Chris' cross country thoughts

World Cross - what's that?

2009-03-26T21:38:00.008Z

We normally received excellent coverage in the local press so it is disapponting to see just a very brief mention that Keith is competing in the World Cross in Peter McElroy's Chit Chat column which is shame for what is such a historic occasion both for Isle of Man sport and athletics in particular. Quite rightly there is extensive information on the three local riders competing nin th World Cycling Championships but no equivalent right up on the World Cross. Certainly the "man in the street" will be unaware this event is on and that a local runner is taking part.

The National Press are no better. I guess in a way this reflects Britain's prospects which is bit unfair considering Paula Radcliffe has won the title twice in recent years.

When I was running tonight I was thinking about some of the performances of British teams in the past. The one that came to mind was 20 years ago when Tim Hutchings finished 2nd to the great John Ngugi in the Norwegian snow in Stavanger and runners like Gary Staines, Dave Clarke and Dave Lewis were all in or around the top 20. I think Britain were second in the team race. Only Jon Brown of British men has really challenged in recent years.

It is such a competitive race - often referred to as the hardest race to win in endurance running. It is such a simple sport that little in the way of equipment is required - look out for the barefooted Africans. Last year in Edinburgh I was lucky to be watch the race and the speed is beliveable, especially in the early stages. I guess this year's course will be even faster!

I doubt if any of the GB teams will be in the medals but if they can come away with some running above expectations and the overall feeling that things are on the up then that will be a success.

If you want to see it on TV then you will need to press the red button on BBC for BBCi coverage from 11.15 - 14.30 on Saturday.

Look out Jordan

2009-03-23T21:30:00.002Z

I refer of course to the country, not the model!

This weekend sees what is arguably the hardest to win endurance race in the World - the World Cross Country Championships to be held this year in Amman, Jordan. Amongst those competing will be Keith Gerrard, making his debut for Great Britain. Hopefully it will not be too hot and Keith has been preparing well at the GB team camp in Aldershot. With the East Africans so dominant in recent years and weather conditions more suited to those from warmer climates it is going to be tough but a great experience for Keith. There is no reason why this team cannot put in the best performance by a British mens team for a few years.

I will try and put a few posts in the lead up to Sunday.

With three cyclists competing in the same week in the World Track Championships, it is exciting times for Manx sport.

I will hold over my thoughts on the strcture of the local season for a few days.

What a week!

2009-03-12T21:07:00.002Z

Highlight of the past week has been Keith Gerrard's great run in the Inter Counties and subsequent selection for the World Cross County. We hear lots about athletes from other sports doing well on the international stage so it is great to see a runner having the chance to take on the best in the World too. Keith looked really good in the race on a course that was pehaps not totally suited to his style. He has raced sparingly this winter and his own words "keeping the powder dry" has worked well.

Fingers crossed for a smooth run through to the Champs now which are just over two weeks away. It would be great to go to watch but I don't think a weekend trip to Jordan is very practical! I see the GB team training camp has been moved from Cyprus to Aldershot so if the weather is hot on the day it could make the going even tougher.

The transition from junior to senior can be a difficult one and hopefully Keith will now start to make his mark as a regular in the GB team.

Kevin Loundes seemed to pay the price for a quick start. However, he can be pleased with his winter and has made great progress. He is a good learner and will no doubt benefit from the experience over the coming months.

I saw that Lancashire finished 2nd in the mens' team race but was disappointed that two reserves had been drafted in neither of whom had competed in the county champs - see my earlier post about a level playing field.

There were mixed fortunes for the Astin sisters - good to see Sarah starting to compete again and surely not too far off from the front of the field. The enforced break may prove a blessing in disguise in the long term.

Locally we had the final round of the Manx Gas League at Nobles Park. I tend to agree with Michael George's comments that it was a slight anti climax to the season after the Championship events. Those who competed worked hard but greater numbers would clearly have enhanced the event. I have some more ideas and thoughts about how we should end our season and will try and follow these up next time. One positive was a number of newcomers making their mark.

I had hoped to run in Sunday but my calf had not healed and was still giving problems. This is still the case and a trip to the physio beckons.

Action packed weekend ahead

2009-03-06T21:09:00.003Z

We have an exciting weekend ahead. First of all, on Saturday it is the Inter Counties at Nottingham with four local athletes in action. First off will be Gemma Astin in the U17 race followed by her sister Sarah in the U15 event. Gemma is at the top end of the age group and will be aiming to improve on her 32nd from last year whilst Sarah has had a really tough couple of years with injury so, no doubt, she will just be pleased to be on the start line. I am sure she will run her usual determined race.

The final race of the day is the Senior Mens race and includes Keith Gerrard and Kevin Loundes. As it is also the trial for the World Cross we can expect a high standard race. Keith is an old hand now at this level and will be determined to prove his run at the National was just a blip. I am sure we will see him placed prominently in the main bunch to give himself every chance of a top placing. For Kevin, it is his first time at this event. However, he is making great progress and should do very well. To approach his position of 62nd in the National would be a great achievement with the Scotish, Welsh and Northern Irish included this time.

Sky Sports 3 are covering the action.

However, Sky will not be at Nobles Park on Sunday for the final round of the Manx Gas League. With plenty of rain recently we can expect quite a lot of mud. Despite the above being absent we can expect some close racing. Hopefully there will still be some good sized fields in what is the last chance to gain points to complete the league.

I had been planning to run but things look 50;50 at the moment as my left calf has been sore all week and restricted training since Tuesday to some work in the gym.

Inter Counties selection - a level playing field?

2009-03-02T22:26:00.002Z

Picture the scene this coming Wednesday evening……………. Darren Gray sits at home perhaps pondering over West Brom’s future in the Premier League when the phone rings “Hi Darren, Lancs Team Manager here……..fancy a run in the Inter Counties on Saturday?” Don’t bet against it happening – it would not be the first time such calls have been made.

