this completed it was time to reveal the nice white club shirts for the standard before photo.
This completed we made our way to the start as the rain came to a halt.
The race begun along a narrow gravel woodland path which made it a bit follow the leader.
This was no problem today as both myself and Rob ran with Libby and Nita respectfully for a while.
Cam in the meantime started to meander through the runners obviously a lot keener on reaching the water crossing.
The route eventually widened slightly as you ran along the perimeter of the woods and after a detour through a pit we continued a little further before turning onto a narrow footpath, Twisting our way around trees and ferns we worked our way slightly downhill towards the boggy area. First came a few logs to hurdle/step over then a small ditch before the welcoming smell of the two water filled ditches at around 2km.
These are both waist deep with slimy banks on entering and exiting, there is a rope to help you across but no sooner you are out of the first you are lowering yourself into the second.
After leaving the second you literally wade through a boggy section before running again on a slight incline. At the top there is a sharp left turn and welcoming path leading back to the start/finish area.
Completing this circuit we then had the pleasure of repeating it twice more knowing that each crossing of the ditches would become more difficult and no warmer.
We all finished in good spirits and had plenty of banter along the way. Cam believe it or not was the muddiest of the Rnts by far.
Official Times:-
Cam 46.33
Paul 52.16
Rob 52.17 3rd in age
Libby 54.36 2nd in age
Nita 55.33
