I did some CC races as a teenager for my school. Nowadays I run on roads most of the time but love trail running. Cross Country sadly not my cup of tea (seems like a very competitive ParkRun plus I hate mud when running, did a Tough Mudder once for fun but wouldn't like to do it again) although I am sure it makes you a stronger runner and can definitely boost your spring/summer season when going back to road racing. Hats off Ben for getting out of your comfort zone and giving CC a go 💪💪 Would be awesome to one day see you do Tough Mudder/Spartan Race 😄
XC is great fun but also very humbling if your fitness in not great. National XC is an amazing experience. You and Sarah should definitely run it if you get the chance.
Winter is my favourite season for running because of XC. The summer has the road races for myself, lots of pressure to make training work and it’s all business. Come the winter though, I rejoin the club senior team and spend most weekends having the best fun getting covered in mud, tackling brutal courses, having friendly competition amongst the team and is a sure fire way to maintain and build running fitness. I hated it at school but at 42, XC is my absolute favourite thing to do
Like you say, Ben, XC is the most traditional form of racing and is wonderful in its purity. The team aspect and camaraderie adds an extra dimension too,
Loved this, i remember about 40 years ago in the national championships at PF Julian Goater skating across the mud and leaving the field in his wake, absolutely loved racing x country, my best ever was 37th in the nationals as a junior and 12th in my county Surrey, a long time ago, but UK X country the best, well done for getting it done,
XC is probably my favourite aspect of running and one of the best reasons for being in a club. It is the best kind of training too, I find my best improvements come from it both in terms of strength and in terms of speed/breathing. The best way, which you did as well, is to set yourself up to be picking people off the whole way. Great video! Thank you!
Love that you're doing some XC. Some of my best experiences of running are competing in XC races. Admittedly, the races themselves are horrendous but they're worth doing for the social side. Even if you don't feel like giving an all out effort on the day, you're helping your club just by being there.
In my limited XC experience, your road "easy / aerobic" pace, can easily send you full lactic when you take into account the bad footing, mud and hills. It's a totally different beast to road running.
Definitely some pleasure v’s pain in XC, but I keep coming back to it. It’s very pure racing, no gimmicks, just you against the hill and the fella ahead if you. There’s also a proper community element to it as well.
I've just started my second season of cross country. Always hard work but love the team day out. So much so I'm running in two leagues for two clubs this year! I did nationals at Parliament Hill this year and they unreal. Definitely worth experiencing next time it's there
It's my 2nd season too = travelled to the nationals at parliament hill from up north this year! I was still on the comeback from CV-19, so it definitely wasn't my finest race! Enjoyed it all the same (after it was done with).
Very well done Ben. I use to run cross country and did the National many years ago. My good friend won the senior men's event in 96, Justin Pugsley. Great effort 👌
loved it at school like 40 years ago mid winter through the orchards I was reseasonably good at it ,relatively, always in top 5 and 2 of the boys ran for Kent . Im not sure looking back now my judgement isn't skewered since a good proportion would do Anything to get out of running ...
Amazing!!! All that history booggles the mind! Congrats. XC is my favorite discipline in running. Nothing like doning the Team kit and engaging in a little sufferfest!
I love the cross country, always have a great time, parliament hill is the hardest XC run around, I’ve done the nationals 3 times now, you will probably like the XC Sunday league, serpentine used to get to the Run Herts XC league which goes on in hertfordshire, much more of a relaxed enjoyable affair, well done 👍
I did my first xc in 39 years last weekend. Bloody loved it! Ran in the same shoes as yourself … mine WERE white 🤦🏼♂️. There is no shoe tuber that does xc shoe reviews. If you get into the xc there is definitely a market for reviews and opinions. Glad you enjoyed it. Very different racing to running on the road.
In my younger days all schools did cross country. At my school it was either cross country or rugby in the winter. Wasn't built for rugby so running was the only option. Still doing it over 60 years later
Did the national this year in Feb, had COVID over xmas so really wasn't fit for it, and it's probably the worst and most humbling race I've had - yet I still really enjoyed it! Down at Sefton Park tomorrow for the British Cross Challenge (which includes the European Cross Country Championships Trials)! Looking forward to it and might do the nationals again this year, bit closer to home this time!
XC depends on the course & conditions somewhat..... This years Saucony ECCA national championships near Chester was run on a dry, relatively flat course & the going was fast, little or no mud and no real inclines 😊
Most XC leagues allow people without a club to participate, usually for a low fee. You will need to be a member of your national body, so for England that's England Athletics, which is £ 15 for the year. Check with the organisers first, of course. The benefit for club members is that Cross Country races are free, so excellent value, and a good reason to join a club. Cross country builds strength and strength endurance, so ideal training for road runners looking to add to speed endurance, and help them cope with adverse conditions, like running up hills or into a headwind, or the last 5-10k of a half or full marathon.
XC events here in England greatly differ from the golf course looking ones in America. Having seen people lose shoes at events when they hit a boggy section, I learnt to get longer laces so that I tied them under my shoe as well.
Theres nothing like cross country - its the best period of the club racing calendar by miles... the nationals is an event you have to try, its just indescribable how hard parliament hill is in late February!
Well done for throwing yourself in there Ben. We're in the middle of xc season, I've a love hate relationship with itmydelf. Only one way to train for it though and that's on the land, you forget about time and it can be very humbling when you get your ass kicked by some tough athletes.
Running XC with a go pro and still talking 😂 means you definitely weren’t giving it the max! 😉 Love XC and have run at Parliament Hill a few times, you’re right that start is iconic and even better when you are in the middle of it. Make sure you enter the 2023 Nationals, they’re at Bolesworth Castle this year.
Great run Ben! I have a love hate relationship with XC. I used to run a lot of it but used to think I was crap as I could 'only' run 35/36 for 10km at best and I knew people who ran closer to 30. I now would tell younger me that's quite a skewed view!! There is a large element of truth in your 'if I was 20 years younger' comment, as despite the fact its an endurance sport its something you just run freely when you're young, making use of that natural power and pace. So tough in the moment but always enjoy completing a cross race.
I've ran on this hill before and it's bloody hard. Well done, Ben! Maybe you can train for cross country next year and see how well you can do. Not easy to run such a race when you're thinking about the marathon in a couple of weeks!
I did my first xc season with my club last year, also did the nationals at parliment hill which was mental, people flying all over the place with shoes coming off and everything in deep mud. Dont think the nationals are being hosted there noxt year though.
Used to be my favourite discipline when I was vaguely fit in my 20s as I could often beat guys who would annihilate me on the track. Wouldn't dream of running one now that I'm old and unfit.
What a coincidence, I just watched the women's NCAA D1 final yesterday. It looks like fun, though I'd say the women's 20 min.- 6k races is of course more more easy to fit into a viewing schedule.
HI, I enjoy following the US X country, watched that one and pleased KT won, although the weather a lot colder the US courses dont look anywhere as tough as the UK, seen some of them in California actually including roads, standard and depth is brilliant though, can recommend checking out Newbury Park, amazing set of High School runners
Hi Ben, I have recently acquired a hernia, and I’m looking for positive stories on recovery and return to sport, particularly from a no mesh procedure. I saw your video from 2 years ago where you had yours repaired, and it’s great to see that you’re back out doing what you love. If it’s not too much to ask, could you please reply to this telling me how your injury has been since? How long did it take before you started to feel yourself again? And do you notice any difference to this day? Thank you very much in advance, I’m really worried.
I raced my first cross country race this year at the age of 21 and my goodness that was tough😂it was a super awesome opportunity to race against pro athletes though and putting myself out there in a way that road running just can’t! Also started racing track for the first time this em year too, different type of tough hay
Hi I just moved to north london Im lookgint to start racing again afert 15 years stop is there club ~i can join somewhere and go on the regional weekly races and have a team to train with : I'm 29
Well done on a new medium. Could you tell me benefits of running with gloves? U have then on in other videos is it just for the watch( so u can feel what to press) does it add anything else?