As hard working and well meaning as they are, my experience is that Lancs team management do not fully understand what Isle of Man runners have to do to compete at a decent level. Take selection for this weekend’s Inter Counties. The policy is to select the first five senior men in the County Champs with four discretionery places held for others. Whilst that seems fair enough on the face of it, the reality is that with little opportunity to prove themselves in other events, it is more or less a case of finish in the top five or miss out on selection as other, more known, runners will be chosen instead. This often includes runners who have not competed in the County Champs so how can you measure their form against those who do compete in the County Champs? Recent selections indicate our runners have one bite at the cherry.

So let’s look at those selected ahead of Darren, who finished 7th in the county event. Incidentally, Darren has competed in the senior County Champs race every year at least since 2002.

One runner competed in Edinburgh on the day of the country champs – ok, good to gain experience at that level and no doubt one of the best runners in the county, but given that Keith Gerrard raced up at Blackburn why couldn’t others do the same? A second runner is a former county champion but has dropped out of the last two Inter Counties races. A third runner, whilst in great condition for his age will be a Vet 45 this year – hardly planning for the future. The fourth discretionary place goes to a runner who I cannot ever remember competing in the County Champs at senior level (or at junior level for that matter) who finished behind 5 IOM runners in last week’s National Cross Country.

Whilst all may have pedigree, one way or the other, the unfair situation is that they were unwilling to put themselves to the test against others at the county event when their form could be fairly measured. It is also doing a disservice to the county Champs as the best runners are not encouraged to compete. Lancs could strive to make their event one of “the” races of the county champs weekend, up there with the likes of Yorkshire and Middlesex and set themselves up really well for the county champs – everyone would know that this really was the best Lancs could produce.

I have used Darren as a example, no doubt there are others too but the main point is that we have one chance to impress and if you don’t make the top 5, that is it (other than the last minute call up), whilst others can pick and chose and point to other events to demonstrate their form.

I realise that an effort has been made to produce the best team for the day but sometimes you need to look at the bigger picture – what is best for the development of the sport as a whole and what is fair?

National reflections

2009-02-26T20:37:00.003Z

I was disapponted to miss the trip to the National in London last weekend but having injured my calf/achilles the wek after the Lancs Champs I knew it was unlikely I could make it.

Although Keith Gerrard was the first IOM runner, pride of place went to Kevin Loundes. To finish in the top 5% after just three years of running was a great achievement. Keith will be disappointed with his run and hopefully he can rectify things quickly in next weekend's Inter Counties/World Cross trial.

The course looked to be very muddy but it was good to see the largest field for around a decade - hopefully this trend will continue. The best way to measure your performance from one National to the next is to take your position as a percentage of the number of finishers - 300th from 1400 is better than 300th from 1000 finishers - so even those whose position is constant are still improving!

Gail Griffiths continued her improvement in the women's race and it would be great to have a women's team at some point in the future.

Next year the event is at Roundhay Park, Leeds so it should be more accessible for many. Indeed it should - just about - be possible to do in a day, weather permitting. It was a common Northern venue for the National in the 1970's, 80' and 90's but has not been used since 1998. I remember running there that year - the course was quite firm but features Hill 60 - a lung bursting 250 hill something like Crellins Hill!

Next weekend we have the Inter Counties/World Cross trial at Nottingham on Saturday and locally the last round of the Manx Gas League at Nobles Park on Sunday. The last round can be a bit of an anti climax as people start to concentrate on their own goals for later in the year i.e. Manx Mountain Marathon, London Marathon, track season etc plus some already have enough races completed to finish the league. Still, Nobles Park is our spiritual home of cross country so it would be good to see a decent turn-out.

I hope to make the start line myself. I managed my longest run for about three months last weekend covering around 11-12 miles. After only managing about 9 runs in each of December and January I have done much better in February. Most of my training is just steady running but I managed some intervals on the cross trainer on Monday. I hope it stays dry over the next 10 days so it is not too muddy!

Next time I will say a bit more on next week's events including my thoughts on Inter Counties selections - suffice to say, I don't think they always give our runners a fair hearing when making selections.

Catching up

2009-02-16T21:01:00.003Z

Apologies for the absence of recent updates - a combination of holiday, working late and laziness!

Since my last update we have had the IOM Cross Country Champs and Merseyside Schools. This coming weekend we have what for many club runners is the highlight of the season - the English National - this year being held in what for many is the spritual home of cross country, Parliament Hill Fields on Hampstead Heath. There will be good local representation through a large Manx Hariers party. This is one race everyone should do at least once in their career.

Since a separate trial for the World Champs was set up around 20 years ago, the National has tended to lose it status and the fields are around half of their 2500 records of the late 1980s. At one time you needed to be a World Class athlete to win the race. These days some will skip it to save thmeselves for the trial. However, it is still the biggest race of the winter in terms of numbers and the winner will follow a great list of previous winners.

It was at Parliament Hill that Keith Gerrard made a big breakthrough in 2003 when he finished 2nd in the Under 17 race. This time he will be in the senior race and, I would think looking for a top 10 placing at least. It is usually muddy so should suit him well. He has raced quite sparingly with just a run out in the Lancs Champs since the Euro Cross in mid December. I will also be interesting to see how recent IOM Champion continues his improvement having been around 130th last year.

A problem with my calf/achilles put paid to my own aspirations of making the trip and as a result things have gone a bit flat. I am easing back into training but need to set a clearer goal to help build some momentum to my training. It would be nice to run in the final round of the Manx Gas at Nobles Park on 8th March - we will see. That will be the last of the local events but there is, of course big events such as the English Schools and World Cross still to come - hopefully we will have local representation in both events.

