Oceania Masters Athletics Championships 2018 8000m Cross Country 2nd Overall, M55 1st
Cloudy and humid for the cross country this morning. A technical four x 2km cross country circuit with small hills, switchbacks and a couple of straight sections. The downhills proved to be dangerous with mud at the bottom of one hill. The final 200m of each lap (and the finale) was un-raceable with narrow track, blind 90 degree turns around buildings, mud, puddles and a park bench at knee height.
The female race was entralling (we got to watch it unfold on our third lap, starting five minutes after the men). A few lead changes and very close gaps in the finish. Louisa Abram W55 won from W35 Bridget and W50 Maggie. Kathy and Ann were 2nd in their age categories.
The men's race split off into a leading two (Stafford M35 5000m 16:07, myself M55 5000m 16:29 solo) and a chasing two (Dwight M40 5000m 16:25, Michael M50 5000m 16:52).
On the 3rd and 4th lap Dwight drew clear of Michael and came in 3rd. I had a crack at dislodging Stafford on lap 1, the first large hill, then shared some of the pace so we could draw clear of the others. He took a sliding tumble at the bottom of the muddy hill just after we lapped the leading women (almost taking me out). He bounced back up again and I let him back into the lead. I took it cautiously on the final lap staying 15 metres back just in case he lost his feet in the mud again. We finished 55 seconds ahead of Dwight 3rd and 80 seconds in front of Michael, Stafford crossing the line 1st.
That's it for me in these championships. I'll spend a day or two recovering before sessions again. The last two days volume has been high again, 20km all up today. It should be back up to 120km for this week.
My direct preparation for the Australian Masters Athletics Championships begins in a few days. It will include some key sessions and club championships at 10000m, 5000m, 1500m and 800m. More on that later.
The female race was entralling (we got to watch it unfold on our third lap, starting five minutes after the men). A few lead changes and very close gaps in the finish. Louisa Abram W55 won from W35 Bridget and W50 Maggie. Kathy and Ann were 2nd in their age categories.
The men's race split off into a leading two (Stafford M35 5000m 16:07, myself M55 5000m 16:29 solo) and a chasing two (Dwight M40 5000m 16:25, Michael M50 5000m 16:52).
On the 3rd and 4th lap Dwight drew clear of Michael and came in 3rd. I had a crack at dislodging Stafford on lap 1, the first large hill, then shared some of the pace so we could draw clear of the others. He took a sliding tumble at the bottom of the muddy hill just after we lapped the leading women (almost taking me out). He bounced back up again and I let him back into the lead. I took it cautiously on the final lap staying 15 metres back just in case he lost his feet in the mud again. We finished 55 seconds ahead of Dwight 3rd and 80 seconds in front of Michael, Stafford crossing the line 1st.
That's it for me in these championships. I'll spend a day or two recovering before sessions again. The last two days volume has been high again, 20km all up today. It should be back up to 120km for this week.
My direct preparation for the Australian Masters Athletics Championships begins in a few days. It will include some key sessions and club championships at 10000m, 5000m, 1500m and 800m. More on that later.
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