Goody Two Shoes

Round 3 of the cross country at Stafford Common turned out to be a very different challenge than the first two events at Winsford and Park Hall - so much more of a mental challenge than the physical one I was expecting.

On another day, in much less muddy conditions, I think it would actually have been quite a good course to attempt - there were hills but they weren't extreme, with plenty of downhill sections to balance them out. But very heavy overnight rain turned certain parts of Stafford Common into a bog, there was mud everywhere and it was sticky mud at that. We arrived in time to see some of the junior races and saw several finishers struggle over the line missing one or even both of their shoes... it really was that muddy.

Our race was slightly delayed  - time to tie and re-tie my shoes at least 3 times to get them fastened as tightly as possible. We were underway not long after 1.30pm and the first sticky mud was not much more than 100 yards from the start line. My shoes were instantly coated in mud and my feet soaking wet before half a mile completed. This wasn't like the run at Park Hall - where I really enjoyed negotiating the different conditions and the physical challenge. This was physically hard and mentally challenging - working out where to put your feet so you wouldn't be up to your knees in mud, trying to find a route down slippy banks without falling,  getting your feet to lift out of the mud without leaving your shoes behind. I didn't like it... at all. I don't know what it was like up at the front of the race, but I saw several runners getting stuck. In some places, walking was my only option.  My body ached and my mind hurt too. Some encouragement from Mr T helped at the end of the first lap.



Whistler Mountain Flashback -
How Do I Get Down From Here?

The hardest point for me though came as I reached the top of the muddiest, steepest section for the second time - it wasn't really that much of a drop and I'd just about negotiated it the first time round. But as I reached the top for the second time, already tired, it felt like I was standing at the top of a mountain and I couldn't see a way down - a flash-back to a mountain side in Whistler when I'd experienced a similar moment of panic and had to be skied down off the mountain by my ski instructor. Then, I knew I couldn't get down on my own. Now, standing at the top of that muddy bank for what felt like five minutes, I had that feeling again. Could I actually get down and finish the race?

My mud-covered "two shoes"

In reality, I was probably immobile for just a couple of seconds.  I closed my eyes, gave myself an order to just run, opened my eyes and launched myself down the bank... I made it down in one piece, although my legs felt like jelly as I stumbled on. Just up ahead I could see my Potters Trotters team mate Bobbie - I kept my eyes on her pink club vest and put one foot in front of the other, repeating "two shoes" to myself over and over... a little mantra to keep me going. All I had to do was to keep "two shoes" on my feet and get to the end. It didn't matter if I had to walk (or crawl) through the last muddy section, I'd get round with "two shoes" on my feet.


Smiling at the end -
with Bobbie, Meg and Beth

The last section passed in a blur... but soon I was at the finish in 97th place and this time it was Bobbie cheering me over the line... which was much appreciated as I really was running on empty. Mr T, Beth and Meg were also there to offer much needed support. It took me a while to catch my breath and get my heart rate down... the emotional as well as physical effort had taken its toll in the race. But a cup of hot sweet tea and a donut - thanks Mr T - really helped with blood sugar levels! Soon, I could smile again - just!

 Once home, it was time to get clean... this was quite a long and drawn out process... there was a lot of mud! I think my shoes have survived but I'm not sure about my socks!
 

After - my "clean" socks

Before - my "muddy" socks





Coming up to the finish -
my facial expression says it all!

Since I've been running, I've set myself lots of different goals. Sometimes it's about running a faster time, or finishing ahead of a rival. But this was just about finishing with two shoes still on my feet. And I did that. Goody two shoes.

Happy Running,

LizT