Hoping for the race of the season

2009-01-26T21:18:00.004Z

One of my earliest running memories is taking part in the 1975 (!!) Isle of Man Cross Country Championships at Nobles Park – under 11’s race! The main things I remember about my race are that we ran further because it was the championship and the late Steven Mackie won the race effortlessly because he was very good. I think I was third wth Northern AC timekeeper in second place. I also remember that Steve Kelly won the senior race from Dave Newton and the buzz that pervaded throughout the afternoon. Who knows what impact that had on me as a ten year old but 34 years on that I am writing this suggests it was a favourable one!

This Sunday sees the 2009 edition of the Isle of Man Championships, being held at Pulrose Golf Course. David Griffiths has already provided an excellent preview on both the men’s and women’s races on the manxathletics.com forum. I am hoping it will be the race of the year as its championship status deserves –fine weather, good crowd creating an electric atmosphere, a large field and an exciting race would all go down well. If a few of the fell runners have a go that would add even more spice.

Kevin Loundes has had a great winter and will start as favourite in the main race of the day – the senior men’s race. If he does win it will be reward for hard work over the past three years. However, surprises can happen and Darren Gray is the one most likely to cause an upset. He already knows about upsets in this race - in 2004 Darren was probably the race favourite but Andy Cannell had a storming run to upset the form book to take the honours. I remember afterwards Andy telling me he had carbo-loaded or two days to build up his energy! He proved it was no fluke by winning again in 2005 since when John Halligan has been the man to beat. It looks like we could see a new name on the trophy this year.

It could be quite muddy on Sunday after so much recent rain so that may also have a bearing on positions throughout the field. I will look for internet access on my trip away and see the results on Sunday night. May the best man win!!

Let’s hope for good sized fields in all the age groups and close racing throughout – it is what Championship racing is all about.

I am also pleased to see that Sunday counts as double points for the Manx Gas Challenge – this was something I proposed a while ago to encourage those running the league to take part in the Championship – it isn’t just for those at the front of the field.

Catching up

2009-01-22T19:23:00.004Z

Despite not being able to run since Saturday it has been a busy few days hence the slight delay in recent postings.

First to Saturday - I was out on a nice hour long run around the Conrhennie Plantation plotting my plans for the next few months and all of a sudden flet a sharp pain in my right achilles/calf. I stopped immediately but as luck would have it I was at the furthest point from my car! I jogged/walked back by a slightly shorter route and by the evening it was very sore. I think it is similar to an injury I had about nine months ago.

I have been following the advice of RICE - rest, ice, comperession, elavation - and had physiotherapy today. I have exercises to do and Paul the physio thinks I may be able to start running next week. Having missed quite a lot of December it makes the National on 21st February look at tall order.

We are now only ten days away from the highlight of the local cross country calendar - the Isle of Man Championships. David Griffiths prepared some great information to promote the event on Manxathletics.com - let's hope for a good turnout. I will not be there - not because of the injury - but will be away for a few days grabbing some winter sun! This was planned before the fixture list!

After the excitment of the Lancs Championships, I enjoyed looking at the many country champs results in Athletics Weekly - most went to first 50 men and first 25 women plus junior age groups. I noticed the names of some Easter Festival runners and also noted some decent results from Guernsey runners in the Hampshire Champs including the winner of the womens event. I also did a little exercise to see the time between first and 25th - my position in Lancs - to try and assess the depth of competition. It is not very scientific but it should be a bit of a guide. The likes of Middlesex and Hampshire had shorter gaps but we were on a par with quite a few including Greater Manchester who are a strong county.

Looking to the Inter Counties - hopefully some local runners have now been selected in addition to those who gained selection by right. Travel plans need to be made so early notification is vital to keep costs down as low as possible.

That is it for now - will try and put down a few more thoughts over the weekend.

Lancashire Cross Country - the good, the bad and the ugly

2009-01-15T21:04:00.003Z

This week has been one of recovering from last weekend's race. I have done a couple of sessions on the cross trainer and a couple of runs as well. There has been quite few comments already on the Lancashire Cross Country - I thought I would note a few personal thoughts:

The good:
Six medals
Three in the the top seven in the senior race
Eight runners receiving letters for possible Inter Counties selection - hopefully we will have at least four in action at Nottingham
Gemma Astin - won by a mile
Young athletes experiencing off Island competition for the first time
Overall organisation - everything ran to time
Quick results on the day
Hot showers - less runners and less muddy this year so probably not used as much
£2 for a hot drink and home made cake in the cafe afterwards - bargain! Not quite textbook recovery food but very nice!
Our arrangements - all seemed to run very smoothly on the day both there and back (except for one small problem - see comments below re Flybe)
Local media coverage - do the Blackburn and Blackpool runners manage the same level of publicity in their local press

The bad (disappointing):
Keith not winning as expected. I don't think his heart was in it - last year he had a 15m lead after 800m last year
No senior womens team
Not enough younger lads in our teams
Injury to Mike Garrett - before and during the race!
The turnout in some of the age-groups
Too many vets and not enough seniors - 65% vets in the senior race
My shoelace coming undone - twice
Small turnouts from some clubs
Flybe - trying to charge for hold baggage when these where already included in what was an expensive fare

The ugly:
The underfoot conditions - only ever a foot plant from serious injury on certain parts of the course.

This is a great event as it is a level where we can be competitive. Whilst Backburn do a great job with hosting the event, it would be nice to see it return to another venue at some point - Lancaster was used several times in the past and was a popular course.

Manx Harriers provide a great subsidy for the trip. However, I would like to see the club select some of the junior teams and give more of the funding for the trip to help the younger athletes. I am sure this would encourage more of them to go rather than just asking "who wants to go " as we do at the moment and hopefully provide more teams and possible medals in the younger age groups.

