XC then CX - Kirkcaldy & Irvine.

 

The week fairly flies these days. The Scottish Short Course Cross Country Championships at Kirkcaldy last Saturday seems like a distant memory.  Three of us arrived just as the rain departed and assisted with the tent before having a jog around the short 4k course. Speedy Joe was on first in the womens race and struggled in the 2nd lap to finish around 35th, no doubt feeling the Alpine training in her legs. There was a surfeit of University Student runners in the race and the short course although heavy going was nonetheless little more than a sprint. The men's and vets race was not significant other than withdrawal of Anton after the first lap. I chased two Bella team mates and overhauled both before being caught in the last 500m by one. I knocked around a minute off last years time, but still ended up around 300th out of 500 or so. Maybe it was a bigger field or a faster day. I enjoyed the race though and gave it full beans. 

We took off shortly afterwards to Irvine and got there around 5.30 to the guest house by the harbour. It was fifty quid for the night, the bedroom was tottie, but it was clean and nicely laid out and even came with a caramel wafer. We repaired to the nearby Niche eatery and sat outside in the terrace. We then went to the Carrick Hotel past the Riverside for a pint and via Vanilla Joes for an ice cream cone. 

I was up and out the next morning for 4 miles, running along the coast toward Troon. After a Greggs sannie and tea, breakfast of would-be champions, I took the car the 300 yards to the car park for the Irvine Cyclo Cross. Boasting a record entry of 100 M50's/M60's, I rode a lap of the coarse and took my place at the start. The sun was out but low and it was a cool breeze blowing across the dunes. I am glad to report that all the new kit held together well and I finished an awesome 63rd out of about 80 or so starters. Came down once trying to be smart. It was a quality 40 minutes. Speedy and Anton provided some great support and took some cool snaps. I am looking forward to Dundee this Sunday and the Scottish CX champs. The course there looks pretty heavy, so the bike won't be coming back quite as clean as it was after Irvine.