The final Met. League cross country meet of the 2024/25 season took place at Trent Park, delivering everything a proper cross country race should: challenging conditions, relentless mud, and even a few uninvited bovine spectators. The event featured eight races, with juniors, women, and men all taking part. As tradition dictates, the juniors set off first, followed by the women, and finally, the men.
From the outset, the weather made sure that no one had an easy run. A steady drizzle greeted the early races, gradually turning into proper rain just in time for the men’s event. By then, the starting field, which was boggy to begin with, had become increasingly difficult to navigate. Every age group had to endure at least one lap through the ever-worsening conditions, and the men, running last, faced the most churned-up sections of the course, making uneven grounds and hills particularly tricky.
Adding to the drama of the day, Enfield Council decided that the course needed an extra challenge – cows. Yes, an entire section of the usual route was deemed off-limits because a group of cows had been let loose. Credit to the organisers, as the reroute they came up with at short notice worked really well. There were no cows in sight, despite their presence earlier in the day. However, “the smell of the mud had a distinct cow aroma to it and reminded me of a festival toilet”, said Andy Price, one of our competing athletes.
Despite the obstacles—both natural and council-imposed—the races were a true testament to the spirit of cross country running. The determination of each athlete shone through, with runners battling not just their competitors but also the elements, the course, and their own slipping shoes. If there was ever a perfect way to end a season, this was it: soaked to the bone, caked in mud, and grinning through the struggle.
For me, this event was more than just a spectacle. Hearing about the runners pushing through the conditions left me feeling inspired, and after 12 years away from cross country, it might just get me out of retirement for the upcoming season. Maybe, just maybe, I’ll find myself on that start line once again, braving the elements once more.