Cross Country Training Thread

Ceepo · 28-11-2015 1:59pm

pconn062 wrote: »

In all honesty, after all that rain spikes would probably help a lot. If the ground is mucky or slippy then runners can be a bit of a pain. As Ceepo says bare feet would even be better, however I wouldn't try that either without practice as either it will lead to injury or hypothermia!

Never heard of anyone getting hypothermia from running barefoot. There is a chance of getting spiked alright but very rare most injury come from cuts from stones etc to the sole of the feet. That said most xc course now are more like park runs than xc.

Some of my thoughts on spikes for xc. Feel free to agree or disagree
Do not buy xc specific spikes. Usually they are more cushioned (you do not need a lot of cushioning as the ground in most cases is soft) with more material around the ankle for support. When this gets wet it gets heavy this is weight you don't need to be carrying around.
You don't need a lot of support either as the more ankle flexibility you have the better. This will help when you have to change direction on tight bends and also if the ground is uneven the more flexible in the foot the less it resonates up through the body.
9mm spikes at a minimum if not 12mm. I wouldn't even rule out 15mm depending on the course. Dungarvan definitely 9mm.

pconn062 · 28-11-2015 2:15pm

Ceepo wrote: »

Never heard of anyone getting hypothermia from running barefoot. There is a chance of getting spiked alright but very rare most injury come from cuts from stones etc to the sole of the feet. That said most xc course now are more like park runs than xc.

Some of my thoughts on spikes for xc. Feel free to agree or disagree
Do not buy xc specific spikes. Usually they are more cushioned (you do not need a lot of cushioning as the ground in most cases is soft) with more material around the ankle for support. When this gets wet it gets heavy this is weight you don't need to be carrying around.
You don't need a lot of support either as the more ankle flexibility you have the better. This will help when you have to change direction on tight bends and also if the ground is uneven the more flexible in the foot the less it resonates up through the body.
9mm spikes at a minimum if not 12mm. I wouldn't even rule out 15mm depending on the course. Dungarvan definitely 9mm.

The hypothermia thing was a joke. I just wouldn't be jumping into running your first cross country race barefoot, especially if you never tried it before. I always ran XC barefoot as a child but after one race where I split the whole bottom of my foot open after standing on a sharp rock, it was spikes all the way.

Agree with most of what you say about spikes, again for someone who has never wore spikes before I would ideally like to try them out a few times beforehand as it can be quite the shock to your calves and achilles tendon, if you spend all your time in big cushioned shoes.

Timmaay · 28-11-2015 3:16pm

Borrow a pair of them either.

KielyUnusual · 28-11-2015 5:06pm

28064212 wrote: »

Are XC spikes a necessity? Haven't done an XC race before, but have the Dublin Intermediates and National Novices in the next two Sundays. Not entirely convinced I'll stick with it, so don't want to buy a pair of runners I'll only use twice. Will I be at a huge disadvantage running in road runners?

They're an advantage definitely. I've seen lots of guys running barefoot and slipping in races. In fact, in this very same race last year there was such an incident. There are a good couple of 180 degree turns on the course. The same guy, even when he wasn't slipping, had to slow down to almost a halt at each of these bends. Made my job easier anyway

. Not sure if normal runners would be too much better either.

Borrowing a pair is also an option as Timmaay says. I'm sure if you ask some of the guys at your club, there will be a few spare pairs lopping about that might be your size.

Myles Splitz · 28-11-2015 5:08pm

There anyone else down for tomorrow bar 28064212, Kiely and myself?

KielyUnusual · 28-11-2015 5:11pm

Myles Splitz wrote: »

No harm in pointing out but if anyone is interested but doesn't have a team there is also a county team competition where the first 4 from each county score.

Seem to recall a former boardsie here picking up a medal last year this way despite his club only getting 6th.

As mentioned DSD should be greatly improved this year as they had top 2 in Dublins as well as some high scoring u 23s elsewhere in other team comp's this year.

