Two weeks on from Clarke Gardens is race 2nd race in NW Cross league calendar at Beacon Park. This is proper XC, only around 4.5 miles but plenty of steep hills and mud. After my poor show at Clarkes I was looking forward to having a good crack at Beacon, even though xc is my worst discipline and Beacon the toughest in our league I still really enjoy it. I suppose it's the mystery of what awaits that intrigues me, before Sunday I'd ran here three times, I'd come 33rd twice and 27th - one year I was 6th counter for Penny Lane and that was without the likes of Martin Swensson or James McNally running so needless to say I've found it tough here!

You see, that's the great(?) thing about xc, this year could be different! I've added my HIIT hills efforts to a few steady runs and tried new tactics, going off hard/easy etc. Obviously Clarkes was a let down, especially because I felt so fresh at the end. Trouble is I didn't have a solid race plan but Sunday at Beacon I decided I was going blast it from the off and hang on. Captain Dale had suggested we hunt in packs but I know I'd loose too much ground on the hills with Neil K and the nature of country means it's hard to make up lost ground unless the runner in front really dies a death.

So, new spikes on my feet I thrashed it down the hill as soon as the claxon blasted. I got off to a flyer and even 5 mins in I was still right at the front and dare I say it, I thought they were going too slow! It was a narrow path and whoever was at the front was slowing it down. I lasted with the front group until the last and steepest hill on the 2 loop course, I was passed by a procession of runners including the PLS prez Neil Kelly.

I have to say I really enjoyed this race, I was with a group of about 6 guys and we changed places all the way around the 2nd lap until I really died a death on the steep hill again. They got away with about 800m to go I couldn't turn my legs over to keep up.

On the uphill finish I was caught by a Mersey Tri lad who let get on my should before a pulled out a sprint to drop him on the tough muddy uphill finish. I was 23rd, higher that I've ever finished at Beacon and the field was much stronger than usual. Hills aside I'm confident that I can keep improving this year on the xc, the training for Leeds is coming along great so fingers crossed I can get another pb there and help PLS team in the xc.