That does look like a pair of spikes Ben.... ? How did you feel with spikes and not trails shoes? I love XC (yearly) 😆 I'm in 2023 Xterra Snowdonia Ultra Trail Marathon join me....! Not for PB's
I have a love/hate relationship with cross country. It's definitely NOT my preferred type of running (I like a flattish road course where I can trust my footing and get into a rhythm, and being a middle of the pack runner, I'm usually racing against the clock rather than other people) but I think it does wonders for your mental strength besides any physical benefits. I tend to find I have a good spring on the roads if I've suffered a few cross country races in the winter.
Haha taking on one of the toughest courses for your first XC. You have to do nationals its amazing mate. This year I tried to win the king of the hill battle their 🤣😅😂. Well done though xc is tough but makes you strong for the roads
Great work running the race. It is even more brutal to run when you are a slower runner at the back, the first time I ran a race it was 70 mins and I was 3rd from last, but it was a challenge to do. Missing this cross country this year with a knee injury.
Can't believe this was your first cross country race! Back in the day, when i were a lad, everyone started by running cross country. There wasn't much else to do between October and March! Raced on the country all winter and then switched to the track for the really serious stuff. Always thought that racing and training on the country was far better conditioning for the track than simply pounding the roads - and the risk of injury is far less. Run at Parliament Hill a few times; wouldn't call it a hilly course, more undulating than hilly. Unless the course has changed, there wasn't much flat going but you were never climbing very steep hills or descending very quickly.
Brutal is a very over used word, try January/February. The upcoming English National is being held at Bolesworth Castle in Cheshire and the Southerns at Beckenham. Any senior distance runner worth his salt should be competing.
Who loves cross country???
I did back in my army days. But at 42 I would be way too paranoid about going over on my ankle. Great vid as usual 👌
me
I did at school 30+ years ago 😂
I did some CC races as a teenager for my school. Nowadays I run on roads most of the time but love trail running. Cross Country sadly not my cup of tea (seems like a very competitive ParkRun plus I hate mud when running, did a Tough Mudder once for fun but wouldn't like to do it again) although I am sure it makes you a stronger runner and can definitely boost your spring/summer season when going back to road racing.
Hats off Ben for getting out of your comfort zone and giving CC a go 💪💪
Would be awesome to one day see you do Tough Mudder/Spartan Race 😄
Nice thing to do in winter in between the track season which I much prefer. Still a lot better than indoors though
I love it, racing in it's purest form 👍
XC is great fun but also very humbling if your fitness in not great. National XC is an amazing experience. You and Sarah should definitely run it if you get the chance.
Yes, we are hoping too! Sarah just needs to get her club sorted. Will make a video of it if we do!
Hallo guys
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Winter is my favourite season for running because of XC. The summer has the road races for myself, lots of pressure to make training work and it’s all business. Come the winter though, I rejoin the club senior team and spend most weekends having the best fun getting covered in mud, tackling brutal courses, having friendly competition amongst the team and is a sure fire way to maintain and build running fitness. I hated it at school but at 42, XC is my absolute favourite thing to do
Like you say, Ben, XC is the most traditional form of racing and is wonderful in its purity. The team aspect and camaraderie adds an extra dimension too,
Loved this, i remember about 40 years ago in the national championships at PF Julian Goater skating across the mud and leaving the field in his wake, absolutely loved racing x country, my best ever was 37th in the nationals as a junior and 12th in my county Surrey, a long time ago, but UK X country the best, well done for getting it done,
XC is probably my favourite aspect of running and one of the best reasons for being in a club. It is the best kind of training too, I find my best improvements come from it both in terms of strength and in terms of speed/breathing. The best way, which you did as well, is to set yourself up to be picking people off the whole way. Great video! Thank you!
Love that you're doing some XC. Some of my best experiences of running are competing in XC races. Admittedly, the races themselves are horrendous but they're worth doing for the social side. Even if you don't feel like giving an all out effort on the day, you're helping your club just by being there.
In my limited XC experience, your road "easy / aerobic" pace, can easily send you full lactic when you take into account the bad footing, mud and hills. It's a totally different beast to road running.
