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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if pushing and shoving is ok in school cross country race

26 replies

Branches1 · 30/09/2020 18:42

I know, probably not the most burning question, but can I ask if it is ok to push and shove other runners in a cross country race?

Dd school says she has to accept that the other children will push, shove and elbow at the beginning of the race. It’s not cheating or bad form to do this. It sounds strange to me.

What are your thoughts on this?

OP posts:
Original poster
Branches1 · 30/09/2020 18:43

YABU = pushing etc is ok
YANBU = not ok

OP posts:
steff13 · 30/09/2020 18:44

I would have thought they should keep their hands/elbows/etc. to themselves.

Bunnybigears · 30/09/2020 18:47

Long distance races do have a certain element of this behaviour even amongst elite athletes. So yes she will just have to accept it to a certain extent. Anything over and above 'jostling' for position shouldn't be allowed though.

Mayvis · 30/09/2020 18:47

Elbows out at the start of every junior and adult cross country race I have witnessed (hundreds of them!). Even in primary school.

No real pushing and shoving but the starts are usually fairly congested so there are some bumps.

thanksamillion · 30/09/2020 18:48

It's not ok but there is usually a fair amount of jostling at the start. DD also usually comes out with some scratches on her legs from the spikes as well. She doesn't like it so tends to sit back and then has to try and overtake later in the race.

Sexnotgender · 30/09/2020 18:48

There’s often a bit of jostling for position at the start of a race but absolutely shouldn’t be pushing, shoving or elbowing.

AuntieStella · 30/09/2020 18:48

Of course it's not OK

The start of an event can be a bit of a scrum - there's lots of jostling in mass events, but it should discouraged - most runners don't go in for this, but there are always some twats

With adult events, you line people up by expected finish time to minimise thus, but that doesn't always happen with junior events.

Frazzled13 · 30/09/2020 18:49

I think there’s a difference between really shoving someone (not ok), and some jostling at the start when everyone is bunched together (probably fine).

museumum · 30/09/2020 18:52

Proper pushing and shoving is ott.
However as PPs have said there is “jostling” and runners can expect contact from elbows and the occasional stronger inadvertent contact if someone stumbles.

Toiletrollbuyer · 30/09/2020 18:56

It’s pretty common at the start of XC races. It’s not ideal, but the winners of these races get places in county teams etc so there is a massive amount of competition.

yeOldeTrout · 30/09/2020 18:56

Jostling is ok & shoving is not but there's no strict threshold about which kind of nudge is which.

iftherewereahorseyinthehouse · 30/09/2020 18:57

I remember there was a bit of argy bargy in the races I was in for school. I was only there to make up the school team numbers though so I was always out of trouble at the back. I don't think this is a big deal.

Original poster
Branches1 · 01/10/2020 17:39

Thanks everyone. Sounds reasonable.

In DD's case it's ever so slightly crossed the line - cross country arch nemesis pushed her, and grabbed her by the elbow and said 'no you don't' or something similar at the start of the most recent race - but it's probably really hard for the teacher to see exactly what is happening.

I wasn't much of a cross country runner myself and was only ever in the fun run, which had none of this going on, so I wasn't sure what's considered normal in a proper race. DD and her arch nemesis are taking it in turns winning their school races so a bit more serious for them Smile

OP posts:
Original poster
Branches1 · 01/10/2020 17:40

If anyone has any good racing strategies please share!

OP posts:
RevolutionRadio · 01/10/2020 17:48

Can she not start a bit further away from the other person.

borageforager · 01/10/2020 17:54

Are you having XC races?

Ibake · 01/10/2020 18:03

I have stood in far too many muddy fields throughout the country to ignore this question.

Cross country is brutal. Pushing and shoving is expected, the bonier your kids elbows are, the better! My son has a 3 inch scar down his calf from another's spikes when he was an U15 but 'it was worth it mum because I shoved him back and then took him on the home straight'. It's not for the faint hearted (I hated it) but if you love cold, wet, muddy bogs and the sheer exhilaration of being in a race with 150 on the start line then anyone who does cross country will defend the pushing and shoving all day every day. It's part of the competition.

Ibake · 01/10/2020 18:08

@Branches1 get out hard and fast so you don't waste energy jostling at the start. Then draft someone else to preserve energy. Unless she is serious about progressing through the ranks - once you get to County and the Nationals the start lists are huge - then she should try to race herself ie work out where she is, what her typical pace is and target a finish position for the next race. Is she a club runner yet? Does she have a www.thepowerof10.info profile. If she sets one up for herself then all official races are included and she can measure how she's doing. DM me if you want more info. I'm a boring runner's mum who has been stood in fields and on tracks for a long time now!

Afibtomyboy · 01/10/2020 18:10

fghsnews.com/1406/sports/rules-and-regulations-of-the-game-cross-country/

Shoving is grounds for is qualification

Afibtomyboy · 01/10/2020 18:11

* Shoving: This can happen at any part of the race. But this usually happens when 2 athletes from opposing teams are trying to outrun each other for placement. If an official sees this behavior, both athletes will be disqualified and will not get an official time.*

Ibake · 01/10/2020 18:22

@Afibtomyboy that is from a US site. They do have slightly stricter rules there (my son is now at uni in the US on a track scholarship).

Battling all the way to the finish is very much part of the sport here (although you don't tend to see much pushing on the home straight, just a lot of thundering towards the end!).

As it's a team sport every finish position counts so runners don't give up until they've crossed the line.

Insaneinthemembury · 01/10/2020 18:26

I've been a cross country runner for 25 years, I've never been properly shoved but there is some mild elbowing.
Good strategy, don't set off too fast, set a decent pace staying with a pack.
Kick (sprint) at the end with all you've got to win!
In junior Cross country most bolt off to fast then die.

Insaneinthemembury · 01/10/2020 18:28

I've just read your reply, no that girl was not on! Nothing like that ever happened to me!

Original poster
Branches1 · 01/10/2020 18:48

Thanks everyone! Loving all the input and the helpful advice!

@borageforager these are only school races, in their year group bubbles - Covid has of course caused all our other races to be cancelled. Serious enough for DD...

OP posts:
borageforager · 01/10/2020 19:23

Oh right, I wondered because my DD was so looking forward to being oldest (& fastest?) in her age group in our cross country league races & it’s all cancelled...