A rather watery cross country race

Finishers commemorative
horse brass 

The Hardwick X-Stream is a great cross country race that takes place in Buckinghamshire. It lives up to its name as there are several stream/water crossings during the run. None of which can be avoided and require at least immersion up to the waist.
Heading off with a small contingent of runners from my local running club, we descended on the small village of Hardwick prepared for all they could throw at us. This was the second year I have run this race, last year the water was so high that one crossing and small section of the run had been removed. So when we came to this first water crossing I was not prepared for the cold and feeling of shock that it rapidly produced. A quick run around the field and then back across the same stream. The second time actually felt worse than the first, only a few minutes earlier.

One of the more straight-forward water crossings

The unravelling shoe laces struck again and I lost valuable time doing them up. It took some time to catch up with a fellow club runner, and soon I was ahead and making good ground. Never a real contender for the team, but a pleasant way to spend a Sunday morning.
It is a tough race, with numerous water crossings that take it out of you, but satisfying. Probably more type II fun than type I, but never something I regretted signing up for.