Lancashire Cross Country - first thoughts

2009-01-13T22:28:00.003Z

A quick post after the weekend. After reading Dave Griffith's report on www.manxathletics.com forum it is hard to add too much more.

A succesful if cold day at Blackburn. I will very pleased with own effort. I had been targeting the race for a few months. Back in October I set an "optimistic" target of top 30 requiring everything to go really well with a more "realistic" target of top 40. Even taking into account the reduced field on previous years I felt that 25th was a good effort. I think the firm going suited me although it was really too hard for spikes - in hindsight short trackspikes might have been best. Having said that, those in fell running shoes also reported problems as well.

The large number of Manx Harriers runners provided lots of races within the race. Also, I did have a problem with my shoe lace coming undone towards the end of the second lap. After a steady start initially running with Russell Collister, Mike Garrett and Christian Varley I felt I was making good progress picking off some quicker starters. When my lace came undone - I had checked it three times before the start - I was just ahead of Christian and Andy Fox. Both went past me and I had to be careful not too chase after them too quickly. I think in all I probably lost 15-20 seconds in stopping, loss of concentration and momentum plus also lost the chance of a "tow" from runners further up the field. I had to run at my own pace virtually all the way to the finish.

Then just after I caught them again the same thing happened. This time I just kept going hoping my shoe would not come off. Entering the main field with 600m to go I caught Gianni Epifani and had a big final effort into the finish just holding him off on the run in.

I hope Mike is ok now after turning his ankle badly on the rough ground.

I will post some more detailed thoughts of the day in general over the next couple of days

Lancashire Cross Country - the final countdown

2009-01-08T21:05:00.002Z

It is less than two days to go until one of the winter highlights. As I write I am still aiming to reach the start line.

It will be an early start on Saturday morning as we need to be at the airport at 06.00 - an hour before my alarm normally goes off! It is also eight hours before the senior mens race so it is long day. Do not forget your ID and remember to put your spikes in a bag to go in the hold of the plane.

We usually stop for a breakfast on the way to Blackburn - I will make an extra special effort this year to avoid the temptation of a fry up at the service station (will try and save it until Sunday). I will buy some water as well to avoid becoming dehydrated. On arrival it will be a mixture of obtaining our numbers, looking at the course, supporting the runners in the other races and resting all before warming up!

I have bought a new club vest and shorts in order to look the part. An inspection of the course will determine what length spikes to use.

As for the race itself, with the cold dry weather it should be reasonably firm going and therefore quite fast running. There are still normally some muddy gateways and the downhill section after the hill can be very rutted. The junior events also cut up the course. I commented the other day that there are 4 of the 6 hills in the second half of the race so that is something to note when making a race plan.

I have been doing some extra preparation during the week - going to bed a little bit earlier than usual to help with the early start. I also checked last year's results to look at the level and depth of competition - I noted that around 5-7 athletes finished per minute.

I set myself some targets a while ago. I wanted to reach the start line. After that I had an optimistic target based on training going really well, a realistic target and then one just to finish (I will reveal these next week - honestly as well!). Training over the past few weeks has been disrupted and I have only done about half of what I planned to do. I ran quite well on Boxing Day but the hills of Blackburn will be a different proposition.

I expect there to be lots of races within the race with a number of Manx Harriers in close proximity and predicting a finishing order of between the Harriers runners is very difficult. To win the team race we will need to try and finish six runners in the first 30.

It is easy to look at the negatives leading up to a race - missed training, etc. I will try to be positive - I have built my fitness up over the past 12 months and I feel I as fit as I have been in the last five years, I have run the course several times so know what to expect, my diet is the healthiest it has ever been and I am the lightest I have been for around ten years.

Good luck to everyone taking part on Saturday.

Lancashire Cross Country - countdown

2009-01-05T18:52:00.001Z

There are just five to go before one of the highlights of the local cross country season – the Lancashire Championships. These will take place at their now usual venue of Witton Park, Blackburn. No doubt many are hoping that all their aches and pains and sniffles will go away before Saturday.

It is a massive exercise and commitment to keep sending squads over the event each year. However, in recent years this has been rewarded with medals throughout the age groups.
There is no doubt that since Manx Harriers starting competing in the event in 1993 – in those days held before Christmas – that there has been a great improvement in both individual and team honours.

For some this event is just a stepping-stone towards other events including selection for the Inter Counties Championship events, for others the highlight of the winter. Some are experienced at competing off-Island whereas others will be competing in England for the first-time – something that can be a nerve-wracking experience. A look at the names in the information provided by David Griffiths of previous events on the Manxathletics.com forum highlights the importance of the event helping to develop young talent.

With the recent cold, dry weather we can expect the course to be firm and fast. This will suit some more than others. However, the notorious hills including the famous “Saucer” will still be there. In the senior race, we do two small and two large laps. As the longer lap has an additional hill, this means you have four hills in the second half of the race so a steady start might be worth considering.

I do not think that we will win as many medals in recent years due to the absence of having teams in some of the younger age groups which is disappointing. However, there are some strong candidates for individual honours. Keith Gerrard has won the senior race in previous years so must have a good chance. However, there is potentially some very strong opposition from a number of areas so he cannot afford to be complacent. Gemma Astin has won medals in the past and will look to repeat this again. Her younger sister Sarah has won gold on each of the last three years. She is not in great shape at the moment following recent injury but is hoping to run and gain selection for the Inter Counties in March. Hopefully one or two others will join them.

We have a strong Senior Team. As well as Keith, we have Kevin Loundes in his best form ever and Darren Gray is running at his best for three or four years. I expect Nigel Armstrong to run his usual strong race after a cautious start and be fourth member of the team as well as challenge for a medal in the Vets category. With six to score, after that it could be two from a number of runners many of whom have had illness or injury problems in recent weeks. The importance of “packing” in cross country is vital for team success.