Leevale should be decimated between Inter Clubs and last years Novice win there are alot ruled out of eligibility mind you they still had enough to win Munsters this year

Attached and below are the results for all provincial Novice Championship (bar Connaught as I couldn't find them)

http://www.munsterathletics.com/results/2015/Cross%20Country/Munster%20Even%20Age%20&%20Novice%20XC%202015.pdf

http://www.dublinathletics.com/attachments/article/397/Novice%202015%20Results.pdf

http://athleticsleinster.org/images/results/Individual%20Results%20Day%202%20Moyvalley%2025.10.15.pdf

On paper strongest would look to be Malachy's however I reckon many of the northern teams won't travel.

I think tomorrow's race should give us a good idea where we stand for the National Novice. Some of our strong runners are returning although there will be a couple more potential scorers again for the novice.

Got to fancy DSD's chances with the top 2 from the Dublin Novice running. Leeval always in with a shout given the sheer depth of their squad. From the Leinster Novice, Cellbridge also had a lot of runners up the top of the field so might have a good chance.

As ever with cross country, you never know who will show up and anything can happen in a day. Would absolutely love to win a team gold in the National Novice though and I think we're in with a good shout

RayCun · 28-11-2015 6:11pm

I'm in, god knows why :pac:

Ceepo · 28-11-2015 6:35pm

KielyUnusual wrote: »

As ever with cross country, you never know who will show up and anything can happen in a day. Would absolutely love to win a team gold in the National Novice though and I think we're in with a good shout

^^^ This, important to remember that there will be more eligible to run the National novice than were eligible to run the provincial novice. There would be a good number of athletes knocked out of provincial champs over the years.

A medal of any colour is a nice gold even nicer but let's not get greedy

thewolf_ie · 28-11-2015 7:25pm

I'm in it to win it!

Timmaay · 28-11-2015 7:57pm

Should have a tidy enough team here at the novice also!

Myles Splitz · 28-11-2015 8:06pm

Timmaay wrote: »

Should have a tidy enough team here at the novice also!

By my reckoning I have a about 6 boardsies down for the mens race

Sacksian · 28-11-2015 10:50pm

Lots of confidence around here!

Here are the results from the Novice in 2007, last time it was held in Dungarvan:

http://www.athleticsireland.ie/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/Novice%20Men%20XC%20Dec07.pdf

Under 100 points got you a medal again. Also, a good omen for Timmaay - Sli Cualann got bronze (just missing out on silver on countback)...

KielyUnusual · 28-11-2015 11:14pm

Sacksian wrote: »

Lots of confidence around here!

Here are the results from the Novice in 2007, last time it was held in Dungarvan:

http://www.athleticsireland.ie/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/Novice%20Men%20XC%20Dec07.pdf

Under 100 points got you a medal again. Also, a good omen for Timmaay - Sli Cualann got bronze (just missing out on silver on countback)...

Ha, its all a veneer to mask our countless deficiencies.

Lots of big names in the top 20 there. Even the likes of Tom Fitzpatrick in 37th :eek:

No Crusaders at all though.

youngrun · 28-11-2015 11:30pm

KielyUnusual wrote: »

Ha, its all a veneer to mask our countless deficiencies.

Lots of big names in the top 20 there. Even the likes of Tom Fitzpatrick in 37th :eek:

No Crusaders at all though.

Ran it then and it feels like yesterday !! Great race bedlam start crazy fast pace and every place a battle . Where is the winner these days ?
We had a galway girl run a stormer to take second from tenth at start of last lap think she is a crusader now ..!

Jakey Rolling · 29-11-2015 7:21am

28064212 wrote: »

Are XC spikes a necessity? Haven't done an XC race before, but have the Dublin Intermediates and National Novices in the next two Sundays. Not entirely convinced I'll stick with it, so don't want to buy a pair of runners I'll only use twice. Will I be at a huge disadvantage running in road runners?

I use a pair of old Adidas fell running shoes - better grip than road shoes, can also be used for trail runs and short road sections.

When replacing these I'll be getting Inov8s, probably the Mudclaw.

