Following selection to represent Bedfordshire at the British Athletics Inter Counties Cross Country Championships, Biggleswade AC's Nicky Upperton writes about her experience competing at this prestigious event.
On the 11th March, I had the honour of participating in the Inter Counties Cross Country Championships for the first time representing Bedfordshire in the Senior women’s category. The race took place at Prestwold Hall in Loughborough and not until I was handed my parking pass did I realise that it also incorporated the World Trials and British Cross Finals so I knew there was going to be a very high standard of runners present! It was an 8km long race with a challenging course full of hills and mud. Despite the previous day's snow, the weather cooperated, and we had a nice dry and mild day, excellent conditions for a cross country race. I represented Bedfordshire in the women's category, although being the only member of the team present, I soon got chatting with other runners from the neighbouring pens on the start line and felt ready to take on the challenge. The race started at 11:45, and it was a very fast start as everyone sprinted down the first hill. There were plenty of hills and claggy yet slippery mud, but I’d had plenty of practise at this kind of course by participating in the Three Counties Race series with Biggleswade AC over winter which had set me up well. I pushed myself forward, trying not to let the mud impede my progress, maintain a consistent pace and stay on my feet! As the race progressed, I saw cameras that had been set up to live stream the race and a loudspeaker announcing the progress of the leaders and chasing packs of runners. The course was made up of 2 main laps and the final ¾ of a mile round a field, aptly named as ‘horrible loop of the field….’ on Strava. At this point I could see much faster runners beginning their final push up the hill towards the finish and as we passed going in opposite directions, they looked like they were flying over the mud. I could only hope I looked as strong! Finally, I started the last push up the hill toward the finish line managing to overtake someone with 200m to go. I had come 230th out of 263 women and felt very proud to have crossed the finish line and been invited to race. Overall, it was a fantastic experience and an excellent opportunity to see and meet other talented female runners from different counties and across the UK. If selected again next year I would definitely jump at the chance to have another go, and hopefully with a full women’s team to represent Bedfordshire.