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English National Cross Country Championships 

23rd February 2008

Alton Towers

This was the 2008 running if the premier race in English Cross Country - 'the Nationals'.  We didn't really know what to expect from this new course.  The parking at Alton Towers was excellent and free.  There were plenty of loos (although a bit smelly!) and several hamburger stands.  

The event itself ran like clockwork - a credit to the organisers.  The field was top quality.  How many races do sub-30 minute 10K runners finish nearly 30th? 

The course was fast, undulating and with one major climb of about 100 ft, followed by a more gradual 50 ft climb.  It doesn't sound much but this was a lung buster of a course.   Ladies ran 2 laps and men 3.  

The men's course was about 1 mile short of the advertised 12km. There was a little mud by Manchester standards.  The openness of the course meant that as a spectator you could watch great swathes of the race from the higher ground.

Photos

Landsat Map:   

Height Profile

3D OS Map

Here it is relative to the theme park: