There are few races in our sport that become so big they are instantly recognisable at the mere mention of one of two words. 'London' is one, 'The Morpeth' (soon to be reprised in a somewhat different guise) is another, but perhaps the most famous of them all is 'The National', or to give it its full title, The Saucony National Cross-Country Championships.

This Saturday, bright and early, a hardy bunch of Royal Blues will clamber aboard a bus and head south to Junction 24 of the M1 and Donnington Park, better known as a motor racing circuit, to take on the unique challenge that is The National.

Cross-country is one of this nation's longest established sports, dating back to the early 1800's and a pursuit game over open countryside called 'Hare and Hounds' or 'The Paper Chase'. In 1837 The Crick Run was established at Rugby School, before even Kevin Carr was running, and is widely regarded as the orgin of modern cross-country running. It is still run today, the 2016 run being the 178th edition. The first National dates back to 1877 (there was a race the previous year but it was declared null and void), and Saturday's race marks the 129th Championship, an almost unbroken run punctuated only in the years 1915-1919 and 1940-1945 when the nation had more pressing matters to attend to.

Traditionally run over 9 miles for Senior Men, but more recently shortened to mirror the distances used at major International Championships, The National is seen as a true test for any middle and long distance runner. Many of the biggest names in athletics have competed in, and won, The National, whereas many more have tried and failed. In 1977 Brendan Foster was persuaded by his Gateshead Harriers teammates that he was vital to their hopes of retaining the national team title at Parliament Hill, the event's spiritual home, and proceeded to win a thrilling race with Bernie Ford with Gateshead indeed emerging victorious. Two years later another north-east legend, MIke McLeod took the individual gold medal and Gateshead again won team honours, their fifth and final victory in the Seventies. The last time the title resided in the north-east was 2001 when Glenn Forster's occasional training partner Mike Openshaw prevailed (although he was in the colours of Birchfield Harriers).

Sunderland Harriers have achieved some success over the years in this, the most competitive and gruelling of cross-country environments, with a smattering of silver and bronze team medals at U-13 (in a team led by one Nathan Reed), U-17 and U-20 in the early 2000's, whilst in 1981 Graham Smith finished second in the Parliament Hill mud behind Leeds City's future Olympian John Doherty. The best men's team performance came in 1988 when a team led by Brian Rushworth, who finished 16th, and including Dave Hill (77th), Chris Naisbitt (88th), Malcolm Price (117th), Paul Harker (123rd), Ian Haggan (144th), Dave Wyatt (227th), Paul Campbell (305th) and Michael Hill (520th) ranked a highly creditable 6th.

Until 1995 the men's and women's championships were always held separately, and combining the two has undoubtedly improved the spectacle for both competitors and spectators alike. This weekend over 7850 athletes from 538 affiliated clubs are entered across ten events, beginning at 11.00 with the U-17 Women's 5k, and culminating with the Senior Men at 15.00. The cavalry charge from the gun is an experience every runner should try to take in at least once in their career and is a sight to behold. Once runners have survived the flat-out sprint over the first 800m there is the small matter of the rest of the race to negotiate, it's not easy! Although the conditions are unlikely to be as heavy underfoot as in the Northern Championships at Blackburn last month, they will cut up as the races progress and everyone should expect some 'clarts' on a course described as 'interesting and testing out in the Countryside with some sharp hills' by the England Athletics website.

Whilst winter priorities lie elsewhere for the Harriers, with a pivotal North-East Harrier League looming where points are vital, as well as National Schools and Inter-Counties for those who achieved selection, The National is one of those races to be enjoyed, to be raced hard, and ticked off the Racing Bucket List, whether you're aiming for the top 100 or top 1000.

Good luck to all our hardy Harriers and Harriets racing on Saturday!