BeepBeep67 · 30-11-2015 6:29pm

Cold and muddy cross-country exists outside running's fads and fashions

Cross-country is an effective part of winter training, but with thousands of pitfalls to negotiate in every race, it’s more than just a means to an end

Sacksian · 02-12-2015 10:16am

youngrun · 02-12-2015 12:08pm

The Curragh race was incredible to watch . Was injured but had a team up there with club I had organised so headed up. The start was something else like something out of braveheart . One of our guys was running top 20 early on 5 min miling but completely blew a gasket on the last lap ended in the 70s. I remember the finish chutes being piled into at an incredible rate, one per second I would say mid pack.

pconn062 · 02-12-2015 12:21pm

Ha, what happened in 2008, winning time 22:35! :eek: I ran in Ballyhaise once when I was a junior, and to say it was a bog is an understatement. Parts of it were un-runable, crawling through muck and hedges.

Sacksian · 02-12-2015 12:25pm

youngrun wrote: »

The Curragh race was incredible to watch . Was injured but had a team up there with club I had organised so headed up. The start was something else like something out of braveheart . One of our guys was running top 20 early on 5 min miling but completely blew a gasket on the last lap ended in the 70s. I remember the finish chutes being piled into at an incredible rate, one per second I would say mid pack.

I've heard the 'Braveheart' reference a couple of times in relation to that Curragh race, as well as stories of the ground shaking from the stampede at the start!

BeepBeep67 · 02-12-2015 12:25pm

pconn062 wrote: »

Ha, what happened in 2008, winning time 22:35! :eek: I ran in Ballyhaise once when I was a junior, and to say it was a bog is an understatement. Parts of it were un-runable, crawling through muck and hedges.

Cavan: Where time stands still!

EauRouge79 · 02-12-2015 12:26pm

Munster Masters last Sunday. Wind Rain, Muck & ****e in Cappawhite, Co Tipp.

Arrived only to be greeted by Juveniles leaving "the field", having completed their races and a good number of them hobbling or being carried by parents. One ambulance with flashing lights also. Very encouraging start to the day. Leaving with ankles in tact would be an achievement in itself.
Our races got underway early (about 40mins early), it wasn't a day for hanging around but id say some folks were still sitting in their cars when the gun went off.
If you had asked me last week, I would have said that I had run 3 cross country races previously...but no....this would qualify as an official debut. There was only 2 short stretches on the 1.5k loop with any grass available, the rest was a slog through the ankle deep muck. Every time you planted your foot you didn't know what to expect, a rock, solid ground, a tree root. We must have looked like a bunch of newborn foals out there.

Post race facilities were a wash using a garden hose behind a house across the road and a cup of coffee at the side of the road in bare feet. Were proper hard!

I am officially baptised in the church of XC.

Sacksian · 02-12-2015 12:29pm

pconn062 wrote: »

Ha, what happened in 2008, winning time 22:35! :eek: I ran in Ballyhaise once when I was a junior, and to say it was a bog is an understatement. Parts of it were un-runable, crawling through muck and hedges.

Yeah, 2008 also had a great standard of runner throughout the Top 20. I presume it was a long course in 2008 and 2007 was probably short too?

Ceepo · 02-12-2015 1:15pm

EauRouge79 wrote: »

Munster Masters last Sunday. Wind Rain, Muck & ****e in Cappawhite, Co Tipp.

Arrived only to be greeted by Juveniles leaving "the field", having completed their races and a good number of them hobbling or being carried by parents. One ambulance with flashing lights also. Very encouraging start to the day. Leaving with ankles in tact would be an achievement in itself.
Our races got underway early (about 40mins early), it wasn't a day for hanging around but id say some folks were still sitting in their cars when the gun went off.
If you had asked me last week, I would have said that I had run 3 cross country races previously...but no....this would qualify as an official debut. There was only 2 short stretches on the 1.5k loop with any grass available, the rest was a slog through the ankle deep muck. Every time you planted your foot you didn't know what to expect, a rock, solid ground, a tree root. We must have looked like a bunch of newborn foals out there.

