Carry on running
Back in February, when lockdown wasn't even a concept we were familiar with, I had an absolute ball of a time running three different races over a single weekend. It was something of a comedy of errors and also both a tragedy and a triumph for equality.
If you’re sitting comfortably, I’ll begin….
First up was Windy Hill Fell Race, a 9 miler starting over in Littleborough and up onto the tops. Being the seekers of efficient use of time that we are, my partner and I had arranged to buy some furniture from a friend doing the same event; plans made to get there early and do the ‘stool swap’ (now then) in the car park; simple. We arrived with 1.5 hours to spare, awaited his appearance….except he arrived in a different car park.
Cue a jog down there, half hour to spare til the start. Then a slightly panicked run back, carrying a bar stool each a mile back to the rugby club start. Carry on running indeed. Warm up done, we found glorious sunshine during the race, lots of lovely technical terrain on top and a muddy downhill finish to keep your wits about you. Over 300 runners coming together to enjoy the views, the challenge and the shared appreciation of the hills.
Next, we hot-footed it over to Heaton Park for the last Manchester Area Cross Country League race of the season. With our A teams all jostling for position at the top various tables, it was a great atmosphere around Gazebo-ville.
Sadly, cross country running has been marred by the sexism that unequal distances represent. Women are not allowed to run the same distance as men, despite this being a pitiful distance differential in some cases. This is at odds with International guidelines supporting equal distances, and despite Scotland having made the change with roaring success. The difference seems to be a historical hangover from a time where women were deemed unable to complete even small feats of endurance. But long after Kathrine Switzer stormed the Boston Marathon, the world of cross country seems determined to resist positive change. #RunEqual are doing a sterling job but it often seems like trying to turn round an oil tanker.
Our aim is to ensure that equal distances are a standard, while retaining local league control over race logistics and organisation. Sure, women can out-run men in many a race (Jasmin Paris?, Nicky Spinks?), but for me this isn’t actually about strength or performance or ability, it’s about equality of opportunity and the implicit equality of value that this carries. It’s about what we tell ourselves, our children and our society about what men and women are worth. It’s about setting equality as a standard, like we demand in all other areas of life. And it’s got to change.
I am committed to this; to the eventual outcome but also to the process by which it is won; through acting in ways that are true to my values; fairly, assertively, compassionately. I could’ve taken direct action; carried on running the cross country race at Heaton Park and done the men’s distance. But the standing of the team was important to me too; I was reluctant to risk negatively impacting their performances. And, I had the opportunity to carry on running (before and after), in my own way.
The league has recently sought members' views on potential changes and, although their reluctance to consider change is clear, I feel things are moving in the right direction. Manchester has a strong heritage in equality and it'd be fantastic if our cross-country community could lead the way on this in the North West. The point will continue to be made and I am hopeful there will be a different ending to this part of the story, however long that takes.
Thankfully, runners are a truly special bunch. So many of them donned the purple and green of the equalisation movement in its various forms to spread the word. Heaton Park is a fairly nice route; the bit through the woods is my favourite. Needless to say the legs gave a little protest after the morning’s exploits but a fun afternoon out nonetheless. And some storming finishes by the competitors.
Saturday evening I got to thinking about whether to go out and say hello to storm Ciara or not the next day. Doctors Gate Fell Race was a great little event I’d done the previous year and was sure to be on despite the stormy conditions. Come Sunday, with seemingly every other race cancelled, the organisers of Glossop Fell Races delivered on the hill running ethos in the context of this type of event; if it’s safe to put on, we will try and do so; it’s for each individual as adults to decide what they feel ok doing and what they will enjoy.
About 40 of us lined up outside the pub to relish what was sure to be an interesting day out. But where was The Weather? Waiting for the clock to tick over to the race start at 11, of course. Wind to knock you over, hail the size and speed of bullets, bogs galore and a decent sized hill to be tackled. Most importantly, we were a group of people enjoying what Sundays are made for; being out with friends in pursuit of a challenge, knowing that we are all equal on the hills. When the front runners and Race Organiser reached the first checkpoint, the race was called off- far too sketchy on the tops to continue. Nature doesn’t care what gender you are, what colours you run in or whether you have a race to run.
I ran with my first club coach, who has always taught me (implicitly and explicitly) that I can run anything, if I want to. I am so grateful for that. So we ended the day after five or six miles, with a pint and some food in the pub. Lots of laughter, lots of tales of bogs and kit faff, and for me, lots of appreciation for the opportunities I have; the opportunity to challenge and enjoy myself, the opportunity to carry on running while the fun is there for me and the opportunity to carry on running until there is equal access to fun for all (Type TBC, of course).
If you’re sitting comfortably, I’ll begin….
First up was Windy Hill Fell Race, a 9 miler starting over in Littleborough and up onto the tops. Being the seekers of efficient use of time that we are, my partner and I had arranged to buy some furniture from a friend doing the same event; plans made to get there early and do the ‘stool swap’ (now then) in the car park; simple. We arrived with 1.5 hours to spare, awaited his appearance….except he arrived in a different car park.
Cue a jog down there, half hour to spare til the start. Then a slightly panicked run back, carrying a bar stool each a mile back to the rugby club start. Carry on running indeed. Warm up done, we found glorious sunshine during the race, lots of lovely technical terrain on top and a muddy downhill finish to keep your wits about you. Over 300 runners coming together to enjoy the views, the challenge and the shared appreciation of the hills.
Next, we hot-footed it over to Heaton Park for the last Manchester Area Cross Country League race of the season. With our A teams all jostling for position at the top various tables, it was a great atmosphere around Gazebo-ville.
Sadly, cross country running has been marred by the sexism that unequal distances represent. Women are not allowed to run the same distance as men, despite this being a pitiful distance differential in some cases. This is at odds with International guidelines supporting equal distances, and despite Scotland having made the change with roaring success. The difference seems to be a historical hangover from a time where women were deemed unable to complete even small feats of endurance. But long after Kathrine Switzer stormed the Boston Marathon, the world of cross country seems determined to resist positive change. #RunEqual are doing a sterling job but it often seems like trying to turn round an oil tanker.
Our aim is to ensure that equal distances are a standard, while retaining local league control over race logistics and organisation. Sure, women can out-run men in many a race (Jasmin Paris?, Nicky Spinks?), but for me this isn’t actually about strength or performance or ability, it’s about equality of opportunity and the implicit equality of value that this carries. It’s about what we tell ourselves, our children and our society about what men and women are worth. It’s about setting equality as a standard, like we demand in all other areas of life. And it’s got to change.
I am committed to this; to the eventual outcome but also to the process by which it is won; through acting in ways that are true to my values; fairly, assertively, compassionately. I could’ve taken direct action; carried on running the cross country race at Heaton Park and done the men’s distance. But the standing of the team was important to me too; I was reluctant to risk negatively impacting their performances. And, I had the opportunity to carry on running (before and after), in my own way.
The league has recently sought members' views on potential changes and, although their reluctance to consider change is clear, I feel things are moving in the right direction. Manchester has a strong heritage in equality and it'd be fantastic if our cross-country community could lead the way on this in the North West. The point will continue to be made and I am hopeful there will be a different ending to this part of the story, however long that takes.
Thankfully, runners are a truly special bunch. So many of them donned the purple and green of the equalisation movement in its various forms to spread the word. Heaton Park is a fairly nice route; the bit through the woods is my favourite. Needless to say the legs gave a little protest after the morning’s exploits but a fun afternoon out nonetheless. And some storming finishes by the competitors.
Saturday evening I got to thinking about whether to go out and say hello to storm Ciara or not the next day. Doctors Gate Fell Race was a great little event I’d done the previous year and was sure to be on despite the stormy conditions. Come Sunday, with seemingly every other race cancelled, the organisers of Glossop Fell Races delivered on the hill running ethos in the context of this type of event; if it’s safe to put on, we will try and do so; it’s for each individual as adults to decide what they feel ok doing and what they will enjoy.
About 40 of us lined up outside the pub to relish what was sure to be an interesting day out. But where was The Weather? Waiting for the clock to tick over to the race start at 11, of course. Wind to knock you over, hail the size and speed of bullets, bogs galore and a decent sized hill to be tackled. Most importantly, we were a group of people enjoying what Sundays are made for; being out with friends in pursuit of a challenge, knowing that we are all equal on the hills. When the front runners and Race Organiser reached the first checkpoint, the race was called off- far too sketchy on the tops to continue. Nature doesn’t care what gender you are, what colours you run in or whether you have a race to run.
I ran with my first club coach, who has always taught me (implicitly and explicitly) that I can run anything, if I want to. I am so grateful for that. So we ended the day after five or six miles, with a pint and some food in the pub. Lots of laughter, lots of tales of bogs and kit faff, and for me, lots of appreciation for the opportunities I have; the opportunity to challenge and enjoy myself, the opportunity to carry on running while the fun is there for me and the opportunity to carry on running until there is equal access to fun for all (Type TBC, of course).
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