Cross Country The Meeting Place For Distance Runners

Why is it that Cross Country is such an interesting and exciting sport?
Why is the Manx Scene so successful at the moment?

I guess I could go on asking such questions and coming up with possible answers. I'd like to share a few thoughts though before we get into the days leading up to the first event and speculation as to who will win!!!

Cross country really is the meeting ground for middle distance track runners 800/1500m types, distance runners on the track at 5km, 10km, S/c and road athletes at similar distances or half or marathon together with fell runners and even the odd cross country specialist. Of course you could add a few walkers and even sprinters to the list also. All can use the events as a way of measuring fitness over the winter as they train for their main events later in the winter or even summer. For some XC is the end in itself but for many it provides the building blocks for what is to come. That is why you will see athletes build through the season and improve race upon race - so don't expect everyone to be firing on all cylinders next Sunday!!!

The season gives plenty of course variety from flat and fast (like Noble's Park) to hilly and muddy (like Crossag's Farm) with plenty of variation in between - again good prearation for so many other events athletes build towards.

Of course with so many athletes from different disciplines it is difficult to win cross country races. So often a league will have more than one race winner as it progresses over the season. Also this difficulty for an individual to dominate has lead in the UK to the team element being so important. Individuals look to improve their position and help their team to win the league or improve it's position etc. Out of the 300 or so in a UK lge race only 1 can win or 3 get into the podium positions but the team comp. gives something to run for other than just individual aims for a large number of athletes.

To that end we tend to have to travel off island -there are just not enough athletes to bring about team competition in the Manx Gas Challenge. Manx Harriers will be travelling to Sefton Park on the 24th. November to run in the joint Liverpool and District Cross Country Union and Euro Cross Country trial race. It would be great if the Harriers could finish a team in that race!!! Also we should have teams in the Lancs and National XCs in January and February respectively. I will post details soon about these events. However in a year when we have seen disappointment at the lack of success of our track teams let us not forget Manx Harriers senior men came 2nd. in the Lancs Champs team race (6 to count), 22nd. in the English National Champs 6 man race and 11th in the 9 man race. Fine performances by anyone's standards.

Last point which I hope you might find of interest - one of my training group was telling us last week at training how when he was at school he hated cross country. He used to walk as slowly round Noble's Park as he could and used to get told he was a disgrace by the PE staff for his lack of effort. I can tell you that nowadays things have changed so much as the XC bug has really bitten. I won't say who it is now - but it'll be interesting to see where he finishes on Sunday and I may give you a clue as to his identity next week - unless you want to see if you can guess!!!!

By the way - Murray told me to keep posts short - I'll try to remember that next time!!!