Post race facilities were a wash using a garden hose behind a house across the road and a cup of coffee at the side of the road in bare feet. Were proper hard!

I am officially baptised in the church of XC.

Lol so you ran a xc race and it was in a field, where did you expect it to be. And the race in the "field" was on in November did you expect billard table conditions. ?

At least you had some grass to run on in some places lol. I remember a few xc races over the years where you couldn't find any grass at all. Masters in Clare spring to mind as does national intermediate in Donegal a few years ago....

But at least you enjoyed it sur it's great crack. Lol

youngrun · 02-12-2015 1:21pm

Sacksian wrote: »

Yeah, 2008 also had a great standard of runner throughout the Top 20. I presume it was a long course in 2008 and 2007 was probably short too?

Ballyhaise was an ice bog, there were still sheets of ice over puddles on the course for Novice race. Mud everywhere. And some very tough hills.
Dungarvan is a very fast course , wouldnt be surprised at the times. Didnt clock distance in 07 but its flat , good underfoot and a few very quick sections .

Myles Splitz · 02-12-2015 3:40pm

EauRouge79 wrote: »

Munster Masters last Sunday. Wind Rain, Muck & ****e in Cappawhite, Co Tipp.

Arrived only to be greeted by Juveniles leaving "the field", having completed their races and a good number of them hobbling or being carried by parents. One ambulance with flashing lights also. Very encouraging start to the day. Leaving with ankles in tact would be an achievement in itself.
Our races got underway early (about 40mins early), it wasn't a day for hanging around but id say some folks were still sitting in their cars when the gun went off.
If you had asked me last week, I would have said that I had run 3 cross country races previously...but no....this would qualify as an official debut. There was only 2 short stretches on the 1.5k loop with any grass available, the rest was a slog through the ankle deep muck. Every time you planted your foot you didn't know what to expect, a rock, solid ground, a tree root. We must have looked like a bunch of newborn foals out there.

Post race facilities were a wash using a garden hose behind a house across the road and a cup of coffee at the side of the road in bare feet. Were proper hard!

I am officially baptised in the church of XC.

And this is before father time embellishes the story. Wait 20 years when you are telling kids how easy they have it compared to "running in the good aul days" where we were all "real runners" :P

jaggiebunnet · 02-12-2015 3:48pm

Ceepo wrote: »

Lol so you ran a xc race and it was in a field, where did you expect it to be. And the race in the "field" was on in November did you expect billard table conditions. ?

At least you had some grass to run on in some places lol. I remember a few xc races over the years where you couldn't find any grass at all. Masters in Clare spring to mind as does national intermediate in Donegal a few years ago....

But at least you enjoyed it sur it's great crack. Lol

I was there - my son was running - I think field would be an over elaborate description of this -- it did in fact remind me of the bog that is used in irelands fittest family, i think it would still be in pretty much this condition if we went in July never mind November!

a minutes silence for all the shoes that were lost in the swamp please...

Myles Splitz · 02-12-2015 3:53pm

jaggiebunnet wrote: »

I was there - my son was running - I think field would be an over elaborate description of this -- it did in fact remind me of the bog that is used in irelands fittest family, i think it would still be in pretty much this condition if we went in July never mind November!

a minutes silence for all the shoes that were lost in the swamp please...

Reminds me of All Ireland's in Mallow a good few years back with approx 10% of all participants in each race walking the course after to try and recover shoes lost in race (not sure if anyone actually managed to recover any :P)

Clearlier · 03-12-2015 3:20pm

Myles Splitz wrote: »

Reminds me of All Ireland's in Mallow a good few years back with approx 10% of all participants in each race walking the course after to try and recover shoes lost in race (not sure if anyone actually managed to recover any :P)

Reminds me of why I stopped racing cross country! My last race was about 20 years ago. Intercounties in Dungarvan IIRC. I finished 2nd last and by an absolute miracle with 2 shoes. Later on I watched as John Treacy and Catherina McKiernan took part in a different sport as they seemed to skim over the surface.

