college league race descriptions


Freshers' Fun Run

Men's Distance: 5.2km
Last year's men's times: 16:18-32:05

Women's Distance: 2.8km
Last year's women's times: 10:01-17:12

Both men's and women's races start from the athletics track at Wilberforce Road. All runners head along Wilberforce Road before turning left along Madingley Road, then turning left to go through the Cavendish site, then turning left along the cycle track which takes them back to Wilberforce Road. The men complete two of these laps whereas women complete just one.

This run usually attracts all standards of runners and is brilliant for anyone considering doing cross country. The race has no hills and is all on tarmac.

Granchester Meadows

Men's Distance: 6km
Last year's men's times: 18:33-28:02

Women's Distance: 3km
Last year's women's times: 10:47-20:33

The race starts from Granchester Meadows. This is a piece of land between Cambridge and Granchester. Men complete two laps of the course, women complete one. Each lap is half on grass and half on path (but there is grass at side of the path). The course is flat. On one half of the lap you follow the cycle path through the fields; on the other half you follow a track alongside the river.

Cuppers

Men's Distance: 10.43km
Last year's men's times: 33:33-60:22

Women's Distance: 6.55km
Last year's women's times: 23:51-39:30

This is the selection race for the 2nds-5ths and the Blues Varsity Match. It is a stand-alone college championship race and does not contribute to the College League. The course is at Wandlebury, which is about 5 miles from Cambridge, so there is a coach to take all the runners there. Women complete 2 laps of the course, men complete 3 laps plus a dog leg on the first lap. The race is all on tracks (except for a tiny bit through a car park) and the course can get quite muddy if there has been rain recently. This is by far the most hilly course in the college league. There is a small hill to climb at the start of the race and then another hill at the end of each lap. There are toilets nearby and the bushes must not be used as otherwise the club may be stopped from using the venue in future years.