While other races had to be cancelled due to the weather conditions brought about by Storm Bert last weekend - such as the Three Counties Cross Country which many Biggleswade AC members were hoping to compete in - the Bass Belle 10 miler was one of a few races to still go ahead. Organised in aid of the Brainstrust, this race starts and finishes in Bassingbourn via the village of Litlington and combines a mix of road and off-road terrain. The course provides a great opportunity to score a PB (outside of stormy conditions!) due to it being pancake flat and with limited entry places, runners can make for a quick start off the line. Biggleswade AC member, Stuart Goodwin was one runner to brave the wind and take part, below is his race account:
Suffice to say...windy. Very, very, very windy. I'm way down on my PB form but had an outline target pace to get me round in 1hr30, although was wary of Storm Bert biting my a**e and having no choice but to run to the conditions. And so it proved. Despite a decidedly XC-ish 1.5 mile off-road section where my choice of trail shoes was completely vindicated, I was 40sec on top of my pace until 3 miles out, when a long stretch into the wind proved a huge slog. And then in mile 8, the one pesky hill of the race, where Bert was rolling down at full force (apparently 51mph+), and picking people off at will. I fought back towards the end but missed 90 mins by 13 secs. All good fun and a well marshalled event with some lovely scenery - would love another go without a major storm if there's no clash next year!