Chorley 4.4 Trail - 4th August
A post race group photograph
“I am going to join Swinton Running Club just to train and not to race - my racing days are over.” That is what I told my husband before my first training session with the club.
After my third session Lauren approached me and asked if I would like to do the Chorley 4.4 Trail race. It was mentioned as an „enjoyable, undulating course‟. I did not know what a trail race was nor did I understand what the word undulating‟ meant but I thought I would give it a go.
On race day itself I set off with my supporters in tow (husband and daughter) up the M61 heading to Astley Hall when we ran into a couple of problems. First of all, the road leading to the venue was closed due to a police incident and there was a diversion and we didn‟t have a clue where we were going. Then when we were looking at the directions my husband realised I had printed off the directions for the race organiser‟s house and not for the actual race. I don‟t think the organiser would have been best pleased to come home and find me running laps in the garden- although it would have been easier!!
By the time I arrived at Astley Hall my nerves had gotten the better of me and I was dreading the race, this got worse as I wasn‟t sure where the start line was and ended up following some people who were doing their warm up and not going to the start line.
Eventually I made it to the start line where there was a great turn out of runners from Swin-ton and I started to feel a bit better.
The gun went off and I got over excited as I raced up the first hill, spurred on by my support-ers cheering me on I went a little faster and at the first mile marker Lauren was still in sight. I knew then I had set off far too fast and this was soon confirmed as we were running through the woods and I felt like I had lead weights for legs. Adam and Sarah quickly over took me and they began to fade into the distance.
After the first lap I quickly learnt that trail running was mud, hills, narrow paths, hills, grass, oh yes and hills!!!!
On the second lap I felt like I was running on empty. Becky came flying past and I thought if I could just keep her within sight then I will be ok. On the final mile I gritted my teeth and pushed on through the woods, up the final hill towards the finish line. As I approached the finish line I wasn‟t quite sure when the end was and carried on running through the funnel. It was only when Becky said „you can stop running now‟ that I did.
Swinton did really well on the night with the men‟s team finishing 7th and the ladies team finishing 5th. After the race I felt amazing, even more so when we got a group photograph and it made me feel part of the team.
Emma
Full Results available here
After my third session Lauren approached me and asked if I would like to do the Chorley 4.4 Trail race. It was mentioned as an „enjoyable, undulating course‟. I did not know what a trail race was nor did I understand what the word undulating‟ meant but I thought I would give it a go.
On race day itself I set off with my supporters in tow (husband and daughter) up the M61 heading to Astley Hall when we ran into a couple of problems. First of all, the road leading to the venue was closed due to a police incident and there was a diversion and we didn‟t have a clue where we were going. Then when we were looking at the directions my husband realised I had printed off the directions for the race organiser‟s house and not for the actual race. I don‟t think the organiser would have been best pleased to come home and find me running laps in the garden- although it would have been easier!!
By the time I arrived at Astley Hall my nerves had gotten the better of me and I was dreading the race, this got worse as I wasn‟t sure where the start line was and ended up following some people who were doing their warm up and not going to the start line.
Eventually I made it to the start line where there was a great turn out of runners from Swin-ton and I started to feel a bit better.
The gun went off and I got over excited as I raced up the first hill, spurred on by my support-ers cheering me on I went a little faster and at the first mile marker Lauren was still in sight. I knew then I had set off far too fast and this was soon confirmed as we were running through the woods and I felt like I had lead weights for legs. Adam and Sarah quickly over took me and they began to fade into the distance.
After the first lap I quickly learnt that trail running was mud, hills, narrow paths, hills, grass, oh yes and hills!!!!
On the second lap I felt like I was running on empty. Becky came flying past and I thought if I could just keep her within sight then I will be ok. On the final mile I gritted my teeth and pushed on through the woods, up the final hill towards the finish line. As I approached the finish line I wasn‟t quite sure when the end was and carried on running through the funnel. It was only when Becky said „you can stop running now‟ that I did.
Swinton did really well on the night with the men‟s team finishing 7th and the ladies team finishing 5th. After the race I felt amazing, even more so when we got a group photograph and it made me feel part of the team.
Emma
Full Results available here
