The three lap course was changed in 2025 but still featured some tricky climbs and boggy sections, as you would expect in any cross country race. The Nationals are a great opportunity to see the best runners in Scotland test themselves and this year was no different, as our women’s contingent would be toeing the same start like as Laura Muir!
It was a cold grey day, but without too much in the way of rain. And even when the rain did come, it couldn’t dampen our spirits from inside our shiny new gazebo! Camped out around the 3/6/9km mark, in the perfect spot to cheer people on for that stretch up the last hill before the winding downhill to the finish line. It’s a long day with a big gap between the races but weeks of James’ tailored intervals stood us in good stead, and we ready to go!
The women’s race set off first, with our 6 runners heading out on the 10km course in hot pursuit of the Olympic silver medallist. It was a right race, but Laura just had the edge on the Harriers. Maya lead from the off on her Nationals debut, making the hills look easy and streaking away from her competitors on the flats. Masha came in next, holding off a cough that was threatening to derail her race, with Claire mere seconds behind. A drag race all the way to the line, with Masha just holding onto her lead by 6 seconds. Last year’s champ Heather was next in, her legs suffering a little from a holiday of climbing, but another brilliant performance from her. Hannah came in next, a very solid debut from her especially to complete the course in only trail shoes instead of spikes. Rather you than me! Linda came in next, not too far behind, another strong performance from her on her first attempt at this new course. The women all remarked that it wasn’t too muddy underfoot, but we did still have two more races and the scheduled rain before the men’s and non-binary race. But at least we could hide in the new gazebo (did I mention we have a new gazebo?)
The final race of the day set off and the 7 Harriers in the Men’s and Non-Binary went off hoping that the rain would stay away for the next hour to avoid any extra slips and slides. I went out quite fast, too fast given my lack of current fitness after an injury at a cross country race earlier in the season down in Manchester, but despite fading a little I managed to hold on til the finish, first Harrier and first Non-Binary, the latter for the fourth time. Scott really put the pressure on during lap 3 as he started to close in, putting in a very strong finish to come in a good bit faster than the year before. A very exciting race was unfolding just a couple of minutes down the road as Andrew and Alex traded places most of the way round, before Andrew pulled away on the final lap, keeping Alex at arm’s length and coming in 6 seconds ahead. Another brilliant debut performance from Alex! Derek was next in, also improving on his time from last year as marathon training continues to improve his fitness. A gutsy performance from Daniel brought him in a few minutes later, on a day he had to listen to his body he persevered and finished in a very respectable time on his Harriers cross country debut. Kenny was next in, another Nationals debutant and another sensational performance with a strong finish as the rain started to fall again.
Always one of the highlights of the year, it was great to see so many Harriers out for this event, both new recruits and the old guard! What a team, what a day, what a gazebo!
Senior Women’s Race
175th – Maya Kamat, 50:07 (123rd FSEN)
203rd – Masha Mott, 51:54 (49th F40)
204th – Claire Glancy, 52:00 (133rd FSEN)
228th – Heather Stevenson, 53:34 (142nd FSEN)
281st – Hannah Hughes, 59:24 (157th FSEN)
283rd – Linda Sinclair, 60:16 (36th F50)
Senior Men’s and Non-Binary Race
318th – Finn Boyd, 43:06 (1st NBSEN)
330th – Scott Coulter, 43:30 (240th MSEN)
419th – Andrew Stevenson, 46:21 (270th MSEN)
422nd – Alex Paterson, 46:27 (271st MSEN)
454th – Derek Muirhead, 47:41 (109th M40)
474th – Daniel Nixon, 49:04 (284th MSEN)
550th – Kenny Henderson, 55:47 (83rd M50)