The race has been my own personal target for several months. My main aim has been to reach the start line for the first time since 2003. After just missing out with a sore throat on the day in 2007, I am taking nothing for granted. Preparation over the last few weeks has not been ideal. Indeed, a freak knee injury on New Year’s Day caused me to miss three days training including a planned long run on Friday. I managed 30 minutes on grass at lunchtime today so hopefully it will not give further problems.

I will try to give a bit more info on my own preparation for the race before the weekend.

One final point – there is a televised International Cross Country event in Edinburgh this weekend. Why is this held on the same day as one of the biggest days for club cross country runners – and potential viewers? Incidentally, Keith Gerrard was invited to take part in the Edinburgh 4K race but will be supporting grass roots athletics instead.

MWR review

2008-12-29T21:33:00.001Z

With the dust settling following the Millennium Way Relay, it is good to reflect on another great event. Of course, it nearly did not happen and everyone who competed should be grateful to those who took the time to help organise the event. Like many events, it becomes more complex each year with Risk Assessment, busier roads, etc.

From a running point of view, the runs of the day were by Kevin Loundes and Darren Gray. The state of the tracks on the first two legs has deteriorated considerably since the event started and this must make the going tougher and slower.

Kevin was less than a minutes outside Keith Callister’s long standing first leg record but it must rate as least equal to Keith’s effort given the changes in underfoot conditions, that the race is now a handicapped start and the different weather conditions on the day.

With Darren posting the second fastest time on the second leg, it looks promising for the Lancashire Championships on 10th January.

I was pleased with my own effort, especially with training in December disrupted by illness. Having been out or a recce on Sunday prior the race, I was amazed at how much the ground had dried in a few days.

I have been toying with the idea of running the fell race on New Years Day. It should be a competitive field and is always an excellent event. However, I do not want to lose sight of my goal of being on the start line at Blackburn. My legs have been incredibly stiff the MWR and I could see a similar effect after the fell race.

The Lancashire Champs are only 12 days away. Despite losing John Halligan to long term injury, we should have a strong Manx Harriers team. At this stage, we can just hope that everyone in all the age groups stays fit and healthy. The weather looks like it will be cold and dry for a few more days which can only dry out the course.

I will try and post some thoughts on this event in the days leading up the Championships.

Millennium Way Relay

2008-12-22T21:17:00.004Z

There are now less than three weeks to go until the Lancashire Cross Country Champs. Before then there is the Millennium Way Relay on Boxing Day. This traditional event is one of the highlights of the local sporting calendar and has something for everyone - road runner, track runner, fell runner or cross country specialist - and bring together people from inside and outside the athletics community.

I am due to run the last leg - St Marks to Castletown. After a less hectic than expected night out in Laxey on Saturday I managed a recce over the leg on Sunday. It looks like it will be pretty wet especially on the St Marks - Ballmodha section and through Silverdale. It isn't really a serious event but most people's competitive spirit takes over and with all-time lists over the past 30 years there is plenty to run for. Unfortunately, wear and tear and erosion have affected the first and second legs quite badly so fast times on these sections are harder each year. Of course, the weather can also play a part - a headwind or mist on the hills can slow things down.

After the event is the famous coach trip to Castletown. This started in 1983 (to Laxey) after we had use of a mini bus the previous year. Since about 1989 Castletown via St Johns has been the usual route. If you are looking for a good night out after the day's exertions then come along.

Looking ahead to Lancashire, this remains my own target. I lost over two weeks training with the recent bug and only started running again last Wednesday. I did manage an hour on Saturday but and anxoious not to over-do things - it is a difficult balancing act. I know others have had this bug too and it could impact the team chances too. Hope everyone recovers ASAP.

Brussels - the morning (afternoon anyway!) after

2008-12-15T18:28:00.003Z

In Manchester just on the way back from Brussels now. What a weekend!!

Great day yesterday at the cross country. Fantastic setting at the Park De Lakken and a wonderful iternational event with supporters from a whole range of countries - GB, Ireland, Netherlands, Spain, Germany plus of course Belgium who put on a great event. After a very cold day on Saturday, conditions were excellent.

Keith Gerrard ran a great race givig himself every chance to challenge for a medal. It was not to be but at least her gave it a go. I think he would have liked it to have been a bit muddier too. It was nice too that his mum and dad and brother were there to watch him too. Great run in Keith race by Easter Festival runner Ben Lindsey who came through strongly for fourth place.

The course itself was quite short but had very little flat in it - lots of twists and undulations. In Isle of Man terms the nearest would be Pulrose.

We had a great time in Brussels which is well worth a weekend visit - anywhere where beer, chocoalte, chips and waffles feature on the national diet must be worth a look. Amazingly there are no fat people in Brussels - maybe they keep them locked up - other than Americans. The beers are great if a little expensive, more so with the drop in the value of the pound. I had my most expensive beer ever - over £7 a pint! - and strongest ever - 11%.

I will try and put down some more thoughts later in the week.

Taking the rough with the smooth

2008-12-09T19:16:00.002Z

After being laid up all of last week I am now up and about but do not feel ready to start training again yet. I know a number of people who have had bugs recently. It is frustrating to first of all miss out on the run at Ramsey and now feel that I am losing preparation towards Lancashire. Still, you have to remain positive and let these things take their course, especially at this time of year.

I am looking forward to the trip to Brussels for the Euro Cross at the weekend and we are planning to take a Manx flag along as well. I believe the meeting is being shown on BBC interactive - BBC1 and BBC2 - between 10.00 and 15.45 - so there could be good coverage. I think Keith's race will be on at 12.20 UK time so you can have you Sunday morning run, shower and sit down to watch the race live! See www.brussels2008.com for full event info.

