Quote:
Originally Posted by
Sir Humphrey Appleby 
5.17 miles in 57:32. Will I need special shoes for XC or will I just be able to buy studs that screw into my normal running shoes? Also how do you lot hear about different races?
there has to be a local running club in the area. they will have the upcoming races posted on their website. also
runners world's website has a local race finder thats useful too in order to plan "weekend or race vacations". There's usually an interesting place having a race that you can drive to and make a whole weekend out of it.
runners world race finder:
http://www.runnersworld.com/cda/racefinder/0,7151,s6-239-283-284-0-0-0-0-0,00.html
XC shoes are actually very inexpensive so they are useful purchase even only if you use them 2x a year. If the course has any concrete in it then you can use blank studs (just flat screws) and still increase traction. you have to get used to xc shoes though because they are usually very light/minimalist and running with spikes is different because of all the grip (sometimes is higher cadence to keep the footfalls light). They are also nice if you run on icy roads (you can grip fine with blank flat studs on ice).