Any running club members have suggestions for getting better XC engagement?

[Getonnow]

We're a social running club, not athletics club. Historically we've always had a strong cross country team, in numbers, if not ability.

Over recent years the club membership has gone from strength to strength, but the XC team is declining. to the point where we haven't been able to put out a full team at some meets this year, especially women.

It's a mixture of the old ever presents getting old, people in jobs that aren't M-F affecting availability and new/younger members not wanting to do XC.

What do your clubs do to get more people involved?

It seems to be the same in my running club, sorry not much advice to offer! They try and promote the XC races on the Facebook page a lot but not sure it makes much difference. People tend to be more interested in road races or the higher profile trail races I think. XC is a bit more niche, I've never done one despite being an avid runner. Not sure what the answer is!

A few factors for ours (we have decided not to bother with putting a team this year)
Saturday mid afternoons make them a headache and I think the popularity of parkrun has stolen some people
Our league has a huge geographical spread so some of the matches are nearly a 4 hour round trip.
We are in Yorkshire and winter fell races have much more of an appeal.

Interesting. People here seem to be taking it personally/ as a flaw in our club, other local clubs don't seem to have the same problem, but these are definitely the issues affecting our turnout.

What might persuade you to give it a go? It really is good fun and for me being part of the team/turning out for my club is a big part of it.

I dunno what the answer is!

It's interesting though because I have recently moved to a much more competitive club on paper, with more members, and yet on Saturdays XC race there was one lady from our club and one men's team.

My old club was much more social, less competitive particularly among the women and yet it was sort of assumed that you would be running in XC unless you had a previous commitment/injury. We took three full teams to the XC nationals last year but it's not even on the radar of my new club. Same for the road relays, you were just expected to go. You wouldn't be told off or anything like that if you couldn't, but both XC and road relay were more of an opt out situation rather than asking if your were interested.

For me it's partly my circumstances at the moment, I have primary aged DC so don't really want to disappear for a whole morning on a weekend (some of the races are really far away). The DC do different activities so DH can't take them on his own. Also I'm marathon training at the moment and in my mind the risk of injury with XC is higher, although that might be completely unfounded and just my maranoia kicking in! I think I would definitely give it a go in the future when/if I'm not taking marathon running as seriously!

We make it very much a club social rather than about the running. People come along to cheer, bake cakes and we always go for food at a local pub afterwards. I don't think many of our less competitive runners would come if it was just a case of drive and hour to a muddy field, run and go home.

As a club runner I have to say that there is nothing about cross country that appeals to me!! I'm happy to run on trails but CC just seems to be a long way to drive (our "local" series has races that are up to 2 hours away) for a very short run and a lot of cold and mud. Also, why does everyone wear so little clothing in the depths of winter?!? I don't think I own any shorts short enough to be a CC runner ;)

I think parkrun affects the Saturday events. We are in two leagues, we just about had full teams for each event in one (the Saturday one) but do much better in the other (Sunday) league. As a comparison we get 5 or so men and women in the Saturday league but had 13 of each at one of the Sunday league events.

It also depends how competitive they are - people can get put off the more competitive ones, but I don't care, I just turn up and run.

I hate XC - feels like I'm back at school!

But our club has a good turn out - things that help include adding a race or two into the club championship, doing a monthly spot prize (pulled from a hat if you attended a race etc)
And they are on a Sunday so don't clash with Parkrun

But I prefer the fell races - even though I'm usually one of the last to finish, more peaceful and less grouped and competitive?

for me it’s sort of the opposite- I’m not an unsociable person but I seem to spend my life managing sports fixture clashes for my two teen dc’s/ giving random kids lifts to matches so the clubs can get a team out etc. so when I enter races I kind of like the zero pressure of being able to bail without consequences. I just can’t commit to team stuff right now without being a horrific flake.

Also while I only race on trail ( no road) xc just doesn’t play to my strengths - it’s too pacey and if I’m going to drive a long way, I kind of want at least 20km out of it to make it worthwhile.

Honestly, I like xc. I like trails and being out in mud, grass and hills. Yet I rarely compete for my club. Why? Like others have said, I work full time Monday to Friday with some additional work at the weekend. If I add xc in, I am out most of the day and I don’t spend it with my family. Also mentally I need to be ok. Being the fat, plodding middle aged woman coming last by a good way behind gazelles in crop tops and hot pants doesn’t help with that.