Cross Country (XCR)
The XCR (Cross Country and Road Racing) season runs from late April to late September across Victoria. The series has 10 rounds: 7 individual races and 3 team relays.
Individual events range from 5 km to the 21.1 km half marathon. Relay legs include a lap of Melbourne’s 3.8 km Tan Track and two “hot laps” of Sandown Racecourse (6.2 km). The traditional Jells Park cross-country relays (6 km) round out the season and add to the fun team atmosphere.
The XCR competition spans a mix of surfaces and terrain. Two flat road races at Albert Park provide a great opportunity to set a personal best over 5 km and 10 km, while St Annes Winery (Bendigo) and Myrniong feature tougher hill and trail courses that test endurance. The newest race at Victoria Park, Ballarat, is flat but technical, with mud pits, logs, ditches and road crossings that make it hard to find a steady rhythm. The individual season then finishes with the Burnley Half Marathon along the mostly flat—but often windy—Yarra Boulevard. It includes nine hairpin turns designed to break your momentum.
One of the great things about XCR is that it visits iconic towns and venues across Victoria, with regular stops at places like Hanging Rock, Ballarat and Bendigo—making it an ideal excuse for a weekend away.
Races are held on Saturdays and Sundays, in the morning or afternoon, with age groups from Under 14 through to 60+, across male and female categories—so there’s something to suit everyone. For information on events, training or race-prep tips, registration, or general questions, contact XCR coordinator Alan Vernal by email at alan_roosrock@hotmail.com
To enter an XCR round or view the season calendar, visit Athletics Victoria’s XCR information.
