Borders XC - Lauder

 I haven't been able to get Peter interested in marathons or half-marathons of late, so when he expressed an interest in doing the Borders XC series this winter, I was surprised. The only thing I gave much thought to was the logistics of getting there. We still had the Berlingo at that stage but I increasingly didn't want to push it out its comfort zone. At the last MOT it had passed, but the mechanic said that he was worried about how much rust there was underneath. He was worried that if I was to hit something, like a pot-hole, then something could break. 

I took this to heart. I was worried too! So I didn't mind bimbling along the coast at 50mph or so, but I didn't want to go on longer, wintry journeys, particularly with other people on board. As a back up plan I joined Edinburgh Car Club, so I can get a car if I need one - but the process of getting a car seems far from straightforward. I did read the instructions, but I didn't retain them all.. I think it was this. You have to find the wizard hiding behind the tree and get him to tell you the secret code for the safe which contains the car-key. When you get the car-key, you have to turn around 20 times in the street singing a high F#. Then you have to climb in the car, but don't look in the mirror, or you have to start all over again. So I'll do that if necessary, but in the meantime Steve Crane had signed up too, and he has recently got a car again! And he's a very good driver. And he lives really near us. So we asked Steve for a lift.

And so it was on a very dull Sunday morning in early November, we set out with Steve for Lauder.

Driving over Soutra, I felt more like I was in a Scandi Noir than I was on my way to a light-hearted day of cross-country. I hadn't worn my XC shoes since 2019. Peter and Steve had both done some XC more recently, but none of us are in the best shape of our lives. Just how bad was it going to be???

We got there in plenty of time before all the parking spaces filled up. We parked a bit away from the start and walked there. It was a very still day, and quite warm for November, and very grey.

When we got there we started to see people we knew - which was cheering, although it's hard to ignore how old we're all getting. Willie J had signed up but wasn't running as he's injured. I was genuinely concerned that I wasn't going to be able to run in my XC shoes. I had intended to take them out running up Arthurs Seat at some point to see if they were still alright, but never got round to it.

When I put them on and first started jogging, the angle at my ankle felt ridiculous. I'm used to big comfy shoes. Thankfully the body is remarkably adaptable and pretty soon they felt okay. 

Peter and Steve and I went a walk-jog up the hill to see what we could see of the course. It had been changed since any of us had last done it. I couldn't remember any of the course except a horrific stretch near the end on stony ground that seemed like a recipe for broken ankles. We went up this the other way and it was worse than I remembered because the fist sized stones were hidden amongst fallen leaves and there was no way to see what was under your feet. I promised myself that I'd walk over this bit if need be.

Further up the hill, it was much nicer underfoot, but it was decidedly hilly. I didn't mind this but Steve was not keen. We ran up what was to be the last downhill, and I'm glad we did because it was very nice to know in the latter stages of the actual race that we were very nearly finished.

there were a huge turnout of HBTs

Enough preamble. Soon enough it was time for the race start. Steve and I were tucked at the back and the start took a few folk by surprise. Peter had warned that it would be good to get out quickish as after the run around the field there would be a bottle-neck going down a tarmac path and overtaking would be difficult. He was right but I didn't want to overcook it too soon and did get held back at the start. I got wedged in amongst a group of HBT women - all chatting. There wasn't any easy way round so I bided my time until we went up onto the hill - then there was a lot more scope for moving through. The details blur about what was there but I think it was a game of two hills. At the top of the first hill it stayed high and ran over undulating moorland on a good path. I was working too hard to truly enjoy it, but I was as near as you can come in a race. I was wearing Salomon Speedcross (so were Peter and Steve too, by sheer coincidence) and the grip was superb. On a muddy downhill where I wouldn't expect to do well I found myself overtaking others in less aggressive footwear.

There was a wide and deep river crossing and then quite a sharp uphill immediately afterwards. This was the only place I walked. My lungs were bursting so I thought I'd try walking for 50 and running for 50 to get my heart rate down. After walking for 50 the terrain was levelling out and much as I wanted to I didn't feel I could justify any more walking, so I just kept on slogging on. 

There was a nasty last climb - a sting in the tail - but because we had reccied the end section I knew it was genuinely all downhill after that and I was able to keep going.

I was still keeping in mind the path of hidden stones, but when I got there, so many people had already run over it that it was much easier to see where the stones were and although I had to slow down it wasn't as catastrophic as I'd thought it might be. Then there was a final run of the field to the finish - a lung-busting final effort and over the finish line. Hurray. Still alive!

We met up with some other Porties we'd never met before and had our picture taken.

Not a huge turn out for the club - but there were a lot of races on that day.

So that was that! I think the headline for this is "some oldies survive the cross-country!". Well I haven't seen Steve since, but hopefully he's okay!