CANTERBURY RUNNING | CROSS COUNTRY
Canterbury Running takes you to more places
A backdrop of changing golden leaves from Autumn and into winter provides a cue for athletic Cantabrians to keep fit and intensify their open-air running with like-minded people. It is time to expand beyond the typical 5 kilometre and marathon run and to get outside. Many are renewing the popularity of trail or cross country by running on challenging terrain and mixing it with a bit of tarmac to make winter running fun. As local Athletic Canterbury runners, we know the road and trail routes well and can help you see your local area with new eyes. You will love the places Canterbury Running takes you.
The local running community includes men, women, families and children ranging in age from under 7 to over 70. Runs vary in length with children’s races 1 to 3 km, and women’s and men’s races from 5 to 12 km. Some races are for individuals, while others are highly social with teams of three to eight mates running as a relay team. These kind of club events guarantee a few laughs along the way – there is no substitute for knowing you’re all in it together. One of our most special events every year is the Takahē to Akaroa relay, located on the doorstep of Christchurch in the iconic Port Hills. This unmatched race hasn’t missed a beat since it started in 1930’s, and like many of our mixed distance races it offers a great experience not only for the runners, but the partners, spectators, and extended family all enjoy getting out into the unique and beautiful Canterbury environment.
Testing techniques in a variety of locations
To get those stabilising muscles working and active, Canterbury Running has chosen courses that offer longtime runners a new workout every time. If you are used to the fast pace and stride required for the flat, this will add another dimension to your running. Every step in trail, mountain or cross-country running offers something different: from the running surface, to the frequency and tightness of curves, the variety of terrain on the trail, and not in the least, the amount of up and downhill. For those who need accuracy and like to push themselves to their personal limits, chip timing is still used throughout races to calculate split times, and ensure all race runners are accounted for.