Following a two year hiatus, the number one running event of the year looks set to return to Brunel University next week.
Location and Date
According to their website, Bucs are: ‘still not 100% certain’ that the event will be going ahead, as they are awaiting official confirmation from hosts Brunel University and the local council about the usage of the land.
Assuming the event does get the go-ahead however, all four races are set to take place on Saturday the fifth of February.
Course Distance
This years event is split into four different races. The day will begin at 11:30 with the Women’s short race, a 6km course available to all Universities with over four female runners. This will be followed by the Men’s short race, measuring at 8km and open to all universities with over six male competitors, which starts at 12:15.
Open to only six male competitors and four female competitors from each university, the long races will follow. The 8km Women’s race is scheduled to start at 1:15, followed by the Men’s 10km at 2:15.
Water Jump
A special feature of this years BUCS course that will separate the wheat from the chaff is Uxbridge’s very own water feature. Students will be tasked with either making a leap of faith, or simply enduring a soaking when tackling this years course.
This footage from the Met League Cross Country meet in Uxbridge, 2008, show how previous runners have faired.
Past Results
Given the legendary status attached to the event and the number of runners who flock from around the U.K. to take part, it will come as no shock to read that the previous BUCS winners have all been lightning quick.
The last BUCS cross country took place in 2019, and the winner of Women’s 8km long race, Anna Moller of St Mary’s University, crossed the finish line at an extremely impressive 20 minutes and 33 seconds. Emile Cairess, the Men’s 10k winner and fellow St Mary’s student, followed suit with an equally outrageous time of just 31 minutes and 15 seconds.
Any students who fancy taking the crown this year better lace up their trainers and get to training straight away!
After Party
Of course, no BUCS cross country would be complete without the after-party. The entire event is famed for it’s carnival like atmosphere, with runners covered in face paint being cheered on at every corner of the race by their excited peers. This year, following the races, students will head down to Brunel University’s Hamilton Centre for a night that will head in to the early hours and surely leave those in attendance with memories they won’t forget.