The Colder the Better

Published by SPIKES on January 7, 2016

It’s not often you see a US middle distance runner absolutely dominate a bunch of experienced Kenyans in a race. Turns out that if you throw a bit of ice and snow in to the equation and the whole thing changes, as US miler Garrett Heath proved at the Edinburgh XCountry last weekend.

“If it was a football or a rugby pitch, the game would be off. But as it’s cross country, we’re saying ‘bring it on’.” 

Never have a race announcer's words been more true. And with them still ringing in their ears, off went the athletes in the 4km race at last Saturday's (Jan 10th) Edinburgh XCountry. Amongst the field of world and Olympic champions and medallists lining up at a windswept, sodden Holyrood Park was Garrett Heath, the surprise winner of last year's event.

His victory in 2014 came as such a shock that not even his new kit sponsors Brooks saw it coming. Having only started his contract days before the race, they thought he could get away with wearing an old vest without anyone noticing. But there he was, crossing the line in the wrong brand.