All that said I might have been running in one this weekend if I didn't have to travel somewhere else. It's on a well drained sandy soil parkland course though. I like the idea of cross country and much prefer to train on trails and grass but when it comes to competing I'm just too heavy for mudbaths.

Sacksian · 03-12-2015 6:23pm

Preview of Novice here: http://www.athleticsireland.ie/news/big-numbers-set-for-glohealth-novice-and-uneven-ages-in-dungarvan

Entry list here: http://www.athleticsireland.ie/downloads/other/Novice_entry_list_2015.pdf

St. Abban's & Ennis Track look very strong (as do quite a few teams!).

Lougheee · 03-12-2015 6:42pm

Ennis Track will walk it if that team shows up.

Dunboyne for 2016

Myles Splitz · 03-12-2015 6:48pm

Lougheee wrote: »

Dunboyne for 2016

Was just looking at you guys actually reckon yourselves and Cru could be fighting for a medal to.

Lougheee · 03-12-2015 7:23pm

Myles Splitz wrote: »

Was just looking at you guys actually reckon yourselves and Cru could be fighting for a medal to.

Yeah I think we'll have a good run out on Sunday. Here's hoping anyway. We need to properly target this race as we definitely have a team that can challenge for the title. Its like each one of us takes turns being unfit or injured each year.

I remember the U/19 race of 07' very well. Last time I raced there. I think you may have done it yourself.

Hard to know results with the Novice, all these clubs I have never even heard of. Such an unknown. I remember thinking Donore would win it two years ago and they duly dominated, but never easy on the day.

Notwork Error · 03-12-2015 8:25pm

Lougheee wrote: »

Ennis Track will walk it if that team shows up.

They all look to be in good form as well. Karl Fitzmaurice and Patrick Chesser were first and second in Munster novice and looked strong. Damien Landers finished up third in the mud at Munster senior comfortably ahead of the likes of Brian McMahon, Colm Sheehan and Philip Harty and he should feel a lot more comfortable stepping down. Kevin was just outside top-50 in interclubs and Brian Murphy was laying down some decent times on the track over the summer. Really hard to see them being beaten.

KielyUnusual · 03-12-2015 9:04pm

Lougheee wrote: »

Yeah I think we'll have a good run out on Sunday. Here's hoping anyway. We need to properly target this race as we definitely have a team that can challenge for the title. Its like each one of us takes turns being unfit or injured each year.

I remember the U/19 race of 07' very well. Last time I raced there. I think you may have done it yourself.

Hard to know results with the Novice, all these clubs I have never even heard of. Such an unknown. I remember thinking Donore would win it two years ago and they duly dominated, but never easy on the day.

Yea, hard to account for injuries and other issues. We said after the Novice last year that we would really target it this year. As it turns out our top four scorers from last year are all out with injury/taking a break and the best runner at our club who couldn't run last year is taking a break from running for a while. Even with that, we've had one guy come back from injury and a lot come through so we have a really solid squad without having anyone that would be really challenging up at the top of the field. Will be very difficult to medal but we should be in with a shout anyway. Either way, I'm really looking forward to it and sounds like it will be a class race up front.

Hard to luck beyond Ennis TC for the title with the summary given up above by NE. Lot of top class runners there.

Sacksian · 04-12-2015 1:15pm

I'd love to be very confident of our chances of a medal but given the usual tightness of finishers once you're outside the top 20, every team beyond the likely champions could be looking at a fairly wide spread. If everyone (ahead of me) on our team turns up and performs to their ability, I definitely think we have a chance - especially if other teams don't (turn up / perform to their ability!).

Ceepo · 04-12-2015 3:39pm

Notwork Error wrote: »

They all look to be in good form as well. Karl Fitzmaurice and Patrick Chesser were first and second in Munster novice and looked strong.

Would you believe the guy who finished in front of them (won u23) was eligible for Novice but wasn't entered due to "administration error".
The mind boggles

Ceepo · 04-12-2015 6:29pm

Just looking at my own county's team (Tipp) .
Assume they all turn they will be very strong and may well be close to medals. I think a least 6 of them are capable of been in the top 40/50 ish if they run to form.

