Time for a new cross country race?

[Tim]

Whilst you're thinking about resurrecting the 1/2 marathon (or even the 10K) what do you think about a new CC race?

I ask because CC racing, as it occurs in Ayrshire, doesn't really excite me. Too much grass, not enough obstacles. My vision of a good CC course would be one that incorporates stream/river crossings, ditches, fallen trees, hills and lots of mud.

With those prerequisites in mind, I started thinking about where to have a race and Rozelle park came to mind. It's got a stream, some short sharp hills, lots of mud in places and plenty of ditches and fallen trees. What's more, it's even got changing rooms.

Clearly the park isn't very big so you'd probably have to run two or three laps but given the obstacles, the distance is less important.

Whaddaya think? Crazy pipe dream or an idea worth pursuing?

Should I just forget CC racing and take up orienteering instead? ;D

[Kevan]

Sounds like mountain marathons are more your thing tim, orienteering while running up a mountain and i bet you even need a head torch.

I actually had the same thought not that long ago but i ruled it out for being too short. we sometimes do a lap of it in the summer and i cant see where you would get to cross the burn except on a bridge, boring. I also dont think the hills are that steep, are they? One perimeter lap is about a mile so you would have to add a few loops. Not being too negative am i? I do like the idea.

I guess we could cut down some trees and strategically place them for maximum impact, like at the top of a hill so that you actually have to stop and lift each leg over one a time with assistance of your arms. Come back Killie log, all is forgiven.

We could do a beach race along the sand, that would be a stinker. Troon to prestwick and you have to negotiate that little burn that is suprisingly deep.

Kevan.

[colin]

ah memories of real country courses sadly lacking these day girvan possibly nearest not as good as old course or that twisty course at stewarton or even ploughd field at troon cumnock also had good tough course and who remembers dumfries and stone dykes see thats what happens when we get soft

[Tim]

Hi Kevan,

Rozelle is a bit on the small side but I reckon with a bit of wiggling around 2.5km laps would be easy to create, maybe even 3km. I really need to have a good wander round and check where one could stagger across the stream. It's possible that its banks may be just too steep to safely negotiate. How about a splash through the duck ponds? ;D

Regarding a beach run, I've been floating the idea of a "Pow burn paddle" for a while now (without doing anything about it needless to say). I had in mind a race from Walker Hall in Troon, down the beach, across the Pow burn and back again, possibly after collecting a token from someone at the halfway point to prove that the crossing had been done. Easy to marshal, no traffic to worry about and suitably silly. Might even offer an extra "Killie Pie Cup" to contestants who do it immediately after consuming a Killie Pie at the start. (Automatic disqualification for anyone who throws up. ;D)

[tokenenglishman]

Beach run sounds a good idea, especially if there are piles of rotting seaweed etc to climb over, supply your own life jackets, snorkels for a shortcut through the surf etc
Auchincruive Estate would be another good location ( plenty of tracks through woods, hills etc ) more suitable for trail shoes than spikes.
Crossing the river Ayr ( especially today ) could be a bit life threatening but if we want a REAL XC course the sacrifice would be worth it

[Kevan]

Well Tim lets organise it, we could call it the sea tortoise race

Just need to pick a day and find out when low tide is. i am sure there is more to it but that is enough for now.