Take the 'Cross' out of Cross-Country
If the idea of cross-country running fills you with terrifying memories, think again! It can be very good fun indeed. By Adrian Monti
Five top tips for a novice cross-country runner
1. Arrive early enough to walk the course before your race starts – it’s handy to know what you might be facing on your way round.
2. Depending on how soft or hard the ground is underfoot, decide which size metal spikes to have in your ‘spike’ shoes. Usually a 9mm is fine for firm terrain, but a 12mm or 15mm is best for a very muddy course. Ideally, take along a selection so you can choose after walking the course.
3. There’s often a lot of hanging about afterwards to claim your bags, so take warm outer layers to wear before and put on after your run, which you can easily access. If you can take a buddy to mind your gear on the first few runs, it may help with your post-run cool-down.
4. There’s always the fear of losing a shoe on the course if it’s a real quagmire, so wrap some strong gaffer tape several times around your feet to keep them on.
5. Expect it to be a fast start and be aware of any ‘bottlenecks’ early on along the course.
To some people, even the mention of those far-off days of having to do cross-country at school will still make them feel sick to the pits of their stomachs. You too may remember yourself being sent off on a cold, windy and invariably wet winter’s afternoon, dressed only in a flimsy kit, through the muddiest of muddy fields with your PE teacher’s words of ‘encouragement’ ringing in your ears. Of course, once out of earshot of the person yelling “Put some effort in!”, you might have dropped your pace to a walk or even cut the odd corner or two. For those even braver, this might have extended to hiding in some handily located bushes, only to re-emerge later when the race’s stragglers were cantering back to the finish.
But not everyone shares this loathing for one of our traditional winter sports, which leaves some cold – in every sense. Among those with bundles of enthusiasm for it are James McCrae, who today is a keen member of a successful civil service cross-country team. Although he can see that running those hard miles in the cloying mud isn’t for everyone, James enjoys the unique challenge this type of racing offers.
But not everyone shares this loathing for one of our traditional winter sports, which leaves some cold – in every sense. Among those with bundles of enthusiasm for it are James McCrae, who today is a keen member of a successful civil service cross-country team. Although he can see that running those hard miles in the cloying mud isn’t for everyone, James enjoys the unique challenge this type of racing offers.
A challenge, in every sense
“I love running on the track during the summer athletics season, but I also enjoy the challenge of cross-country, where it’s you up against the course rather than only competing against the other runners,” says James, who works for the Office for National Statistics in Newport, South Wales, and runs for the Sheffield-based Hallamshire Harriers club as well as representing the civil service in a number of matches. “I actually like the tougher, heavy courses and feel battling the bad weather and the mud is all part of the unique appeal of cross-country,” he explains. “It’s a challenge in every sense.”
James first got into running through doing kids’ fun runs as a youngster before later representing his school and county in the sport. Although his main focus has been middle-distance races on the track, he appreciates the benefits which can be reaped from a gruelling cross-country season too. “Running through a typical British winter on tough courses is great for building up my endurance for the summer season,” he says. “I like the way that cross-country races can be hard but are somehow less intense than battles with your rivals on the track.” James adds: “I also like the camaraderie you experience at these races, especially at the ones I have done so far competing for the civil service.” One high point was being in the winning team that won the coveted Sir Sefton Brancker trophy in 2020 – for the first
time in 21 years. The event itself has a rich history dating back to 1929 and was named after the air vice-marshal who was a major general in the Royal Flying Corps during the First World War and also a senior civil servant. This annual match between the civil service, RAF and formerly Middlesex (which dropped out in 2009), and now the police, is contested each January at the RAF base at Halton, Bucks. Women have been allowed to compete in the women’s version of the event since 1987. “We made sure we had all our best runners out on the day and absolutely smashed it,” says James. “It was a great achievement and a real team effort. It was very satisfying.”
Hampstead Heath racing
Another highlight of the civil service cross-country calendar is the annual individual championship, usually held at Parliament Hill on Hampstead Heath, London, each October. “It’s a really tough hill, but it’s such an iconic course in the cross-country world that it’s great to take part and really test yourself. I like a hill or two anyway, and if it was run on a fairly flat course, it would be quite boring. Cross-country is all about you and the course and how you can handle it.”
And although a runner of James’s ability is often up at the front when the winners – and medals – are decided, he also loves the fact that such events are also so inclusive, and open to all. “Runners of all ages and abilities can take part in these races,” says James. “It’s great that these runners still enjoy taking on a cross-country course. I’ve always enjoyed it and hope I always will love getting out there and taking on whatever the course and the conditions throw at me.”
Civil Service running
For over 150 years the Civil Service Athletics Association has been successfully organising runs for its members. It focuses on cross- country, together with both track and road, the most recent events being the 10k Championship and 5k Jubilee Challenge back in May this year. It’s an extremely welcoming club which is always looking for new members to take up the baton. And remember CSSC works with loads of great partners, who offer hundreds of savings and discounts on equipment, training, nutrition and everything else you’d need to take up running, or take it to the next level.
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