Cross Country 2015-2016

Chingford League relays, Wanstead Flats - Saturday 5th March 2016

Team came 6th from 36 teams.

Chingford League - Victoria Park - Saturday 20th February 2016

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184 finishers.
Men's team was 3rd at Victoria Park and 4th place overall.
Ladies were 7th and 6th overall.
Thomas Grimes finished 3rd Senior Man, Patrick 10th and Paul Quinton 14th.
Jenny Ansell finished 6th Senior Woman. Dan Gritton was 5th Vet man.

Sunday XC League - Royston, Baldock - Final Event - Sunday 14th February 2016

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Thanks to those who made the long journey and competed for their club today. Thanks also to those running in one or more of the other Sunday League races. Special mention to Maud, Russell, Thomas and Doug who ran in all five. Great to see Thomas come in 2nd and WIN championship. Proud to be an East London Runner!
Royston 324 finishers. 202 men, 122 ladies.
Team results Royston - Both 15th of 20.
Overall Men 10th of 20, Ladies 12th of 20.



Congratulations to Thomas Grimes who won the Sunday League trophy for 1st Senior Male, after finishing 2nd at Royston XC today!

Southern XC Championships, Hampstead Heath - Saturday 30th January 2016

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Ladies 8,000m , Men 15,000m.
Both team's came 39th. The Ladies team from 53 teams, the men from 70 teams. Finisher's : Ladies 501, Men 1027.

Orion's Mercury 10 mile XC - Saturday 23rd January 2016

Sunday League - Event 4 - Cassiobury Park ,Watford XC - Sunday 17th January 2016

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A hardy Team from East London Runners took on the snow, mud and hills in Cassiobury Park in wanstead this morning in the 4th Race of the Sunday Cross Country League.




The ELR Team are ready for today's race!


222 men and 123 ladies.
Men's team 11th of 20, Vets 12th.
Ladies team 14th of 20, Vets 16th.

Essex XC Championships, Claybury - Saturday 9th January 2016

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Also life member Simon Morgan 136th (55.38) running for Colchester Harriers.

ELR men's team 12th and men's 'B' team 18th out of 19. (184 finished).
ELR women's team 9th and women's 'B' team 15th out of 18. (104 finished).

Ilford AC 10 mile XC - Race for Kev - Monday 28th December 2015

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Maya Goodwin
"This is the maddest thing I've ever done!"

I said that to a lot of people this morning. Most people in fact. I mean, I knew what was coming. I knew about the mud and the hills, from when I did The Old Lady Race last year. But I'd also forgotten about the mud and the hills. The total madness of them both.

It was an out and back race, with a loop at each end. Three laps. Which meant there was just LOADS of opportunity to see everyone. And everyone was just so cheerful. Even Scott, who's mantra I won't put in print here as I've been warned by Frank before about my language, but it had perfect pace and rhythm and made me laugh as he lapped me on the hill.

Maud, after we yelled at each other, a Dagenham 88 runner overtook me saying 'you East London Runners are the loudest!' He's not wrong.

Louise, your Eaton Manor cheer squad at the top of the first hill made me laugh. I honestly, genuinely thought they meant me. 'G'WON THE MANOR!' It really sounds like 'G'WON the MAYA!' I told them as I passed, and they were ace and cheered me every time I passed them. More reasons to laugh.

The horses. Did you all see the horses? Bet we all REALLY annoyed them! Slow people coming from behind, speedy muddy men racing towards them at full pelt. Bet they don't normally have such drama on their Sunday morning hack.

I did find the last lap tough. I've never done more than 5 miles in proper cross country before. I totally underestimated how tired your legs get. And my core. Grant, you'll be delighted to know I could hear you 'I told you so'ing from about mile 6! I just felt dog tired, even running the downs felt difficult. But it was so pretty, I couldn't stay despondent, and then I caught the homeward bound marshals! They were lovely. Bouncy and cheerful and full of grins. Thank you marshals. And best of all, I made it home before they did. Phew.

One slice of cake left, and a medal from one of my virtual running group -

Chingford League - Event 4 of 6 - Jubilee Park hosted by Eton Manor - Saturday 19th December 2015

152 runners, 96 men and 52 ladies.
Men's team were 5th and 4th overall.
Ladies team were

Sunday XC League - Event 3 - Willian, Herts. (5.4miles aprox) - Sunday 6th December 2015

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Sunday XC League - Event 2 - Trent Park - Sunday 22nd November 2015

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495 finishers, 176 ladies and 319 men.

