Hello folks, The XC season will be upon us and PLS will be battling out in the North West Sunday League. So here are the fixtures.
30/10/11 Clarke Gardens(Penny Lane Striders, 10am)06/11/11 Beacon Pk (Skem BH, 10am)
04/12/11 Arrowe Park(Pensby, ****11:30am*****)
15/01/12 Runcorn Town Park (Warrington Road Runners, 10am)
05/02/12 Walton Pk (Liverpool RC, 11am)
04/03/12 Birchwood Forest Park (Spectrum, 10am)
(Please remember that any races done on these dates will not count towards the club championship.) More details on XCountry page soonish.

Me again ,
I am looking into taking a one off payment for all the XC races of £2:50. This saves having to chase around on race days for 50p from everyone.
To all you newbies thats 6 well marshalled Xcountry races followed by butties and tea after fr £2:50. Let me know what you think.
Can any volunteers to help out our race on 30th October contact me . fmnw07326@blueyonder.co.uk
Anyone pretendng to be Nigel commenting on the excessive cost will be reported to the the equalities Officer(Marty)

As a newbie it sounds like a great idea to me. When will you collect eh £2.50...first race, or before?

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I'll be happy to collect the money anytime ,club night if i ever get down or the first race.
I'm getting good feedback from the newbies and xc virgins this year. Hopefully we can get a strong Ladies team together so that 2010 2011 can be put down as a blip!!!

I know we have a lot of new members who've probably not tried x-country since school,so a quick intro is probably needed here. This series of Sunday x country races are a friendly but challenging introduction to off road running. Each race is roughly 4 to 5 miles long over some challenging terrain (weather plays a big part in this)There is a fun and encouraging atmosphere and as a member of penny lane striders you will be well supported. So why not try out own race out first at Clarks Gardens as a tester and see how you feel. you know it makes sense

I echo what Mal says. Tough, but fun events and great to develop strength for next season's road races. Also great craic with fellow striders at the after-race refreshments. I know at least 3 members of group 4 have already bought their XC spikes!

Sorry I have forgotten to mention it was fun. But hopefully the XC page will be updated and a stimulating article by myself addressing the thrills and challenges of running around a muddy field in mid winter vest and pants will appear.
I know for alot of us half the excitement of a new sporting discipline is buying new kit but your normal off road or fell shoes should be adequate for XC. Just be there.

The after race venue has been booked so after you have trashed Spectrum Striders and LRC you will be able to go to The Cheshire Lines Club Broad Mead road for a shower and the finest selection of Sandwiches and refreshments known to Running man and woman kind.
I will be looking for volunteers on the day and for sandwich making the night before.
Half past eight at clark gardens to set up course and sandwich making to be decided.
Also can any newbies please send me their name gender and DOB for the results.
Remember its the end of British summer time so its an extra hour in bed.
Feedback from the young turks in the club is sounding really good. we'll have a really strong team but we'll still need the old contemptables to eat into the competitions scores.

Be there or forever hold your manhood / womanhood in something or another ( see shakespeare.)

Be there or forever hold your manhood

Wasn't sure where you were going with that one initially, however it needs to be said I've never laid claim to a classical education.

I will be able to help out on the day, should be back at club before 30th for instructions etc.

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I haven't done cross-country since primary school! Really looking forward to the season though, and hopefully we can win the whole thing!! C'mon Penny Lane!!!!

Kieran

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Just read a good quote. Our Sport is your sport's punishment!

first is everything second is nowhere

Its about time I wrote another essay - this time about these old contemptibles...

One rule that's escaped mention so far is that a complete team must have at least one veteran counter so to avoid putting undue pressure on John C, messrs Grant (when available), Man, Hirrell, McNicholas, Balmer et al are most definitely still required. Ditto Thurtle (again when available), Darby, Kinnunen and others. No excuses!!

Anyway, what was disappointing about the last xc season was that it was the same dozen faces that have been turning out for the last 5-10 years helping us scrape a team together (or failing in some instances ladies!).This despite us having more new members than ever before and Tim doing some sterling work putting on Saturday morning sessions.

So, if you're new to it what you've got to ask yourself is do you feel lucky punk? Actually no, its - what keeps this select band of idiots turning up year after year, is it....

A. The quality of the sandwiches
B. That its a good work out
C. That its a good laugh
D. That its an opportunity to compete as a team
E. All of the above

Or... alternatively you could ask yourself why not? Marathon training? Its good for strengthening and we can even show you how to build the post Xmas races into your long runs! Or hangovers? Our most prolific and prodigious drinkers (you know who you are) are among the dirty dozen and have ran many times through an alcohol induced haze, nothing better for blowing away the cobwebs! Come on give it a try (or at least Saturday training) - you might like it!

Go ahead make my day

Having never ran in a cross country race before, I'm well up for this. Have been looking at shoes, but a little confused, so before I buy, what is the general recommendation for a newbie? Walshes or XC Spikes?

XC spikes are defo the best footwear for cross country especially when it gets muddy/icy.However you can't wear them for fell/Multi terrain.
Walshes/ studs etc are good for fell/MT races. You can wear them for xc too but you won't get as good grip when the going gets tough.
Depends really on whether you want to have a go at both XC and fell/MT (I can thoroughly recommend all 3)and also what your budget is.

