Today's Runner X-C

3- Counties Cross-Country League

What is the 3-Counties League

The 3 Counties league is a local league of 14 teams.  The beauty of the 3 Counties league is that there is no pressure and there are plenty of fun runners taking part.  The distance of each race is not usually more than 5 miles and there isn't a race clock in sight.  The post race social includes a roll, a cake and a cuppa (much more useful than a medal).

It's great not knowing beforehand whether you will be changing in an International Sports Centre (like ours) or a cow shed!  The suspense continues until you are out on the course, sometimes trampling knee deep through mud, other times running along a pretty country track.  Hills may be a feature but nothing too strenuous.  Part of the fun is finding out whether the showers are still hot when you get back!  (The other part is???....have they got any showers?)  All in all an exiting way to spend a Sunday morning, supporting your running club at the same time. 

- Questions Frequently Asked About Cross Country-

Who can take part?

Anyone that's a fully paid member of the Club can take part, subject to being at least 17 years old on the day of the first race of the season. Note that you cannot switch clubs during a cross country season.

Will I need special clothing and foot wear?

A club vest is essential as part of the rules, but what you wear with it is up to you and dependant on the weather e.g. gloves, thermals, long sleeved tee shirt, tracksters etc.  Off road running shoes or studded trainers are certainly beneficial but normal trainers are worn by many of the runners.

 What is a cross country course like?

The routes will be on grass, tracks, shingle paths, and mud but definitely no roads.

 How long are the races?

 Check on the 3 Counties website for each race distance.

 I am not a fast runner, is it worth me coming?

YES!!!  The beauty of cross country is that you are running for your club, how fast you go is irrelevant.  Placing is important right down to the last scorer in each of the teams.  You may be the 200th runner to finish, but if the runner behind you is the last scorer of his team then he will score 201, pushing up their points score.

 How does the scoring system work?

Men and women all run together but score for their gender in the Male and Female competitions.  The first 8 men and the first 4 women score for their team. 
In the Combined Team, Male and Female runners race against each other for Team points. Every runner will be given a finishing number (points), so you will be racing against everyone else irrespective of gender. 

Once the results for the Men and Women scoring teams have been determined, their points are then added together to give the Combined Team score. A much fairer system so that the ladies' efforts contributes.

Once our scoring runners cross the line if the next few runners to cross the line were also Harriers, even though they wouldn’t score for the team, they would be ensuring that the next runner to score for another club would have a far higher number. So our team will have attackers (scorers) and defenders (non-scoring) and the club with the lowest score wins. The more Harriers we have running in each race gives us the ability to push up the other club’s scores!!  (If this isn’t clear, then please ask a coach to explain it to you.)

 How can I get to races if I don't drive or don't want to travel on my own?

You can use our WhatsApp groups to try to arrange a lift.

 How do I enter?

An email will be sent out before the start of the season asking members to register for the season.   Before each individual race, another email will be sent asking for the names of people going to that race. 

 And finally ?????????

3 Counties Cross Country league is for ALL runners; fast, slow or intermediate.  The bottom line is that they are fun events with a great feeling of camaraderie and NO PRESSURE.