XC, Xmas, Entries, Etc.

Too much happening all at once this last week or so... Going to try and be brief.

Was suffering a persistent sore back at the start of the year there. Enough 'Carry On' style jokes about a 'little stiffness in the mornings,' thank you very much! It was all getting too much and I had to succumb to treatment at the hands of Brian Shanks, The Wizard of Church St., in Berwick. A couple of sessions there, along with renewed focus on stretching has eased up things a great deal fortunately, but running took a distinct downturn in the meantime and I've only done three training runs so far this year.

Consequent lacklustre performance in the recent XC's of the past two Sundays at Berwick and Gala respectively hasn't therefore been exactly a surprise to me. I've always found the Spittal out and back course quite testing despite it being relatively straightforward, but I do confess to being disappointed with my showing at Gala today on the revamped 'Old Skool' course which buried me completely on the out-of-the-park open country section. I'm sure we've all felt the frustration of how quickly good form can fall away if you can't keep up with training for one reason or another. And how long it takes to get the fitness back! Certain diehards on the circuit are always an inspiration though, with the ability to dust-off and get the bit between the teeth again, and being amongst a mix of familiar and fresh faces all giving it a go is part of the fun of this series. Good luck for all as we approach the last leg for this year.

Motivation to get going is high mind you. A spate of events open up the doors to entrants at this time of year and the wallet has taken a kicking, even if the pavements haven't- yet. I've put my paw-print against a much similar list of To-Do races as last year. So, look out Borders Tri Series, Castles Challenge Triathlon, Chevy Chase, Coastal Run and (gulp) Helvellyn Tri. amongst others. Some eyebrows have been raised. Some hushed tones adopted. Slogging up some of the hills at Gala today there was a perverse imp on the treadmill-in-my-head giggling at me, "Helvellyn! Who you kidding!" I shall endeavour to throttle it in the coming months.

And what of Christmas? So last year! Or even, 'So last night,' for that was when Wooler RC took their festivities down to the Ryecroft and gave them an airing. Bellydancing meets Rolf Harris meets A Stand-Up meets Abba meets A Folk Singer with a Smelly...Cat meets Al Jolson. I'm sure pictures may appear elswewhere, so I'm saying nae more about it other than.....All in the best possible taste!  Drinking too much would've been an easy excuse today but a liberal dose of surreal was somehow sufficient for me. G'day mates!