Be afraid.....Parly Hill time!!!

So then.......who else is taking on the 15k of pain on saturday??...the Southern cross country champs - Parliament Hill.

Forecast until Thurs looks ok, so it might be drier than normal - just plain muddy then 

Hurrah! At least one other nutter having a go...

Well no rain forecast this week - so we might get away with a dry-ish course for a change!

I'm 50/50 at the moment. Have had a niggly knee and not run any quality sessions for nearly 3 weeks, although it was OK(ish) after a 20 mile run on Saturday.  I think it was running through heavy snow (in XC spikes!) that did it in the first place so a 15k mudfest might not be the best idea.

Moraghan - I've only done this once, 2 years ago.  I believe the muddy conditions are almost guaranteed (wear your long spikes) and for me the hardest thing was trying to go for a run the next day.  Ankles felt like lead after all the effort of dragging feet out of the ground with every step.  But yes, it's great fun, honest!

Any truth to the rumour that the distance has been reduced this year to 800m and that they are only using the downhill sections?

I'll put the 15mm spikes in Phil.  Hope the knee clears up either way.

My one claim to running fame, coming 530th out of 531 in a youth's National XC over this venue.

Now  I am a stone or two overweight, struggling to run 8:00 miles on the road,.

Why have I agreed to run this...................................?

Hope you all give me a big shout on Saturday, light blue vest, glasses, beer belly and probably in last place.

Popped over to the track to do some poor 200's after work. It was dark but the grass looked average, so I think it will be still quite muddy.

The Marquees are already up...gave me a shudder...15's the order of the day as usual. Hope you make it Phil!!

So then anyone have a go? I was 170th in the end - quite pleased with the last lap, managed to get past a few.

Averagely muddy - not too silly.

Even managed an hour this morning too...just.

Never again. 

I was among the many still trying to get through the tent to the start line when the runners were let off and it only got worse from that point onwards.

Never again - I've said that before

Not sure what all the fuss was about. Everyone bigs up this race as being tough so I was a bit concerned.

I actual enjoyed it, apart from when I turned my ankle over when I put my foot in a puddle only to find it was an ankle deep hole. Not sure where I came but I was by no means last.

Our team was the first through the tent as we arrived 10 mins before the off. I think the idea was that once through we could not back out.

Yep - I know what you mean, but I would still call it a race. Sometimes it is so muddy it is like a slog when you can't even run - then it becomes silly!

Hillingdon last year was silly!!