London Cross Country Championships, Hampstead Heath - Saturday 14th November 2015

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Maya's report:- Today was the first time I ever had to come to terms with the possibility of coming last in a race. Actually dead last. Parliament Hill. I did it last year. It was tough then. Muddy, hilly, chilly. I was about 4 from the back. Never in last place.
This year it was muddy, hilly, rainy, chilly, scratch that, freezing. Bloody freezing. And icy cold rain that steadily got worse. But, you know, 6k. How hard can it be?

Very. From the off I was at the very back. Just a few steps behind the lovely Emma 'Murphy' Hobbs but at the back nonetheless. About halfway round the first lap I wanted to walk. I also wanted to cry. I'm used to being at the back, but I'm never actually LAST. I thought of Julie's blog about being last and how it's ok. But it didn't feel it. It felt rubbish. And I felt defeated. The gap between me and Emma was growing.
After about 2.5k (so only about 20 mins, but it felt like about an hour) I realised I was gaining on Emma slightly. That cheered me up a bit. Then I clocked Emma overtake a girl in black. I hadn't seen her before. I thought she must be a casual runner, not a racer. And then there was Grant! Now I know this is silly, but I was sort of embarrassed. He'd waited to cheer us all through, and there was me. Last. Sigh. But then his grin really cheered me. 'Come on Maya, you're a legend you know!' Those words lifted my spirits like you wouldn't believe. And then he caught my eye, cocked his head to the girl in black, who was closer now, and mouthed 'go on'. So she was racing too!

I overtook her. And then... NOT LAST!
The next lap wasn't easy at all. But I felt so much more spirited. Emma and I ran it together and we got to the end. Hurray. And thank you Alexandra Brown for stopping me from walking in the last 100m, how lame would that have been!

Anyway. I'm not sure where I'm really going with this. It feels wrong to be so pleased to beat the girl in black and leaving my 'I hate being last' demons with her. But what I did decide was that in that cold and rain, only the most hardcore would be brave enough. Which makes me hardcore. Me and the girl in black too. And that'll do just fine.

Men's Team 11th out of 24.
Womens Team 17th out of 20.
353 Men and 203 Women finished.

Loughton AC Vets Inter Club Race 5 miles - Saturday 7th November 2015

Team came 2nd place.

Chingford League - Event 3 of 6 - Hog Hill 5km, Redbridge Cycle Circuit - Tuesday 3rd November 2015

Men's team 4th (4th overall)
B Team 4th (3rd overall)
Vets team 5th (4th overall)
Women's team 8th (5th overall)
Women Vets 7th (5th overall)

Sunday Cross Country League - Event 1 - Cheshunt - Sunday 18th October 2015

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The men's team was 6th and Women's team 9th out of 20 teams. Men's Masters 15th and Women's Masters 12th out of 20. Women's 'B' 12 out of 13.
452 runners finished. (286 Men and 166 Women).

Chingford League - Event 2 of 6 - Loughton XC (approx 5 miles) - Saturday 17th October 2015

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Caroline Moore;- This was great fun, pretty course, really rural vibe despite being half a mile from Loughton station and near the M11 with hay bales and kissing gates - Maya Goodwin you would have loved those, and it was in daylight with no mud. Apparently they had to change the course because there were cows in the way. And Sarah Burns brought cake!

Chingford League - Event 1 of 6 - Hog's Hill 5km, Redbridge Cycle Circuit. - Wednesday 7th October 2015

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Men's A Team came 2nd with 119 pts with Orion 1st with 39pts.
B Team came 3rd, with Vets team 4th. Ladies came 4th with the Vets team 5th place.
Craig's report:- Well, what can I say, last night's Chingford League race was absolutely awesome, I've not felt so electric before a race in such a long time.

I was planning on walking down, but since I was a tad late setting off, I thought I'd break into a jog and see how far it took me. Needless to say I was nearly at the Cycle Centre by this point, so I slowed down into a walk, before deciding to break into a stride up the hill, just to flex the legs a little.

When I got in I was just admiring the scenery...well, for the most part when I wasn't running I was anyway...entered the hall for registration and got my number and safety pins. Had a nice little chat with Alexandra before the ladies race started, and wished her and the rest of the ladies all the best before they headed off into the darkness.
Before I knew it the race had already started, and everyone was already rocking up the initial hill. All I was doing was my best to cheer our runners on, can't really say much about the race, you'd have to get