Around 90 keen runners took part in this year’s champs…encouraged, no doubt, by the great weather!

Report by Charlotte Bell

On a day that could not have been any more perfect for a Cross Country race, runners came from far and wide to line up and take part in the annual Hawks Cross Country Champs at Minogue Park. I even spotted a Pakuranga singlet, great to see people coming from Auckland to join our fantastic race. 

The first race up was the 1km and 2km kids races, these both had a large number of entrants compared to other years and some very speedy times. Lots of really fast up and comers to keep an eye on in the coming years. 

Then it was time for the rest of us to go. It was a large starting field with all the distances ranging from 3km to 9km. I was more experienced this year, so came with longer spikes, turns out I didn’t really need them as it wasn’t as muddy as past years. Tension was high in the air, while we waited for the whistle. I felt nervous as I knew some fast people were in my age group and that I would be racing them. 

The start was a bit like a circus as everyone was jostling for position, but it quickly spread out. As it spread out, I found my rhythm and settled in knowing the hills were coming. I was pleasantly surprised to find myself in front of Dad and made it my goal to keep it that way. 

Before I knew it, the hills were upon me and there was nothing else to do but grind up them. As I was cruising down to the big turn around tree, I remembered that I would have to climb back up  the way I had just come from. At least it’s a great chance to get a gauge to see where your competition is. If that wasn’t bad enough, I knew we still had the biggest hill to come. As I approached it I heard my dad say “Grind it up the hill, and let it go on the downhill”. Great advice for us all, if only it was that simple. 

Before I knew it, the hills were done and there’s nothing left but to whizz past the dog park and head around the corner to the finish. I don’t yet know how my time compares to last year, but I was pretty happy with my run, I was also happy that I only had to do 1 lap.

Congratulations to all the age group winners and to everyone else who emptied the tank. Thank you to the organisers who made this day possible. 

Charlotte Bell