Saturday was the 3rd cross-country race of the season, which saw Viceroys Anna, Carla and Debbie running for their affiliated running clubs that are part of the Surrey Ladies Cross-Country League Division 2. 
The hosts for the 3rd race were the running club Thames Hares and Hounds, and the race was in Putney Vale/Wimbledon Common. It was a 2-lap 8k run, and the course was cracking with two steep hills, large wooded sections and lots of trees and branches to jump over. The biggest natural obstacle was the MUD after all the heavy rain and it was tough-going – even with spikes. Anna nearly lost a shoe and runners had to jump a brook about 3 quarters of the way through each lap and Carla proclaimed: ‘ Anna has put it mildly, it was a BOG, GRIM conditions – excellent fun though the calf muscles were feeling it the morning after.’
For those new to cross-country, the season is made up of 4 matches – all of which start at 12 noon for the ladies (2 o clock for the men and 1 for the juniors) and run over the Winter season. The first two matches tend to be around 5-7k and the last two tend to be around 8k. Different clubs will host different matches over the years for variety. Expect MUD, expect HILLS and expect to have the toughest workout you can imagine over 30/40 minutes. It is excellent winter training and great fun to-boot. The important thing about cross country is that it is not about speed. Each club needs to have at least 5 runners to score so it is more about numbers than speed. Then the top 5 runners for that club will score provided they finish but unless you have at least 5 runners, you don’t score at all. You get every ability level – from Olympic athletes to the gentle plodder
It is easy to sign up as an affiliate, especially if you are a VTC member – just contact Anna or Carla before the next season starts for details and prices. Expect to pay around £25 for the whole season plus, for new members, £10 for a running top for your chosen running club. Most of us run in spikes that cost around £25 to £30. You can run in trainers but it is much harder because you end up slipping all over the place.