Don't forget you can do all 6 sunday xc races for £2.50!
When you compare that with the cost of road race entry fees, you'll have more money to spend on spikes & studs!

and when you've all bought your new spikes/walshes you'll need to try them out before the first race on 30 Oct, so why not come down to XC training at Clarke Gardens this coming Saturday morning - starts at 9.00am.

Hello all, Tims right you need to get your spikes on before our first outing on the 30th,firstly to get the feel of your new shoes/spikes,secondly for those whose last xc was school years it will not be such a shock to the system, saturday mornings clarke gardens have been very enjoyable,see you all at9pm.

Thanks everyone for pushing the XCountry this year. I feel really re energized and looking forward to even making the sarnies the night before.
As for footware advice I shall be trying out my inov-8 bare grips for the first time in anger.

C U sunday - injured so will help

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Hi got my spikes, thanks for the advice. What's happening with arrangements for Sunday? Where is the registration point, start etc?

STE, just arrive at clarke gardens at around 9 30pm , no numbers must have your pls vest 10pm start and away you go. enjoy.

make that 10.00am Start.... And don't forget the clocks go back this weekend, or is it forward?

Just getting this to the top again.
Race at 10-00am tomorrow Helpers to set up course 8-30 am .Sandwiches and drinks in the cheshire lines club afterwards See you all then.

Frank I think you wanted my d.o.b. - 20/07/1985

See you tomorrow bright and early.

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I take it that's 9.30 am Mike?

Also take it that I can pay Frank the princely sum of £2.50 in the morning?

Not sure if I will have support crew if the weather is as wet as it is tonight so would appreciate sticking some dry gear in someone's car if I'm on my own.

See you tomorrow.

I have some pictures from the race here:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2582164711344.150817.1171249855&type=1&l=bc98388a4e

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Great turn out today folks, the ladies and men both ended up 4th. I know it was the first outing for a lot of you so well done and I hoped you enjoyed it.
Next week Skem boundry park 10am start. "LETS BE AVIN YOU"

I'll second to Mal's posting; Great turn out today for the XC. Especially pleased to see great turn out for the Ladies Let's keep the numbers up for the forthcoming events! The more the merrier.
Well done to everyone who run today
Big thanks to Barefoot Frank, all marshalls and helpers and tea&sandwich providers!

Well done to all the striders in todays xc, our club members really enjoyed today and would like to thank you for your hospitality and a great race fixture, see you all next week in Skem

Mark - Liverpool running Bugs

I 'd like to thank everyone who helped out today the marshalls the people who laid out the course the sandwich makers and tea brewers. You all did a great job.

Good luck to the pennylane striders in the next
round of the cross-country.
I wish i was there with you all but am trying to
get use to these canidian hills ready for my half marathon race on sunday.

See you all in two weeks

Mark

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Good luck Mark, do us proud!

Hello...

I'm hoping to be down on Thursday night.... but incase I don't make it...

Can anyone give me a lift to the Skelmersdale fixture on Sunday morning please? I can get to Garston to meet.

thanks

Oonagh

Results are up on Steve Saunders site. Some great performances from PLS last week and a fantastic turnout. I hope everyone (particularly the newbies) enjoyed it and all the shiny new spikes means that people are up for the long haul. 4th for both teams last week was maybe a little down on previous years and a bit disappointing but we were a bit unlucky with the team results. We got on the wrong end of a massive turn-out and a bit of a feud between LRC and LRB - but if we can keep turning out and maybe squeeze a few extra places here and there we'll be moving up the rankings in future.

So on to Skelm - the daddy of x-country - mud & hills - what's not to love?? Remember every place counts...


"Cry Havoc & let slip the dogs of war...." if you like your Shakespeare, or if you prefer Sunday league...

"C'mon these spectrum/lrc/bug lads/girls are sh1te"

John, I am also in need of a lift, have you any space left? Cheers, Bob

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Much appreciated John. 8am at Garston?

ps. Frank, I do like Shakespeare but too much talk of slipping could be tempting fate don't you think?

I'd like to hop in with someone if I may. Martin S is also looking for a lift and planning to be at the club for 8ish.

Cheers,

James

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Excellent, looking forward to representing PLS for the first time!

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Korky and I shall be at Garston Sports at 8-00 am tomorrow to share lifts. We shall probably get off sharpish to get parking near the start. Your inspirational Shakespeare quote for today is
'I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips, straining upon the start.' (Henry V)

Go get em lids( mally I )

Thanks very much John C and Frank for lifts and good company there and back respectively. As I said, much appreciated.

Dear oh dear that was hard and muddy work. Made the fun the previous week at Clarke's Gardens look like a gentle stroll in the park. Ow...

Well done to everyone who run in Skelemersdale on Sunday
Pleased to see a good turnout for the club. Our Ladies were joint 3rd on the day (with Spectrum) and now 4th overall with three teams sharing the 1st spot. Ladies keep up the good work, I am sure we can climb up in overall rankings by making sure we get a good turn out for each race.
Men's team were 4th on the day and remain 4th overall.

Well done everyone, however...

I was just checking the results from Beacon park and something doesn't add up....

Spectrum and PLS ladies teams have both scored 34 pts but Spectrum get 6 points when PLS get only 5 ???!!!
Looks a bit unfair from here...

Any clue why is this?

Thanks
Simo

Pics of Skelm race, courtesy of Spectrum striders

Beacon Park