On 11th January 2025, ESM’s athletes braved the unusually sunny weather at the Stanborough Park Cross Country race in Welwyn Garden City. Now, we all know that cross-country races in January typically involve soggy, muddy tracks, with runners ending the race looking like they’ve had an encounter with a swamp. But not this time. In fact, the bright blue skies and dry weather felt more suited to a summer 10K than a typical cross-country event.
The race attracted a solid cohort of 38 athletes, from a range of ages, all eager to put their months of hard training to the test. ESM’ers really showed what they’re made of, with impressive performances from everyone involved. There were points to be earned, and ESM was well-represented across the board.
One particularly heartening highlight was Cameron Thomas’ comeback to the cross-country scene after five years of absence. For someone who had only recently started to ease back into running, Cameron’s performance was nothing short of impressive. After a long hiatus, there’s always a bit of uncertainty when returning to competitive racing, but Cameron proved that dedication and perseverance pay off. She completed the course in 37:34 and added a much-needed boost to the team’s overall standing – a remarkable performance given her time away.
Speaking of impressive, let’s not forget the steady and reliable Sarah Harris, who later quipped, “We weren’t there to pose, we were there to run.” Her words perfectly summed up the spirit of the day. While the men’s team managed to squeeze in a team photo (we’re guessing they were either a bit more organised or a tad more patient when it came to posing), the women were clearly more focused on their performance. We can only assume that, in their minds, running was far more important than striking a pose for the camera! The result?
But back to the real story here – the racing. ESM’s men, women, and juniors ran brilliantly, each member giving their all, pushing through the challenge of the course, and, most importantly, racking up points for the club. It’s no surprise that all the hard training in the months leading up to the event paid off. With strong showings across the board, the ESM team left Stanborough Park with their heads held high.
It was a fantastic day of racing and camaraderie, and as always, ESM’ers demonstrated the true meaning of club spirit. The event was not just about personal achievements, but also about supporting each other and contributing to the club’s success. While the sun may have been shining brightly above, it was the hard work and determination of the athletes that really lit up the course.
Here’s to more of these ‘unexpectedly sunny’ cross-country days and even more fantastic performances from the ESM family!
