Active Training World 8k XC Race, 10 Apr 2021

Going into the cross country I knew I couldn’t expect much due to the lack of training that week and it being the first day I felt a little more human for a while, after a tough week with work. It was nice to be on a start line for my first cross country in 4 years! I was a little nervous about it being 8km as I have never done a XC race longer than 6km before.

The dry weather meant the ground was horrendously bumpy and so I was watching every step I took to make sure I didn’t twist an ankle. About 1km in realised I would need to take it super easy and just make it around in one piece. Although lacking in mud, the course was challenging with hills, ditches to jump, rivers/streams to cross and logs to leap over. Being a local race I knew almost all the marshals so it was nice to have support all the way around! I was happy to complete the run inside the time I had aimed for despite walking when a stitch hit. I think I will stick to road races and shorter distances until the ground softens again, but it made me exited for next winters XC season.

Time to get back to training ready for the triathlon season!

Frankie Durbin