Ben! Congratulations! Cross Country is another discipline...a great way to build leg strength and speed!
XC is amazing, the real spirit of racing and such a high standard of runner.
Well done Ben. I love cross country and fell/trail running. Kinda on your joints too.
Definitely some pleasure v’s pain in XC, but I keep coming back to it. It’s very pure racing, no gimmicks, just you against the hill and the fella ahead if you. There’s also a proper community element to it as well.
I've just started my second season of cross country. Always hard work but love the team day out. So much so I'm running in two leagues for two clubs this year! I did nationals at Parliament Hill this year and they unreal. Definitely worth experiencing next time it's there
It's my 2nd season too = travelled to the nationals at parliament hill from up north this year! I was still on the comeback from CV-19, so it definitely wasn't my finest race! Enjoyed it all the same (after it was done with).
Very well done Ben.
I use to run cross country and did the National many years ago. My good friend won the senior men's event in 96, Justin Pugsley.
Great effort 👌
Proper running did the National there when it was 9 miles. More runners need to do it no watch just pure effort.
loved it at school like 40 years ago mid winter through the orchards I was reseasonably good at it ,relatively, always in top 5 and 2 of the boys ran for Kent . Im not sure looking back now my judgement isn't skewered since a good proportion would do Anything to get out of running ...
Loved this. Thanks for sharing this with us.
Well done Ben!!! What a great video! and even better effort to try something new! Ersin
Amazing!!! All that history booggles the mind! Congrats. XC is my favorite discipline in running. Nothing like doning the Team kit and engaging in a little sufferfest!
My first year running XC this year too and I'm absolutely loving it. It hurts from the first k to the last but it's a great day out.
@benparkes well done congratulations good effort . Excellent Vlog. I finished in position 420 at a time of 1:02:55
I love the cross country, always have a great time, parliament hill is the hardest XC run around, I’ve done the nationals 3 times now, you will probably like the XC Sunday league, serpentine used to get to the Run Herts XC league which goes on in hertfordshire, much more of a relaxed enjoyable affair, well done 👍
I did my first xc in 39 years last weekend. Bloody loved it! Ran in the same shoes as yourself … mine WERE white 🤦🏼♂️. There is no shoe tuber that does xc shoe reviews. If you get into the xc there is definitely a market for reviews and opinions. Glad you enjoyed it. Very different racing to running on the road.
In my younger days all schools did cross country. At my school it was either cross country or rugby in the winter. Wasn't built for rugby so running was the only option. Still doing it over 60 years later
Remember my first ever XC in school. I finished dead last. Now I’m a 2:26 marathoner so I’m glad I stuck at it.
Did the national this year in Feb, had COVID over xmas so really wasn't fit for it, and it's probably the worst and most humbling race I've had - yet I still really enjoyed it! Down at Sefton Park tomorrow for the British Cross Challenge (which includes the European Cross Country Championships Trials)! Looking forward to it and might do the nationals again this year, bit closer to home this time!
XC depends on the course & conditions somewhat..... This years Saucony ECCA national championships near Chester was run on a dry, relatively flat course & the going was fast, little or no mud and no real inclines 😊
Well done mate! Although the nationals change location usually every year! I dont even know where they are in Feb but possibly in Leeds
Most XC leagues allow people without a club to participate, usually for a low fee. You will need to be a member of your national body, so for England that's England Athletics, which is £ 15 for the year. Check with the organisers first, of course. The benefit for club members is that Cross Country races are free, so excellent value, and a good reason to join a club. Cross country builds strength and strength endurance, so ideal training for road runners looking to add to speed endurance, and help them cope with adverse conditions, like running up hills or into a headwind, or the last 5-10k of a half or full marathon.
XC events here in England greatly differ from the golf course looking ones in America.
Having seen people lose shoes at events when they hit a boggy section, I learnt to get longer laces so that I tied them under my shoe as well.