Three things to note before then. First of all, the entries close for the Millennium Way Relay. Hopefully there will be a big entry following the appeal for organisers to make their efforts worthwhile.

Secondly, there is a fundraising quiz for the Island Games team on Thursday evening at the South Douglas Pensioners Club, Finch Road. Entry is just £15 per team. I am setting the quiz and asking the questions. I cannot give too much away but their should a good mix of subjects and some different rounds. Hopefully there will be a good turn-out to raise much needed funds for the trip.

Finally, if you are planning to go to Lancashire Cross Country contact Andy Fox as soon as possible.

Keith selected for European Cross

2008-12-03T20:51:00.003Z

I have been unwell since the weekend so this will be a fairly brief post.

It has been confirmed that Keith Gerrard has been selected for the GB ~Under 23 team at the European Cross Country Championships to take place in Brussels on Sunday 14th December. He has competed in Brussels several times before including the World Championships in 2004 when he finished 45th - I think he was 2nd or 3rd European on the day. The course is usually muddy so it should suit him well.

Keith finished 4th in the full senior trial so could, had he wished, have been in with a chance to be part of the full senior team. I am still a bit undecided about the concept of an under 23 event. Is it a stepping stone through to full senior competition ginving competition to those who would otherwise not be competing at this level or is it a cop-out shielding young athletes from the inevitable rough and tumble of competiton at the highest level?

There are merits in both arguments. Still, I, as I am sure everyone in Manx athletics does, wish Keith good luck in this high standard event.

Life is a rollercoaster

2008-11-30T20:52:00.002Z

Not a Ronan Keating song but my weekend.

On Saturday I felt good for Sunday's race. My training since Glen Lough had gone as planned and the weather forecast suggested conditions would suit me - firm underfoot. Saturday tea-time and the Keith Gerrard's great run in the European Cross was filtering through - more about that later in the week.

Then, Saturday night, I started to feel achy in the back and shoulders. Woke up Sunday morning and knew running was not a viable option. By now feeling really tired as well so decided the most sensible option was to stay in, keep warm and try and recover as quickly as possible - really disappointed.

I have had a quick update on how it went by Andy Fox - sounds like Kevin and Darren in particular are rounding into good form.

Will try to add a few more comments in the next day or so.

Big weekend - on and off Island

2008-11-27T22:01:00.003Z

We have a really exciting weekend coming up both on and off the Island. On Saturday, Sefton Park, Liverpool will host the latest round of the UK Cross Challenge and includes, for Under 20s and seniors, the trials for the European Cross Country Championships, to be held in Brussels on 14th December. Keith Gerrard will be lining up in the senior event hoping for either one of the senior berths or, failing that, a slot in the Under 23 race. There has been some speculation as to whether some runners will seek pre-selection i.e. not run the trial. To me, it they are selected, that somewhat detracts from calling the event "a trial”.

The Sefton Park event used to attract a good number of Isle of Man runners. However, the loss of the day trip to Liverpool in winter has made it a more expensive and difficult affair for travelling to and from the event. It is good to hear, then, that Gemma Astin and her younger sister Katie will be lining up in the under 17 girls and under 11 events girls events respectively.

It is fast parkland course but with large fields is bound to cut up with plenty of mud about, especially later in the day. Good luck to Keith, Gemma and Katie.

On Sunday, local action takes place at Crossags Farm, Ramsey in round three of the Manx Gas League. Like Glen Lough it is a farmland-based course. However the lap is considerably longer and for many this is the best course of those used in the series. it is also good to series going to different parts of the Island.

If you have not run there before, for me I look at the course in three sections plus the start finish area. The first part of the course is fairly flat through farm fields. Depending on how wet it is, it can range from very fast to running through water! Then it is onto the hill, first over the agricultural land and then into the wooded area overlooking the farm. At the top of the lung bursting climb there is a stream to cross and then there is a steep, twisty descent to the start/finish area. For spectators there are a number of places to see the runners, especially if you go out on the course around the hill.

The races themselves could be really exciting too, depending on exactly who is running of course. In the women’s there could be a good battle between Gail Griffiths and Rachael Tewkesbury. Both are improving but Gail’s greater experience may help give her the verdict.

In the men’s event, Kevin Loundes will be favourite after a win in round one and also his recent victory in the Syd Quirk Half Marathon. The real action could be behind him. Last time’s winner Nigel Armstrong is missing as he is off-Island but a number of others including Gianni Epifani, Darren Gray, Andy Fox, Ed Gumbley (if recovered from a sore knee) and Christian Varley will all have aspirations to be as close to Kevin as possible. Not sure if John Halligan is able to compete after his recent injury – he could be another to add to the mix!

This is the last League race before Christmas. Let’s hope for another good turnout in all age-groups.

Finally, I suggest that you arrive early as parking is limited and this will also give you time to familiarise yourself with the course.

Counting the days.....

2008-11-23T20:59:00.000Z

There are now just seven days until the next Manx Gas League race – this time in Ramsey – and 48 to go until the Lancashire Champs at Blackburn on 10th January. There is no doubt that summer (what summer?) is well behind us and winter well under way with some arctic winds and hail this weekend.

I understand that Andy Fox and his group were planning to go to the sand dunes at Blue Point – not sure how they managed. I did think about going myself but had my week planned out and wanted to keep to that if at all possible. As it was I managed a decent – by my standards at least – week of over 40 miles with Thursday to Sunday being the best part. I know this is far short of what is really needed but I am trying to keep some consistent training going instead of keep breaking down with niggles and injuries.

Although I am keen to run in the local races my goal remains reaching the start line at Blackburn – and ultimately the finish line too! I have three target positions depending on the quality of my training between now and then. If you too are planning to do this race make sure you have submitted your entry, via Andy Fox for Manx Harriers, or directly to the organisers for other clubs.

