CROSS COUNTRY
“ Like Aarhus 2019 , this course will demand cross country nous as the athlete ’ s rhythm is broken over several challenging sections . Runners will need to be constantly thinking about their pace , and positioning in the pack . With the ever-present and iconic backdrop of Mount Panorama , spectators will have sweeping views of the runners as they navigate the Billabong , the Boomerang and the Vineyard . The tough uphill start is followed by some gentler undulating sections . Then comes the Billabong . Up and out of the Billabong , athletes will be sorted out as they move on to the run through to the vineyard and its stunning autumn foliage . From there a fast downhill 350m section before sweeping up to complete the loop . At the end of the final loop there is a fast downhill 180m to the finish line .
The long trip to Australia was made bearable with the company of teammates .
Team SA were afforded the opportunity to check out the route the day before the main races , but Cian and Kyla spoke to some of the runners who had just competed in the social run , and that made them opt out of walking the route . “ We decided to save the legs for the next day . We were told about the hills , the climbs , the Billabong – it wasn ’ t very muddy at that point , but was getting muddier by the minute – so we thought it best to rather not walk the route . The description we got from the runners was very informative .”
Race Day Curveballs
Cian is one of the most prepared athletes on the South African circuit in terms having her kit ready , being on time , doing her warm-up etc , but Bathurst delivered at bit of a surprise . “ The organisers were starting the races five minutes earlier than scheduled , as there was a storm approaching , so when I was starting my warm-up , I was told to go into the call room and sign in . When I tried to go out for my warm-up , they officials told me I couldn ’ t go out again .”
Stretching the legs with teammate Kyra Jacobs before the World Champs .
That may have thrown another athlete , making them nervous and anxious , but Cian took it in her stride . “ I didn ’ t do my strides or stretching , but it was hot , 35 degrees , so I figured I would be ok . I should have been nervous , especially as I was lining up with all these World Champions and Olympians , but then I told myself , I deserve to be here , I earned that right , and after that I was more excited than nervous .”
Of course , nerves and excitement can lead to athletes starting too fast , and thereby blowing their race , but Cian says she and her teammates handled that as well . “ Kyla ( Jacobs ), Aynslee ( van Graan ) and I decided we would start conservatively and run together for most of the race .” However , the trio found themselves fairly close to the Kenyans , Ethiopians and Ugandans at the front – all the favourites – and that made them a little nervous at first . “ But then we realised they had started slower than expected . It did cause us some worry , until we realised how good we felt , so we stuck to our plan and pace ,” says Cian .
Reward for Perseverance
What made the course so tough is that the athletes literally worked the whole way . There was just no respite , nowhere to recover or relax and focus on pace and stride . The start was on an uphill , and what flats there were had either beach sand , bark or mud , so athletes needed to concentrate the whole time , and there were also some really steep descents , which Cian admits she did feel a bit unsure on . “ I think I braked a lot . I ’ m definitely not a good downhill runner , so that is something I will need to practice .”
Midway through the race , Cian started to move up the field as runners who had gone out too hard started to come back to her . From halfway she was involved in a tight tussle with Australia ’ s Caitlin Adams , and they swapped positions until the final lap , when Cian was finally able to move away from the Australian and claim that 27th place , crossing the line in 36:02 for 10km . She has gone low-33 for 10km on the road , but
“ I didn ’ t do my strides or stretching , but it was hot , 35 degrees , so I figured I would be ok . I should have been nervous , especially as I was lining up with all these World Champions and Olympians , but then I told myself , I deserve to be here , I earned that right , and after that I was more excited than nervous .”
Images : Cameron Spence / Getty Images for World Athletics & courtesy Cian Oldknow , George Bradley
32 ISSUE 157 | www . modernathlete . co . za