Warrington
Road Runners are part of the Sunday North West Cross Country League which
comprises of six races, the first race is usually third or fourth Sunday in
October/first in November and the last race beginning of March but all dates
issued in newsletter and postcard in advance.
Male
teams require six runners and female teams three.One runner in each team must be of veteran
age category and runners must be first claim club members.A club vest must be worn (contact Judy Heavey
for kit 01925 730418).It helps the
cross country captain to know in advance who will be running for the club so
please let Gill know if you are intending to run or more importantly if there
is a problem preventing you from running.
Aim
to arrive at the course by
10 am
.This allows sufficient time to walk the
course which is recommended so that you can assess the mud and hills (it really
does help to know what’s coming)
All
races commence at
11 am
and are
approximately 4 ½ miles distance with the occasional hill thrown in for
interest.Both men and women line up at
the start
At
the end of the race each runner is given a ticket which represents your
position.This is handed to the cross
country captain(s) and WRR first six male finishing positions are added
together as are the first three female positions to give the team total.Guest runners are allowed to take part but
cannot score and are requested not to take a finisher’s ticket and should make
themselves known to the host club
Venues
have shower and changing facilities available and the club hosting the race
provides refreshments, sandwiches and tea/coffee (beer if we’re lucky) after
which the results of that day’s race are announced
Prior
to the first race, we aim to set up a weekly training session specifically for
the cross country season (see below).Ongoing
details will be in the newsletter and on the website.To get the best out of your race in mud or at
very best soft grass, specific training is the best way to benefit your race
day performance will be used to the terrain
What Not to Wear
No
Trinny and Susannah aren’t giving out their advice but here are some WRR “trade
secrets”
In
addition to the very “de rigour” WRR vest, most competitors run in shorts
whatever the weather, but still wear gloves and hat if extremely cold.
Footwear – teetering about in mud is by no means easy and
cross country spikes will give more traction to dig in on hills (up and down)
but if it’s your first attempt then the use of trail shoes or old trainers will
be fine.
Mud is the new black – wearing thin black socks will not worry the fashion
conscious runner as running without socks can give a dermabrasion effect to the
feet by the end of the race.
Packing the sports bag - Can’t make up your mind which outfit to take, don’t
worry, take everything – you’ll need a possible three changes of clothes.If walking the course proves to be muddy and
wet, clean dry clothes for after the race will be needed.An old towel to scrape of the mud prior to
showers so you can use the nice fluffy one when you’re clean.Plenty of carrier bags won’t go amiss to put
all this mucky stuff in.
Your
spikes will last a lot longer if mud is removed as well as being more
comfortable to run in next time. Having
tried several methods; in the sink; in the bath; in a bucket, my tip is to get
the jet wash on them – done in an instant; stuff with newspaper which will
absorb the water quite quickly and then take out to finish off.
Finally, you may be surprised, or
possibly disappointed to learn that cross country races are NEVER cancelled!
ARRANGEMENTS
FOR TRAVEL Meet
at Broomfields 9:15 am to leave at 9:30 am either car sharing or in convoy
If
runners prefer to go independently, directions are always available from Cross
Country Captain (Gill Collen)
Also on WRR forum calendar; WRR website and newsletter (publishing dates
permitting)
Cross Country Dates for the 2008 – 2009 season.
1 Sunday, 26-Oct-08 Clarke Gardens (Penny Lane Striders, 11am)
2 Sunday, 23-Nov-08 Beacon Park (Skelmersdale BH, 11am)
3 Sunday, 07-Dec-08 Arrowe Park(Pensby, 11:30am)
4 Sunday, 11-Jan-09 Runcorn Town Park (Warrington RoadRunners, 11am)
Male
teams require six runners and female teams three. One runner in each team must be of veteran
age category and runners must be first claim club members. A club vest must be worn (contact Judy Heavey
for kit 01925 730418). It helps the
cross country captain to know in advance who will be running for the club so
please let Gill know if you are intending to run or more importantly if there
is a problem preventing you from running.