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.
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