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Borders Winter X-Country Series Round
1 at Wooler Seven clubs have got together to host the Borders Winter Cross Country Series. There is a senior and junior race that are low key, friendly and what running for many is about. Time for relaxed banter before and after exertion. Sunday November 20th round one started with a venture south to Wooler and an area steeped in history, the Borders of Northumberland. The snow dusted Cheviots provided an inspiring backdrop beyond Wooler itself. Warm in the sunshine, the faster runners stripped off, sporting vest and shorts. A headlong hurtle downhill to start two loops of the 6.5km course saw Mark James up amongst the front runners. The climb quickly stretched the field – laboured breathing and a period of adjustment – what is happening to my insides! The varied terrain suited the hill runner; from stony quarry tracks, rough moorland paths and smooth grass down the middle of Wooler golf course. Andy was close behind and was stronger on the climbs however my legs are longer and I held on, the narrow tracks making passing tricky, enabling me to stretch out to the finish. Lucy was just pipped by Marbeth Shiell running for ESH. Hilary ran well to be first in her category. Doddington the location of the golf course is incidentally home to Doddington Dairy ice-cream – delicious ice cream and that’s from someone who rarely eats ice cream. Next year perhaps they can be invited to add to the refreshments. The range of abilities is large the faster runner taking around half an hour and the last finisher an hour – claps all round. The events include refreshments soup and a roll and all for the princely sum of £6 for the seven race series. You do not have to be a member of a club to enter the races and the atmosphere lacks the intimidation of larger events. Hopefully more people will try and share lifts to the events, not only more sociable but reducing the environmental impact. Next round - Whitesands hosted by Dunbar Running Club on 18th December Check out out
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