Kilbarchan AAC - Cross Country Dangers.

Kilbarchan AAC
« Cross Country Dangers. »

Welcome Guest. Please Login or Register.
May 23, 2013, 9:31pm

Kilbarchan AAC :: General :: General Board :: Cross Country Dangers.

Author

Topic: Cross Country Dangers. (Read 382 times)

Max
Senior Member

member is offline

[avatar]

SOMEWHERE . . . .

Joined: Oct 2007
Gender: Male

Posts: 308
Location: Kilbarchan
Karma: 0

Cross Country Dangers.
« Thread Started on Sept 4, 2009, 6:05pm »

Cross Country runs can be the easiest or hardest form of training depending on what ground & elevation you run over & what speed you go at.
Prepare as normal for a training run but there are many (mostly minor) hazzards to cope with so being aware of them is also good preparation. Here is a list of most of them.

1. Always wear or carry (in a bumbag) more clothes than you think you will need as the weather can suddenly change & there is nothing worse than being caught in a sudden shower of rain or hail just wearing a vest or t shirt. Hat & gloves too.
2. Wear old clothes as it can be very muddy & barbed wire can fairly rip clothing as well as skin.
3. Wear shoes with a decent grip as mud & stones can be quite painful if you slip but NOT spikes unless you are racing.
4. Carry a whistle (& compass) as this could be useful if you fall into a ditch or become lost, which can happen very easily especially when running in different territory. Ideally a mobile 'phone wrapped in waterproof should be essential but don't rely on it as there could be no signal where you are. A sat. nav. is of no use if you do not know where you are.
5. Try to keep out of fields with livestock, especially early in the new year & springtime when sheep could be lambing & never take a dog with you as they attract the unwanted attention of cattle.
6. Notify someone of your intended route & indicate your expected arrival/finish time as you could be lying injured in a wood or on a moor.
7. Always enter & cross fields by using a gate or hunt jump as continued climbing over wire fences weakens them & upsets landowners & farmers & make sure that you close them after you.
8. Avoid running in fog or misty conditions unless you really know the route well as there could be sudden cliffs or drops which you would not see.
9. Keep well away from others out with dogs or guns as poachers can cause you trouble.
10. If running along a canal or river bank beware of anglers & make no noise; also watch out for fishing lines which could cause you to trip.
11. Do not drink out of burns as sheep could have infested the water with liver fluke.
12. In summer protection from sun & insect bites is necessary.
13. In winter dress sensibly & remember that you are not racing & will not overheat but you are out for a long gentle run where your body will soon cool down at the slower pace you are running at.
14. Watch out for damp/wet patches in fields or on moorland as bog can be bottomless just like quicksand on the beach.
15. Watch out for territorial birds such as buzzards or gulls which can swoop down & give you a nasty scratch on the head or face with their talons. This is where a bumbag is useful in protecting the head & also by taking it off & swinging it about your head can discourage the attackers from coming too close.
16. Make sure that if you are out with someone they really know the route well as it is very easy to become disorientated when you tire especially in poor weather conditions.
17. When running through woods always watch out for slippery tree roots & overhanging branches.
18. Enjoy yourself, despite these warnings cross country is fun & you have the exceptional beauty, freedom & fresh air of the Scottish countryside to enjoy.
19. Other dangers exist, as always be alert.

Regards,

Max.

Link to Post - Back to Top IP:

Logged

"Do as little as needed not as much as possible" - Henk Kraayenhof.

Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean that they are not out to get me.

Never be afraid to take a profit.
"If something cannot go on forever, it will stop" - Herb Stein.
Just because I am surrounded by FOOLS does not make me wise.

Click Here To Make This Board Ad-Free