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Dec 2018
7:42am, 13 Dec 2018
19,180 posts
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Lizzie W
Oi you, isn't that because they have several races in the same course, one after another, and can't cope with timing different races at the same time?
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Dec 2018
9:21am, 13 Dec 2018
427 posts
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oi you
Hi Lizzie. No, at least I don’t think so. Races have overlapped at almost every XC event I’ve run in or officiated at, both Championship events and League meetings. Chip timing systems can cope with it.
My guess is that SEAA have made a rod for their own back by sticking with the 15km distance for the men, which makes for a very long day out, in possibly quite poor conditions, for all the marshals and officials.
This year the SM race starts at 2:50, so anyone like me who’s going to be out there for over 90mins will be running in the dark.
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Dec 2018
9:27am, 13 Dec 2018
6,256 posts
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lark-the-herald-angels-sing-im
Whilst xc isn't elitist, I do think broadly XC vs mass participation races does paint some of the divide between some of the more polarised opinions about runners.
XC is the stronghold of the classic short shorts, Alf Tupper, old school runners who look down their noses at 2:30 half marathons and charity runners. And vice versa there are negative opinions about the hard core XC brigade from those for whom running is a very different experience.
But both of those cohorts are gross oversimplifications of the reality which in my personal experience can only really apply to a very small minority of runners in either event.
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Dec 2018
2:40pm, 14 Dec 2018
8,530 posts
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Son of a Pronator Man
Races are separated by gender, XC is the only time I ever run in single gender races. Which is good because I can cheer and support my female clubmates as they pass. And the races are started by a man in a red blazer and a white glove with a starting pistol, who makes sure that all clubs get the chance to put their fastest runner on the start line and not the melee behind. So maybe it is a bit old school but not elitist.
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Dec 2018
7:12pm, 14 Dec 2018
702 posts
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_paul
Surely XC is one of the most inclusive. Relatively, it is actually very cheap to enter & every single runner can make a difference to the team score.
The elitist argument is a none starter.
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Dec 2018
8:45pm, 14 Dec 2018
29,617 posts
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Old Croc
it very closed shop here - only first 3 for club score, guest runners (i.e. not members of clubs in league) are charged double entry fee plus SA levy if non members. Men and women still run different distances.
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Dec 2018
8:45pm, 14 Dec 2018
29,618 posts
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Old Croc
it very closed shop here - only first 3 for club score, guest runners (i.e. not members of clubs in league) are charged double entry fee plus SA levy if non members. Men and women still run different distances.
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Dec 2018
2:24pm, 18 Dec 2018
65,703 posts
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Gobi
wow - XC is for anyone if you are a member of a club in a league.
You can run first or 2nd claim, I was in too leagues via 2 clubs like Mr K.
Leagues are not closed shops but quite simply if a league has 30 teams and non of them drop out there is no room for other clubs.
Like many I assumed everyone in a "proper" running club was affiliated to UKA, I know of groups around Newbury that are clubs of social runners but not affiliated and the people in these who want more than a social have joined a local affiliated club.
These new social clubs are a product of parkrun in a strange way and chose to be outside the traditional system.
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Dec 2018
2:35pm, 18 Dec 2018
29,866 posts
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Merry Christmas and Happy NewG(rrr)
I'd presume tho larks that "who look down their noses at 2:30 half marathons and charity runners" is a bit of an assumption on your part, rather than a statistically valid survey you have done of all XC participants?
It's usually a higher standard than mass participation events, partly because (in Scotland) you have to be in a club (unless it's an Open Dvorak, like Braids or Lasswade) and partly because it's hard!
But I don't agree that this means the participants look down on others, nor that a slower runner is not encouraged to take part. Scottish Athletics participation in XC has gone up for last 10 years (since our own whwrunner has been at helm as Chairman, in fact!) and is thriving. It's very inclusive in terms of performances, and I have never seen anything other than strongest encouragement for the last finishers.
In fact, some of the last finishers in the men's senior races are in their 60s, 70s or older and have been doing it for 40+ years consecutively and always get a big cheer from their clubs and others as they finish.
I think it's free for clubs and runners in Scotland. Didn't know there was a fee in England. Perhaps someone can confirm for Scotland as I've never been admin at our club(s).  GG
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Dec 2018
2:42pm, 18 Dec 2018
65,706 posts
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Gobi
The leagues I ran in were free to runners, the club paid a membership fee.
I did inter counties when in 33 min 10km shape and was 6th from last going up the first hill.
Any club member can run in the local league and the Inter counties qualifier, only the best run in champs races
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