Sunday 20th February saw the 3rd and final race in the Ryde Harriers Cross Country series, the Arthur Biggs Handicap race, take place at Smallbrook Stadium, and following the disruption of storm Eunice on the Friday and her sidekick Franklin on Saturday, only one Road Runner boldly went where no other Road Runner dared.
Having competed in the previous two races and the only club member to be completing the full series, Sean Williams braved the blustery and “even muddier” than last time conditions and returned to the course for a third and final time, repeating the previous weeks circuit around from Smallbrook Stadium out toward Nunwell and back.
The aim of this series of races is to run your socks off to achieve your fastest times over the first two events and then a final push to improve once more for the finalé.
Competitors start at intervals based upon their finishing time in the previous races, so having been one of the race leaders on previous weeks it can be a bizarre feeling being at the back of the pack for this final race feeling like you’re having to play catch up.
Sean was the second to last competitor to be allowed to start the race and found himself in a good old game of cat and mouse being chased down by the last to start who had a one minute time handicap on him.
“It was quite a lonely run for the first four miles” said Sean but our mud loving star managed to close quite a few people down in the last two miles. Sean started in 15th position and through sheer grit and determination managed to catch up with the 14th runner without being caught by the one man behind him, who only managed to close 12 seconds on our guy!
Finishing with the second fastest time on the course that day and taking the crown for being our XC Champion of 2022, Sean crossed the line with a fantastic time of 47:56.
Awesome running Sean!
Sorry I don’t have any photos this week so here’s a picture of some muddy trainers and a virtual medal. 😁 (PS. there is now a photo!)
