Cross Country
Embark on a journey beyond the beaten path with our Cross Country Running page. Whether you’re a seasoned trailblazer or a newcomer to off-road running, this is your go-to hub for all things cross country.
Discover the thrill of navigating diverse terrains, from winding woodland trails to open meadows. Our Cross Country page is designed to keep you informed about upcoming races, share training tips, and celebrate the camaraderie that makes cross country running truly special.
Join us as we embrace the challenge of the great outdoors, build a love for mud and create lasting memories with fellow runners. Lace up your shoes, hit the mud, and let the adventure begin!
Important Information…
Shoes! The terrain for cross country can vary between grass, trail, mud, hills and water. To be on the safe side it’s better to wear trail/fell shoes or spikes.
EA membership: Some races requires an active England Athletics membership (usually purchased with the Running Club membership) such as the North Midlands league races, Nationals and Northerns. The Derby Runner League does not require EA membership.
If you are unsure if you have EA registration, you can check on the website below. If you don’t have it but would like to get it before your membership renewal, please contact the membership secretary.
Below are some Cross Country races you might be interested in.
For details of events, check the Cross Country Calendar
Derby Runner League Cross Country
Formerly known as the BDL, this league is a staple for many of our Club runners. The winter league (there is also a summer “road” league) runs from October through to the final race which is hosted by North Derbyshire Running Club at Holmebrook Valley Park in February.
The races are free to enter, just turn up and run. Runners need to run 4 of the 5 races to have an overall league standing, with the first 7 men and 5 women making up the team standing from each event. The courses are usually around 5 miles (8k) long.
Events are held on a Tuesday evening. The first event starting at 7:15pm (due to daylight) with the rest starting at 7:30pm.
| Mnth | Location | Course |
|---|---|---|
| Apr | Teversal Cricket Club | 7.5km. Mostly flat trail |
| May | Cromford Mill | 9km. Out and back on the high peak trail with approx 1km hill |
| Jun | Denby Pottery | 7.9km undulating trail/road |
| Jul | Carsington Water | 7.6km. Undulating trail |
| Aug | Shipley Country Park | 8.3km. Undulating trail/road |
Races take place on a Sunday morning starting at 11:00am. The only exception being the November event which starts at 11:05am to observe a minute's silence.
| Mnth | Location | Course |
|---|---|---|
| Oct | Shipley Country Park | 8.1km. Grass/trail |
| Nov | Chaddesden | 7.3km. Mud, grass, water crossing |
| Dec | Ilkeston | |
| Jan | Bramcote Hill | 6.7km. Grass, muddy incline |
| Feb | Holmebrook Valley Park | 8.5km. Undulating mud and trail |
Derbyshire Cross Country Championships
Usually held the first weekend of the year, this event is the selection process for Derbyshire Athletics to select athletes to compete in the Inter-counties cross country championships in March. Whilst this is the main purpose of the event, there are also the individual and team county medals up for grabs for all age categories.
It’s a real feel good, team event.
North Midlands Cross Country League
(See the North Midlands Website)
Runners must be EA registered to turn up and run these races.
Unlike the Derby Runner League which is a mass start race, the women’s and men’s races are at different times and different distances: 6km for women, 10km for men.
The races are free to enter as the Club enters teams, just turn up and run.
| Location | Month |
|---|---|
| Markeaton Park | October |
| Wicksteed Park, Kettering | November |
| Shipley Park, Heanor | December |
| Bulwell Hall Park | January |
National Cross Country Championships
Whilst running the Nationals might sound scary, these events really do provide the thrill of running the same races as your running heroes. There are 2 main events of the year:
National Cross Country Relays – Held in November in Mansfield
National Cross Country Championships – location changes each year
Northern Athletics Cross Country Championships
North Derbyshire Running Club is affiliated to Northern Athletics. As part of the affiliation, we are invited to compete in a number of competitions each year. This includes the following cross country events:
Northern Athletics XC Relays – Held in October in Sheffield
Northern Athletics XC Championships – location changes each year.
British Masters Athletic Federation Cross Country Championships
To be able to take part in the BMAF championships, runners must be over the age of 35.
North Derbyshire Running Club takes part in the BMAF XC Relays – Held in October in Long Eaton.