With the weather warning for the next 24 hrs to add to yesterday's rain fall, it will make things very interesting

Sacksian · 04-12-2015 7:47pm

Ceepo wrote: »

Just looking at my own county's team (Tipp) .
Assume they all turn they will be very strong and may well be close to medals. I think a least 6 of them are capable of been in the top 40/50 ish if they run to form.

With the weather warning for the next 24 hrs to add to yesterday's rain fall, it will make things very interesting

https://www.facebook.com/wwathletics/photos/a.112969295402057.11478.110810122284641/1053269551372022/?type=3&theater

Ceepo · 04-12-2015 8:03pm

Sacksian wrote: »

https://www.facebook.com/wwathletics/photos/a.112969295402057.11478.110810122284641/1053269551372022/?type=3&theater

Looks great. Time to go look for the the 12mm spikes. At least it might slow the fast lads down a bit. Lol
I think this photo was taken at last week's Munster masters xc

pconn062 · 05-12-2015 11:33pm

Good luck all tomorrow, I would give my right arm to be running with you. May the wind be at your back.

KielyUnusual · 05-12-2015 11:45pm

From the Waterford AC facebook

Course ready but it will be pure muck all the way

Love it

Best of luck to everyone heading down.

Ceepo · 06-12-2015 12:12am

KielyUnusual wrote: »

From the Waterford AC facebook

Love it

Best of luck to everyone heading down.

+1 to this, even if i have feck all running done in the last few months,
Hey Kiely we might have a place on the Tipp team how are you fixed?

Done hold your breath though as i hear we might have the bronze medal winner for DCM running with us,

KielyUnusual · 06-12-2015 12:25am

Ceepo wrote: »

+1 to this, even if i have feck all running done in the last few months,
Hey Kiely we might have a place on the Tipp team how are you fixed?
Done hold your breath though as i hear we might have the bronze medal winner for DCM running with us,

Would love to run for Tipp but as it is I'm running for bleedin Dublin. They just pick people from the Dublin Novice mainly. Today I found out I'm going to have to wear the singlet too. Very conflicted

Ceepo · 06-12-2015 12:45am

KielyUnusual wrote: »

Would love to run for Tipp but as it is I'm running for bleedin Dublin. They just pick people from the Dublin Novice mainly. Today I found out I'm going to have to wear the singlet too. Very conflicted

So you will be the one in the Dublin singlet running with there head bowed in shame, lol.
Dont forget to introduce yourself, i will be the old fellow with the receeding no hair line running for tipp waaayyy back the field, probably with a Ballynonty AC jacket on before hand

RayCun · 06-12-2015 8:31am

About to hit the road (if there still is a road)
Good luck everyone, we'll have the kids churn it up nicely for you!

Firedance · 06-12-2015 8:58am

Good luck everyone & enjoy!!!

Timmaay · 06-12-2015 7:39pm

Firedance wrote: »

Good luck everyone & enjoy!!!

Enjoy is usually wayyy too generous a word for xc ha, but I can actually say I enjoyed today, prb one of my best xc races ever. Fitness definitely there, only minor complaint would be mentally still leaving that bit on the track, 5 seconds in a stacked field like today can mean 5places lost.

youngrun · 06-12-2015 11:02pm

Timmaay wrote: »

Enjoy is usually wayyy too generous a word for xc ha, but I can actually say I enjoyed today, prb one of my best xc races ever. Fitness definitely there, only minor complaint would be mentally still leaving that bit on the track, 5 seconds in a stacked field like today can mean 5places lost.

That's a serious run by you in that field well done !

Great course very hard work . Ran hard as I could but don't have the pace for this at all but enjoyed it . Great to see a Galway guy in top three .
What happened crusaders women team big preview on web and no runners ??!

Ceepo · 06-12-2015 11:08pm

Well done to all today. Great race and well organised. Sorry lads but at a bit if of a disadvantage as I don't know all your real names. But we'll done all the same

Cross Country Training Thread

Comments