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TVXC Thread
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Now that is a low turn out, but obviously the runners you brought did a decent job! We generally get a full 6 and 3, but usually not many more over. 16 was big for us!
We ae though under no illusions we come up the rankings due to other clubs often not being able to fill full teams!
ps did you say you;d be nearer to knowing about your Reading place this week?
Sprint - please feel free to repost the pictures.
It was interesting watching the different techniques at the ditch. In general the faster runners jump across, and as you go down the field there are less jumpers and more people who simply stride through. Once you hit midfield you start to get those who stop and tiptoe down the bank into the ditch, whilst towards the back you start to get those who sit and slide down the bank into the water, or who go in backwards hanging on to any vegetation they can find. A small number simply plough through without pause, but some of those towards the back must have taken a good 30 seconds to get across. The slowest however was a guy who stopped and watched about 10 ladies go through before copying the method used by two girls who had avoided the water quite comfortably. Those two girls gained a huge distance on those around them by not stopping (momentum helps), but he must have been stopped for the best part of 2 minutes before even attempting to get across. Only two people took a bath in the ditch, and one of those was a Dasher.
It does seem that the key really is not to stop and lose momentum. If you stop then the doubts start to set in that you can do it without a soaking, and you're almost certainly going to get wetter than if you just go straight through.
At the head of the race there are less people (I assume - I've never seen it), which gives the spacing to maintain the momentum and jump? Similar story towards the tail end, if the runners want to jump.
In the middle of the pack I had to slow down and wait for those in front of me to cross, and it was bunching up. We queued for this crossing. I jumped the first 2, and ran through this one.
Whoops..i came 8th and kind of waded through
. Every other year I've jumped. The result, absolutely freezing feet for the last mile which didn't help anything.
Did someone really wait 2mins watching different techniques! For that time he could have gone round a long way and not had to face the crossing!
Cheers BOTF.
Tried to leap and get a footing on the far side, dipped in a foot on each I think, had it been less congested I could have almost taken it in the stride
Went straight through a tree on the hill after that to make up some places
Every other year I've found a massive step up in gear after the last water stop over those inclining fields, but this year I didn't really have a big finish.
Must have been taking it easier on the first half other years
Good work on the tree Sprint. After Reading, my legs were more scratches than skin!
There's the odd short single file stretch on other courses, but Tadley is pretty unique with the 3 back to back water stops.
Once you get to the end of the inclining fields, where you pass people going the other way, you know you're as good as home. Must be tough work if you're still going the other way though, knowing you have the hard crossings and tough mile to come.
Quick interruption:
BOTF - can you log your miles please for the RW US v UK (okay, West vs East) competition? Your country needs you.
As you were...
Not been reading my other posts I take it then Sprint
Finch starts on a gentle incline for about half mile. Then you're treated to some bizarre white trail type fare. Then you have a very tricky triple steep hill combo over about 200metres
Once that's done it's a case of preparing yourself for a big finish down the last few hundred metres down the incline we started on!
Is it around where the Woodland 5 is?
not sure on that!
ps Chris if you're still around, did you say your Reading place was up for grabs in the end?
it's not at all like the Woodland 5. It's a good one but the start line 'amenities' are VERY basic!
Bascially, you think things are going along nicely on forest trails when the crazy dudes send you off trail at right angles up / down some pretty severe hills. Then there is the hill around 5 miles that brings many to a walk.
I don't remember sand (there is at the Woodland 5). Actually, I don't think I'll make it this year. Shame.
Stevie G - You have a message.
We ran the Finch XC route the other night. I can't give you any info as it was dark and all looked the same. However all the descriptions sound about right.
The power cables hum nicely in the rain.
I could be wrong about the sand - I just remember a series of little humps that you had to run across right on the edge of a slope that were quite sandy and sapping. Like I said though, a couple of years since I did it and it was in my pre-marathon days when I was a lot slower so I was probably in a lot of pain at the time.
BTW Finch is nowhere near where they hold the Woodland 5. The Woodland 5 is run south of Bracknell in the Broadmoor woods (right next to the prison), whilst the Finch race is south of Reading near Bramshill police college.
I also remember an ascent or 2 that is positively dangerous, very steep down indeed. I normally get overtaken on it because I value my safety whereas a couple near me always ZOOM down it
The triple hills are uniquely stressy as you get to see people ahead and behind you, so are very aware of how close people are to you!
Ah downhills, my passing zone
I've only done the Finch race once, and all I can remember is that when you see the pilon you are near the finish!
Warren Heaths my local spot, such a great place to run, plenty of fair to decent hills but nothing major..... The goings wet and I`m using speedcross2`s all the time...
Will be running there later today if anybody wants a peak at my Garmin info for hills etc..
btw, the biggest hill in there has a little stream crossing just befor the start...
Doubt they`d include that bit Steve, well here`s the lovely mellow 10k i`ve just completed ... http://connect.garmin.com/activity/63349786 .....
There was some water to jump over, but that may have been down to the torrential rain last Thursday.
Roland's run takes in about 50% of the course.
Nice to have a week off
13km yesterday and 20km today.. Had to do some distance work for Wokingham / Bracknell / Fleet!