Looking ahead to next week, I will try and do a preview for Sunday some time during this coming week.

Finally, I was delighted to see that the Millennium Way relay is to be held after all – thanks to those who stepped forward to make sure it takes place. I am looking for a run on either the first or last leg if anybody knows of anyone looking for runners for a team.

Gateshead Cross Country

2008-11-20T18:46:00.001Z

Many years ago, BBC Grandstand showed two cross country events each autumn – the Gateshead International and the IAC event from Crystal Palace. These gave a welcome break from the usual sporting diet of horse racing, rugby league and wrestling! The events attracted the top stars of the day – in the late 1970s it was the likes of Brendan Foster (yes, he could run a bit in his day before he put on a pound or two), Tony Simmons and Bernie Ford, followed in the 1980s by the likes of Tim Hutchings and Steve Jones. Now the BBC only seems to show events organised by Brendan Foster but that is another story!

The Gateshead course was famous for its punishing hills but over time these events disappeared from the calendar. However, it is good to see that over the past year or so the Gateshead event has been revived and now forms part of the UK Cross Challenge. This took place last weekend and Keith Gerrard had an excellent run finishing 6th overall and 4th British runner.

Things look promising for him for the European Cross Trials to be held in Liverpool on 29th November – less than two weeks away. The European Cross is due to be held in Brussels and myself, Dave Newton and Dave Ronan have booked to go to watch so hopefully Keith will be there as well so we can cheer him on.

As well the challenge of achieving selection for this event, Keith’s other challenge will be to maintain his form through to the main events of the winter and in particular the World Cross Trial/Inter Counties in March. He sometimes seems to fade away in the second half of the winter. Hopefully he will judge his season better this year.

Lancashire Cross Country - entry information

2008-11-12T21:11:00.003Z

Andy Fox is now in the process of organising the annual trip to the Lancshire Cross country Championships to be held on Saturday 10th Janaury at Witton Park, Blackburn.

Andy, like Joan Powell, before him puts in a massive amount of work to make this trip happen. In recent years Manx Harriers have had great success both for individuals and also in the team events.

At this stage Andy has 25 places booked on the plane to Liverpool and is giving priority to Manx Harriers members. The trip can be either be a day trip or you can return on Sunday.

Entry forms are available at:
www.lancsaa.co.uk/Default_Files/Forms/Entry_Forms/lancs_x_country09.pdf

Manx Harriers membership need to return their completed forms and return to Andy as soon as possible as this trip is usually oversubscribed. Members of other clubs should send off the entry form directly to the event organisers.

It is is not a trip just fot the elite or more serious athletes - anyone from under 13 up to vets is welcome to go along and experience something a little bit different.

Look out for more info and updates on this event over the coming weeks.

Glen Lough - the verdict

2008-11-10T21:34:00.001Z

A great win yesterday for Nigel Armstrong on a tough Glen Lough course. There were two things I noted most about Nigel’s success. First of all, he took time to practice some of the river crossings/features picking out the best lines to use during the race. Secondly he also had a very steady first couple of laps moving through as others tired.

Although conditions were not as bad as they might have been after the recent rain, the course is tough as there is very little let up - even the flat section of the start/finish area was very muddy. Add in the four stream/river crossings, running on a camber and a long hill of about 200m plus each lap.

With it being a fairly short lap there is great scope for spectators and it was really good to hear lots of shouts of encouragement during the lap – runners do appreciate it.

Overall, the result was quite a bit different from Nobles with the first three all missing. However, Gianni Epifani and Andy Fox must have been pleased to be close to Nigel and will see this as something to build on towards the championship races after Christmas.

Run of the day in my view was by James Broughton of Northern AC. He really seemed to be struggling towards the end of the summer and I think he was outside 40 mins on a couple of 10k’s. However, he ran a very positive race and when it looked like he might drop back after the second lap of the six laps, he dug in really well to finish 7th.

From my own perspective, I was pretty pleased to finish 5th. Having been given the all clear by the physio on Thursday I took things quite easy beforehand to give myself the best chance of making the start line. Despite trying to take it easy early on I still found it hard going from lap three on. It was my first race since September and only second race since June so it should have blown a few cobwebs away. Today, I felt very tired and quite sore. I would think I am not alone!

Overall, a good afternoon well organised by Western AC who made sure the course was well marked and everything ran to time.

Next up is Crossags, Ramsey on Sunday 30th November.

Glen Lough

2008-11-04T22:25:00.000Z

With the next round of the Manx Gas league approaching I thought I would give some thoughts and information on the course at Glen Lough. Assuming it is the same as in previous years the first thing to say is that it is it tough! The start/finish is in a farmers field which forms the beginning and end of each lap and tends to cut up during the racing. The lap is quite short at just under a mile a lap but it includes four river/stream crossings, a long hill, some twists and turns and lots of mud. There is certainly nothing dull about the course

I understand from Andy Fox that most of the runners he trains with are not planning particularly after Sunday's Half Marathon so that could see a slightly reduced field. That would mean no Kevin Loundes or Darren Gray. With John Halligan struggling with an injury, that will mean a very open race. Hopefully Ed Gumbley will be on the start line following a break after his effort in the Berlin Marathon.

It is good to see that the hosts – Western AC have put a timetable on their website so you know what time your race starts and the number of laps you will be running.

As for my own prospects of running, I have had a sore calf/Achilles since last Thursday. It is slowly improving and I managed some light training on the cross trainer in the gym yesterday and today. I will have to see how it goes over the next 72 hours or so before making a decision.

Off road training

2008-10-29T22:22:00.002Z

If you are not already doing so, it is a good idea to try and do some of your runs off the road. Obviously it is difficult now that the clocks have gone back but perhaps try to schedule something for a weekend. The going underfoot tends to be more forgiving and if you are planning to run cross country it helps you to develop your balance and adjust to the continuous changes in rhythm.

