Emma S and Rosie W took to the mud and slop of the fields and woodlands of Crossgates (Leeds) in the opening round of this year's series of Yorkshire based PECO cross country races. The PECO series has become incredibly popular in recent years and attracts some very high quality runners. It's not unusual to find famous members of the GBR elite triathlon squad turning up to blow the winter cobwebs off. Though not troubling such exalted company, Emma and Rose both reported having a ton of fun and waxed lyrically and hysterically for a very long time indeed about exploits at one particular water jump. Both achieved commendable top-third-of-their-age-category finishing positions.
In parkrun news, Mick W, Claire Whitwell, Emma S and Rosie Wigg have been out there at various venues including Pontefract, Nostell Priory, and the fearsomely tough Temple Newsam (well done Claire). For anyone brave enough, the Temple Newsam parkrun is basically (or at least feels like) 4K uphill and 1K down; it's tough! A number of age group wins and top 10 overall results have been recorded by GV; well done to all for getting out there and for obligingly looming atmospherically in imposing bright orange out of the mists.
Sunday (7th December) saw Rose and Emma out yet again at the truly inspirational venue of Sherwood Forest to compete in the Edwinstowe 10K trail race. This event is always superbly organised and takes on the pathways and trails of the old-as-the-ice-age forest, including a reverential pass of the medieval Major Oak itself. Both did really well with Rose finishing 15/119 and Emma 19/119 in the female vet category.
