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.
Wednesday 29 October 2008
Sunday 19 October 2008
Press coverage
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.
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.
Sunday 12 October 2008
Cyprus calling!
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.
Sunday 5 October 2008
Nobles Park
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.
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.
Friday 3 October 2008
Life's a (Manx) gas
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.
Thursday 2 October 2008
Hello
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!
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!
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