Here on the Isle of Man there are lots of places to go and there is always the opportunity to look for somewhere new. Going somewhere new always tends to make it a more interesting run.

Last Saturday I went up to Chibbanagh Plantation near the Braid Crossroads with Dave Newton, who showed me some of the routes he has developed – lots of different paths and options and some great running underfoot. There are also some short steep climbs as well so it is great preparation for cross country. The weather was not very nice but apart from where it was exposed to the wind it made a great place to run.

I will post some information and thoughts on the course at Glen Lough in the next day or so.

Press coverage

2008-10-19T20:19:00.001+01:00

I have now returned from my travels after some relaxing sunshine in Cyprus. I managed a few runs whilst there although things tailed off in the last few days due to an excursion to Cairo. Also, our flight from Cyprus was delayed which resulted in missing our Isle of Man connection, therefore the run I had planned for today did not happen.

I have been looking at the press coverage from last Sunday’s cross country. Whilst I feel that the Chit Chat column is past its sell-by date, I have to say that coverage of local events is generally excellent and is often accompanied by colour photos from the likes of John Watterson, Mike Wade and John Maddrell as well as some “amateurs” from the athletics community. We should be really appreciative of this coverage. A look at a local paper in the UK is likely to see athletics and cross country in particular tucked away.

Looking at last week’s results it was encouraging to see a good turn-out in the Short Course event – let’s hope this continues in the coming rounds.

Tomorrow night – Monday – I am planning to attend the Tribute Night being laid on for local cycling stars Jonny Bellis and Mark Cavendish. I hope that there is a good turn-out for them after such incredible success in 2008. We can only envy at the success in local cycling and wonder how we can try to emulate some of this success in athletics. This is a theme I will return to at the later date.

Cyprus calling!

2008-10-12T20:24:00.001+01:00

I am currently on holiday in Cyprus so watching from afar. It looks like Kevin Loundes had a good win in the first round at Nobles Park. Kevin has workerd very hard over the last few months and could be the man to beat over the country this year.

Nobles Park

2008-10-05T22:05:00.001+01:00

I had planned to run in the Western 10 this morning. However, some niggles during the week along with a general assessment that I was not quite fit enough to race flat out over 10 miles made me change my mind. Instead I ran to Nobles Park for a look over conditions before next week’s race.

Despite the recent rain it was not as muddy as I expected it to be. Yes, there is some mud but not some reasonable sections as well. As the park evolves, there has been one of two modifications to the park which may impact on the route. The main one is that there are some barriers at the top of the dog walking area – previously the golf course. These will either need to be opened up or the race route altered slightly.

The struggle on the hills confirmed I had made a good decision not to race. As I ran I reflected that to me Nobles Park is perhaps the spiritual home of cross country running on the Island. It isn’t the best course by any means but has been used for 30-40 years. Some people rate it an “easy course” but there is actually very little flat and with some potentially boggy sections on the golf course, if you find it easy you are not trying!

Two final points on slightly non-cross country related matters. First of all, I was saddened to read in Athletics Weekly about the sudden death of Liverpool Harriers runner Keith Hatton. Many in the Manx Harriers Track and Field team from the 1990’s may well remember him competing. He was a good team man, always running lots of events during the course of an afternoon and clearly had great enthusiasm for running.

Secondly, good luck to Gemma Astin and Tom Richmond who leave the Island this week to compete in the Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune, India next week.

This will be my last update for a few days.

Life's a (Manx) gas

2008-10-03T21:05:00.002+01:00

There is just over a week until the first race of the new cross country season. The Manx Gas Challenge has reinvigorated interest in cross country over the past few years. Related to this have been some great off-Island performances right up to National and even International level.

There are five rounds to the league on a variety of courses. You have to score in four rounds and the Championship race counts as double points so it is possible to do just three rounds and still count in the league.

The good thing about cross country is that can be all things to all men (and women!). Whether you are a road runner, fell runner or track runner there are benefits in running cross country.

As with any new season this brings lots of interest and excitement. John Halligan was the main man last winter but he had health problems over the summer and Kevin Loundes will be out to make sure he does not have things all his own way this year.

The Workplace Challenge sounds like a great idea to attract new blood into the sport. It’s only about three years ago that this sort of initiative brought Kevin Loundes into the sport. Now Kevin is one of our leading endurance runners and has represented the Island in the Island Games. Who knows what talent might be unearthed this time.

The following might be useful advice for first timers:

· Allow plenty of time to register, collect your number, etc.

· Confirm what time your race starts

· Find out how many laps you have to do

· Try to walk or jog the course beforehand

· Have training shoes with good grip. Running spikes or fell running shoes are best

· Have a jog beforehand to “warm up”. Make sure you are not too distracted by chatting to everyone and then find out the race is being called to the start line!

· Bring a change of kit so that you have something warm to change into afterwards

· Have a slow jog to warm down afterwards – it will help reduce stiffness the following day

· Don’t have your Sunday lunch beforehand!

As for my own efforts, I was hoping to complete the league myself this year having built up my training over the past few months in between a few aches and pains. However, I am off Island for the first race and will also be off-Island for the rearranged Isle of Man Cross Country Championships. This means I will only be able to score in three rounds so will not complete the league.

My target for the year is to be on the start line for the Lancashire Cross Championships so I can still use the other two rounds before Christmas as preparation for the Lancs Champs.

As I mentioned I will be away for the first round of the league but will try and check out the results and if I have the chance post a further update.

Hello

2008-10-02T20:31:00.002+01:00

Welcome to my cross country blog. I have been persuaded to set up this blog to talk about all things cross country on the Isle of Man.

Look out over the coming weeks for news of what's coming up, what has happened. I will try to be informative, interesting and perhaps sometimes thought provoking!