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The Mid (MUD) Lancs Cross Country saturday, 20th January 2007 From a Marshal’s perpespective |
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Well
here is my report as mentioned by Brian and
written in the recent style of Brian i.e.
‘I
didn’t do it but I observed’.
My first introduction to this race came with the email
from Dave asking for marshals. Peter said it would be fun so agreed –
first mistake! As you many of you know I have been having a ‘bit
of bovver’ with my computer and “No Boss,” that is not a spelling
mistake I’m just feeling a bit silly at the moment! As Saturday drew nearer my
sleep pattern had totally gone to the wind and when I awoke that morning I was
in no mood for going to
Slowly
I rose, showered, dressed and breakfasted then started to put all the bits and
pieces I thought I would need into a rucksack – wellies were going to be a
‘must’ after Peter had told me how
muddy the fields were on Thursday’s
Wrinkly Run. It was a very quiet trip over to
On
arrival Peter dropped me off near
the club house while he went to park the car. Dave and Keith came up
and Dave thanked me for coming. That
did make me feel better. In the club house we met up with Pete, Maria, Chris Moss and his son. A welcome cup of coffee was provided.
Eventually
the ‘lady in charge of marshals’, (sorry I didn’t get your name), arrived with
our tabards, itinerary and route maps. Rucksack, cagoule, and bag of wellies in
hand I set off after her. I felt like
I was on an expedition. Quite soon it
became evident that my trainers were not the appropriate footwear and Peter asked the lady to hold on whilst
we changed into our wellies. That was a task and a half; being of senior years
my bendability and balance is rather restricted and it was quite a juggling act
getting my trainers off and my wellies on in the middle of a muddy field!!!
With the help of Peter I finally
managed it and off we set again.
Pete and Maria were given
stations quite nearby but onwards and upwards we trudged, across the mud and
water filled field!! Dave was the
next to be position and I was beginning to think I was going to do the whole
course before I got to my station! Chris
and his young son were next and then, glory be, she finally found a spot
for me! I was on the edge of a wooded area at the top of the field and it was
where the runners would have to turn off the field and go up into this rather
boggy, water filled trench!! Peter said
this was one of the worse parts of a cross country course he had ever seen!
We
had set off from the club house at 12.15 and it would be 1.50pm before the
runners would use our part of the course. 
Peter was allotted his station, at the top of a muddy hill,
but came back to join me for the wait. What had I done? The wind grew wilder
and stronger, then the rain came and, just to top it all, it hailstoned!!! This
was all before I had anything to do!! Another layer went on, my cagoule, then
my hat and my hood. I was getting colder and colder by the minute. Passersby
looked at me as if I was mad – they were right! Some of them even asked me who
were the ‘maddest’, the runners or the marshals?
Eventually
the runners came my way and my task of directing them into the wooded area
commenced. At first, the entrance was quite reasonable but, as more and more
runners came through it developed into a quagmire. The ladies were the first to
come through, (twice), and I cheered our ladies through although I doubt if
they even knew who I was. As Brian
said in his report, at this point, all you could see of me were my eyes, nose
and mouth! I was extremely proud of the turnout of our ladies and even more so
when they passed me with grim determination on their faces.
Then
came the lads. Now, I’ll try not to sound too sexist but, whereas the ladies
just ploughed through the mud, the men tried every which way they could to
avoid it! A lovely gentleman in biking gear help me stop them taking the short
cuts and
eventually moved a flag or two to stop them going
past me and across the grass instead of up into the wood. I would have thought
I wasn’t that small! I thought I was large enough to block them but, hey, if
you are determined enough, even I couldn’t have stopped them. By this time too
my wellies were getting quite implanted into the muddy ground and the mud tried
to suck them off my feet each time I moved! I was getting colder and colder and
the weather was getting worse and worse. Surprisingly enough, the sight of our
runners did rather make all this ‘kind of’ worth it though. Auntie Bren in her wellies and layers,
cheering them on must have put the fear of God into them.
There
were two very pleasant spells during my vigil when Keith (Gresty) and Brian
(Wilkinson), came to chat. I had to shout to Brian as he too had not recognized me though he did say he thought
he recognized the raucous voice – cheek!
Brian came past for the first time and I shouted, “Is
this what you meant by ‘mud’ Brian?” He lifted a hand slightly and
ploughed on. At this point he hadn’t recognized me. On his second lap I
shouted, “C’mon Brian, get stuck in!” (Not the wisest thing to have said
in those conditions, but it got a response.
It was also very rewarding to receive a “Thank You” from Alex as I cheered him through. A real
gentleman if ever there was one. Also a Lytham
runner thanked me for being there. As the afternoon drew on, and the last
runner was in sight, I really couldn’t feel my toes! Bless him, whoever he was,
when he got to me he also thanked me for hanging on for him. It is for people
like these, when all the odds are against them, yet they still soldier on, that
I have the greatest respect and admiration for. True Grit!
I
slowly gathered my flags and headed back up to meet Peter. At first, my legs just wouldn’t work then, slowly and
surely, the circulation started and I crawled up the hill to the car park.
There was Peter beckoning me to
hurry – was he totally mad??? Dave
had suggested we all meet up at The
Plough at Galgate and, boy was I
ready for some liquid fire!!! When we arrived we met up with Martin and the others, who were already
enjoying their drinks. I don’t think Martin
knew I had been on the course either. Peter
agreed to treat me to lunch – this was at 4pm mind you! I did enjoy it though
and the warmth of the open coal fire just did the trick.
All in all, looking back, you have to laugh. Well at
least I tried. I must have looked a right sight as Dave’s photo above shows. How runners and marshals do this week in,
week out, I do not know. I have the greatest admiration for you all, I really
do and, as your Webmistress, was
extremely proud of each and every one of you. I really think you have to be
there to appreciate what these runners have to put up with and this day I
really did. Mind you, I shall certainly be more selective the next time Peter says, “C’mon, you’ll enjoy it.” Yes John, it will be running related!!!!!
I
have tried to get these reports and photos on the site before my computer goes
back to ‘hospital’ again and hope you enjoy the read.
Written by: Brenda J Earnshaw
Submitted: 21st January 2007
Photographs by courtesy of Peter and
Dave.