Cross Country Champion Emi Muntingh
January 30, 2026
Following Emi's success at the Norfolk Country Cross Country Championships we decided to ask her a few questions about her love of running and her upcoming London Mini Marathon.
How long have you been running?/How long have you been running with the school?
I have now been running for 3 years, and I have been competing for the school since Upper 3.
How often do you run outside of school?
I run with a training group 2-3 times a week depending on the dates of various competitions.
How do you train?/How do you prepare for a race?
I think that mental preparation is the most important; I use visualisation which can help me enter an open mindset. And I think it is mainly accepting that it will have painful aspects, but the aftermath feels phenomenal. And physically preparing, is a matter of being consistent at training in my case.
How did you find the Cross Country championships?
The Cross Country Championships was certainly nerve-racking beforehand, but I think the race went very smoothly and I left it all out on the course. And attempted to compete to the best of my abilities!
Can you tell us a bit about the London Mini Marathon in April?
Fortunately because of my performance at the County Championships I have been accepted to run at the London Mini Marathon!
How are you feeling about it?
As much as I am excited, there is no doubt I will be feeling nervous. But I think that it is a great opportunity, also to be surrounded by excellent runners!
Where do you hope your running will take you?
As for my running, I would like to compete at a high level but most of all I would love to continue to enjoy it! Because I truly believe if it is bringing you no satisfaction or joy, there is not a point in pursuing it.
What piece of advice would you give to aspiring cross country runners?
For people who are aspiring to do cross country as a sport, I would advise them to just have a go and give it a chance. Because if you are willing to give it a chance, you might just find that you will like it!