Look cool 😎 never did one before might give a go..👋
6:13 You were right behind me! What a tough race
Well done Ben awesome XC running 🤩🏃🤩
Love them shoes Ben. Great background music and well done mate…. Cheers :)
Theres nothing like cross country - its the best period of the club racing calendar by miles... the nationals is an event you have to try, its just indescribable how hard parliament hill is in late February!
Well done for throwing yourself in there Ben. We're in the middle of xc season, I've a love hate relationship with itmydelf. Only one way to train for it though and that's on the land, you forget about time and it can be very humbling when you get your ass kicked by some tough athletes.
Running XC with a go pro and still talking 😂 means you definitely weren’t giving it the max! 😉 Love XC and have run at Parliament Hill a few times, you’re right that start is iconic and even better when you are in the middle of it. Make sure you enter the 2023 Nationals, they’re at Bolesworth Castle this year.
Great video! First one coming up in a couple of weeks, well it was until I watched this 😂, no looking forward to it.
fun video! nicely done, ben
Used to do Cross Country for my school, I don’t know how you can run so fast with a go pro? Respect👍
Great run Ben! I have a love hate relationship with XC. I used to run a lot of it but used to think I was crap as I could 'only' run 35/36 for 10km at best and I knew people who ran closer to 30. I now would tell younger me that's quite a skewed view!! There is a large element of truth in your 'if I was 20 years younger' comment, as despite the fact its an endurance sport its something you just run freely when you're young, making use of that natural power and pace. So tough in the moment but always enjoy completing a cross race.
What’s the difference between trail running and XC then? I’m a bit confused!
Well done Ben. We had our first league race last week, I’m still getting over it.
Well done Ben... congrats
I thought I saw you after my race u17 boys, but I was too scared to say hello. XC is a different animal
Let’s go! XC cherry officially popped! 👏
I believe the Nationals are in Cheshire next February 👍 they were at Parli Hill this year, bloody slog from start to finish!
I've ran on this hill before and it's bloody hard. Well done, Ben! Maybe you can train for cross country next year and see how well you can do. Not easy to run such a race when you're thinking about the marathon in a couple of weeks!
1st one season for me this Sunday at Penistone showground representing Sheffield RC
Did this race yesterday U15 came 3rd would have love to have seen you ben, well done mate
I did my first xc season with my club last year, also did the nationals at parliment hill which was mental, people flying all over the place with shoes coming off and everything in deep mud. Dont think the nationals are being hosted there noxt year though.
Loved the video Ben. Proper club athlete now.
That looks like a lot of fun!!
I didn’t do as well as you Ben, but I also did my first XC run today. Tough but enjoyable 😊
Well done Stephen!
@@BenParkes thanks… doing another one next Sunday 😵💫😊
Used to be my favourite discipline when I was vaguely fit in my 20s as I could often beat guys who would annihilate me on the track. Wouldn't dream of running one now that I'm old and unfit.
You make progress by putting yourself in difficult situations!! 🤜
You should get some Nike zoomx dragonflies to run in. And also when you’re warming up make sure you do it in your normal shoes, not your spikes
Love the line. There’s a reason I’ve not done cross country. ITS BLOODY DIFFICULT. 😂
Thanks Ben that was great!
Sorry I meant thanks Ben and Sarah!
What a coincidence, I just watched the women's NCAA D1 final yesterday. It looks like fun, though I'd say the women's 20 min.- 6k races is of course more more easy to fit into a viewing schedule.
HI, I enjoy following the US X country, watched that one and pleased KT won, although the weather a lot colder the US courses dont look anywhere as tough as the UK, seen some of them in California actually including roads, standard and depth is brilliant though, can recommend checking out Newbury Park, amazing set of High School runners
Hi Ben, I have recently acquired a hernia, and I’m looking for positive stories on recovery and return to sport, particularly from a no mesh procedure. I saw your video from 2 years ago where you had yours repaired, and it’s great to see that you’re back out doing what you love. If it’s not too much to ask, could you please reply to this telling me how your injury has been since? How long did it take before you started to feel yourself again? And do you notice any difference to this day? Thank you very much in advance, I’m really worried.
