The National XC experience

A race report by Graham Lougher

This Saturday I put my big boy pants on (or should that be big boy spikes) and entered The National Cross country race. 

The iconic nature of the race at parliament hill convinced me. Apparently the first race there was in the 1950s. 

Walking in the the heath was amazing so many people there for the same reason all in their club kits. Despite being a huge race it still felt familiar and grass roots. 

I bumped into Rosie who had just finished her race, some good advice to make sure my shoes were tight as she’d lost hers part way round. 

A Quick Look at the start told me how hard it was going to be, while I was never going to win the new “King of the Hill” title for the first person up the hill I set myself a soft target of not being last!

A bit damp on course

My spikes were on their last leg, I was hoping my bodge with wetsuit glue and patches would last. 

We all congregated at the start line, the bottom of the hill outside the lido, nearly 2000 men. Needless to say the air was thick with testosterone. I looked around for what I’d consider “my people”, by that I mean others who are looking to have a good go, but also a jolly old time. I spotted a runner from Newbury runners who I often see at the Oxon league that settled my nerves. 

The run up the hill was amazing being in the pack of so many runners felt like being carried up an escalator. My first goal was achieved, I wasn’t last. 

A bit of a hill

My second goal was to run all of the many hills which I also managed. The course was a quagmire, anyone who ran horspath in 2024 will still have nightmares about the finish section. Much of the course was like this making it feel like someone was grabbing your ankles. 

Unsurprisingly on the second lap I was passed by the leaders to lap me. It felt like racehorses going past, both by the speed difference and the noise of galloping. Impressive to see. 

It was great to finish and see my wife Daisy who was officiating, who even though it was me had to tell me to “keep moving down the funnel”. 

All in all a great day, something amazing to be proud of and truly open to all. It was like a Oxon league race just super sized, so if you’ve ran any of those you’d be fine here. Would be great to have a bigger group of us there another time.

My bodge on my spikes lasted the race, but they’ve gone in the bin. Plenty of time till next season. 

RIP, cross country spikes