Introduction
Lymm Runners takes part in the North West Sunday Cross Country League (NWSCCL) and the Manchester Area Cross Country League (MACCL).
Both leagues host cross country races over the winter months. They encourage participation and provide a sociable environment for runners. Runners of all abilities and abilities are encouraged to run.
Over fifty clubs of all sizes from Manchester/Merseyside/Cheshire and Lancashire take part in the leagues and compete to be winners at the end of the season.
The NWSCCL races takes place at 10am on a Sunday morning and is hosted by one of the league member clubs. The MACCL races take place on a Saturday afternoon. The MACCL have separate races for Juniors, Senior and Senior Men, the NWSCCL just have a single race for seniors. The MACCL senior ladies race is about 5 miles long and the mens is about 6 miles long. The combined NWSCCL race is about 5 miles long.
For more information on the NWSCCL including previous year’s results, see https://www.stevesaunders.co.uk or the Facebook page. For MACCL see their website.
Benefits
Cross country is a great way of staying focused and race fit over the winter months and is great fun. Cross-country strengthens the legs and core muscles, develops ability to run on varied terrain and in varying weather conditions. The runner who is experienced in cross-country is more robust, more versatile and less likely to be thrown by a sudden change in the weather – an event surprisingly common in major championships in the UK.
The cross-country season provides tough physical training, working over a wide range of speeds, without the damaging effects of the cumulative jarring that results from track or road training. It will also potential to keep your weight in check over the festive season!
And finally running a cross country race absolutely and utterly entitles you to that hot bath, fantastic meal, and night in a comfortable bed afterwards.
What to wear
Runners have to wear a club vest. You should expect to get all clothing muddy.
The courses vary in terms of muddiness and uphill running. The amount of mud greatly depends on the amount of rain the previous few days. The condition and layout of the course affects what type of shoe you should wear:
Road shoes.
Possible on a dry course flattish course, but when it gets muddy or steep then you will be slipping around in road shoes which will be tiring and could be dangerous.
Trail Shoes
These are a great compromise as they will handle mud and slopes and can be used on the trail races (like our own) throughout the year.
Cross Country Spikes
These are best for coping with mud, wet grass, hills etc. The shoes provide little cushioning (this comes from the mud!) and has a low center of gravity allowing the runner to twist and turn more easily.
Spikes usually cost between £30-70. When buying spikes make sure that you do not buy spikes which are smooth on the heel and around the individual spikes as these are for track running. The shoes will normally come with minimal size spikes, you should buy a bigger set (9 to 15mm).
North West Sunday Cross Country League
Races
There are 4-5 cross country fixtures over the winter, all the courses are off-road and suitable to be run in running spikes. The courses are between 4 ½ and 5 ½ miles in length and take place over grass, mud, dirt trails, hills, etc.
Some fixtures are followed by refreshments supplied by the Host club.
This season’s events are:
| When | Where | Host | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 25th October | Clarke Gardens, Liverpool | Penny Lane Striders |
| 3 | 22nd November | Beacon Park, Skelmersdale | Skelmersdale BH |
| 4 | 20th December | Arrowe Park, Birkenhead | Pensby Runners |
| 5 | 27th December | Victoria Park, Warrington | Warrington Road Runners |
| 6 | 10th January | Town Park, Runcorn | Run Sandymoor |
| 7 | February | Croxteth Park, Liverpool | Liverpool Running Club |
Brief Course Guide
Clarke Gardens
This is like an extended park run with a “small” stream to cross and is a lovely introduction to cross country. Full guide here.
Arrowe Park
Based behind Arrowe Park hospital, this is also a gentle introduction to cross country with plenty of easy running on grass, but can get muddy after prolonged rain. Full guide here.
Croxteth Park
A flat course of open grass running and technical sections through woods. Couple of muddy bits and a bog near the end. Full guide here.
Runcorn Town Park
Has a bit of everything in it; it is twisty, sometime muddy, technical running through woods and open grass running and has the infamous ski slope. Full guide here.
Beacon Country park
This race starts next to the Beacon Country Park center and runs around an old golf course set on the side of Beacon Fell. It has the most ascent of all the races and the views are breathtaking. Full guide here.
Victoria Park, Warrington
A flat race with little mud. It is a good introduction to cross country running.
Summary
| Race | Effort | Muddiness | Facilities | Parking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clarke Gardens | 5 | 5 | No toilets near start. | Good |
| Arrowe Park | 6 | 6 | Toilets at nearby cafe to customers only. | One large car park. |
| Croxteth Park | 4 | 5 | Toilets at Croxteth hall | Good |
| Town Park | 9 | 9 | Toilets at Leisure Centre | On side roads |
| Victoria Park | 4 | 4 | Limited toilet facilities. | Good |
| Beacon Park | 10 | 5 | Good | OK |
How much does it cost
Its FREE, even the refreshments are free if provided. The club pays a one off fee at the end of the season to cover the cost of everyone running.
NWSCCL Rules Small Print
The League Rules are available HERE. The main points for members being:
- You must wear a club vest/shirt
- All club members are welcome to participate and join in.
- Mens team is the first 6, 1 of which must be a vet
- Ladies team is the first 3, 1 of which must be a vet.
Manchester Area Cross Country League
The Manchester area cross country league offers competitive cross county running across all age groups (junior through to senior and for both men and ladies leagues). There are separate races for senior men and ladies. The men's race is about 6 miles, the ladies about 5 miles.
The dates for the 2026/20217 season are below.
| 1 | Saturday 10 Oct | Woodbank Park, Stockport |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Saturday 14 Nov | Sherdley Park, St Helens |
| 3 | Saturday 28 Nov | Sefton Park (X-Challenge) |
| 4 | Saturday 16 Jan | Tatton Park |
| 5 | Saturday 13 Feb | Heaton Park, Manchester |
There is more information at the MACCL website.
How much does it cost
Its FREE. The club pays for your entry.
MACCL Rules Small Print
The full league rules are available are available on the MACCL website. The main points for members being:
- You must wear a club vest/shirt
- All club members are welcome to participate and join in.
- Men's team is the first 6 members from the club.
- Ladies team is the first 3 members from the club.
County and National Races
We enter our members into both the County Cross Country Championships and the National Cross Country Championships, which are significant events
featuring separate races for men and women. The men's race covers approximately 6 miles, while the women's race spans 5 miles.
Historically, the National Cross Country Championships have been hosted in various locations, including London, Nottingham, Alton Towers, and most
recently, Bolesworth in Cheshire. These events are open to all members, provided they are affiliated with English Athletics.
And Finally...
We usually go in convoy or share lifts from Lymm Library, watch our Face book page for more information.
Cross country is a great way of staying focused and race fit over the winter months and is great fun.
The undulating terrain and hills means you are using more muscles than in any other type of running, in turn strengthening the legs. The uneven ground stabilises lower leg muscles and develops them into great ‘shock absorbers’, whilst the changes of pace help improve the cardiovascular capacity of runners.
The courses are often muddy and wet and you are recommended to wear trail shoes as a minimum, if you have fell or cross-country spikes then so much the better. “Normal” road shoes will not be sufficient. Ask one of the club coaches for advice if unsure.