I raced my first cross country race this year at the age of 21 and my goodness that was tough😂it was a super awesome opportunity to race against pro athletes though and putting myself out there in a way that road running just can’t! Also started racing track for the first time this em year too, different type of tough hay
Started running XC for a club last year, best decision I've ever made!
The start of XC races always looks like absolute chaos
Did you used the already installed 6mm spikes ? These are for the track.
It is normally higher 9mm, 12mm or 15mm.
The award for Most Ironic Garment Appearance On RUclips 2022 goes to your Rest Day top!
That looks absolutely horrific! 😂 I’m not sure it’s even type 2 fun?! Well done Ben! 👏
Ha....I love XC but crikey, you make it harder on yourself holding up a Go-pro. Well done👏
Type 2 fun
A wild Phily Bowden appears @ 3:00!
How was the ankle on the mud? I typically go with 12-15mm spikes for Parliament Hill - what did you have? 6mm?
Awesome guitar music!
Trail running FTW. Road running is for beginners! 😉😂
Hi Ben - I’d love to see you try orienteering!!!
Hi I just moved to north london Im lookgint to start racing again afert 15 years stop is there club ~i can join somewhere and go on the regional weekly races and have a team to train with : I'm 29
Well done on a new medium. Could you tell me benefits of running with gloves? U have then on in other videos is it just for the watch( so u can feel what to press) does it add anything else?
the last time I ran at Parliament Hill it was a mud bath all the way !
That does look like a pair of spikes Ben.... ? How did you feel with spikes and not trails shoes?
I love XC (yearly) 😆 I'm in 2023 Xterra Snowdonia Ultra Trail Marathon join me....! Not for PB's
I have a love/hate relationship with cross country. It's definitely NOT my preferred type of running (I like a flattish road course where I can trust my footing and get into a rhythm, and being a middle of the pack runner, I'm usually racing against the clock rather than other people) but I think it does wonders for your mental strength besides any physical benefits. I tend to find I have a good spring on the roads if I've suffered a few cross country races in the winter.
The national is near Chester this year 👍🏻
Haha taking on one of the toughest courses for your first XC. You have to do nationals its amazing mate. This year I tried to win the king of the hill battle their 🤣😅😂. Well done though xc is tough but makes you strong for the roads
much more enjoyable than road running
You got this X-country run , Done !! 😊✅………..Hang on!! When you wear a “rest day” clothing, it does not mean rest day…. Lol.
Doing a XC race is like going back to your roots.
I can only imagine cruising past people in a cross-country race whilst chatting to a camera 😏
The only reason I get a high score in cross country is because I’m getting adrenaline when everyone is blasting misfiles of puke right at me
Is XC different than trail running? Sorry for being so ignorant :D
Am I right in saying you have to be part of a running club to participate?
Great work running the race. It is even more brutal to run when you are a slower runner at the back, the first time I ran a race it was 70 mins and I was 3rd from last, but it was a challenge to do. Missing this cross country this year with a knee injury.
I reckon Sarah should join Heathside to get a little competition going here 😂
how are your calves doing? Mine were hurting for 4 days after my first xc 2 weeks ago🤣
Moving from road to grass/mud = horrible.
Moving from grass/mud back to road = turbo charged!
Cross country training plan coming soon 😄
Can't believe this was your first cross country race! Back in the day, when i were a lad, everyone started by running cross country. There wasn't much else to do between October and March! Raced on the country all winter and then switched to the track for the really serious stuff. Always thought that racing and training on the country was far better conditioning for the track than simply pounding the roads - and the risk of injury is far less.
Run at Parliament Hill a few times; wouldn't call it a hilly course, more undulating than hilly. Unless the course has changed, there wasn't much flat going but you were never climbing very steep hills or descending very quickly.
Never wear a watch when racing. 🤪
Brutal is a very over used word, try January/February. The upcoming English National is being held at Bolesworth Castle in Cheshire and the Southerns at Beckenham. Any senior distance runner worth his salt should be competing.
Number 1 like let's go
Its not real xc until you’ve almost or have lost shoes in mud😂
Southern softy version of fell running....