Freddo, Fango, Felicità

Cross country isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s raw, unfiltered, and unforgiving. It strips away pretense, leaving only the runner and the terrain—cold winds biting, mud clinging to every step, and the occasional fleeting joy of finding rhythm in the chaos. Graham Smith knows this world well. His photography captures not just the sport but the symphony of struggle and beauty that defines it.

​​We came across the phrase "Freddo, Fango, Felicità" on a banner at a XC race, and it instantly felt like ours. It perfectly encapsulates the ethos of cross country. It’s not just about winning or losing but about embracing the elements and finding joy in what most would consider misery.

This edition of Freddo, Fango, Felicità doesn’t aim to romanticize cross country—it doesn’t need it. Instead, it celebrates the grit and glory, the fleeting moments of triumph against the backdrop of relentless adversity. Through Graham’s lens, we see the sport in its purest form: the aching lungs, the determined strides, and yes, the mud. Lots of it.

In this issue, you’ll encounter stories told through images, where every frame freezes the clash of human endurance against nature’s challenges. Cross country doesn’t promise glory—it promises truth. And in that, perhaps, lies its deepest joy.

MENTAL ATHLETIC: How did you initially approach cross country?

GRAHAM SMITH: Since I started running, cross country has  been a favourite of mine. In my photography I try to capture the emotion and feelings that our sport produces, and in XC they can be very raw, especially combined with the elements of earth and the winter weather.

I like to get in as close to the action as possible, either physically or with the lens, and hope to capture events so you feel as though you are there. I also like to try different styles of edit to best capture the mood of each race - both of the runners and the conditions.

M.A.: What is the cultural relevance of the sport especially in the UK where cross country is so popular?

G.S.: Cross country has been a part of running in the UK as far back as the 1830s where it began with “hare and hounds” races, and the English championship was the world’s first national XC championships. So there is a long and rich heritage of the sport in this country, and in each of the nations that make up the UK.

It is widely considered in the UK as an important part of the year round training cycle and the strength that it gives you really translates to strength on the roads and track later in the year. Although of course there are also plenty of people who prefer to stay on the roads all year round.

M.A.: Do you consider cross country to be a sport that can excite the public?

G.S.: We know that running is growing rapidly in popularity, but this tends to be on the roads and there is a big focus on PBs and marathons.  I think at the moment cross country competitions are not widely known about except by those who already participate with their clubs. But this can change.

The possibility of cross country being a part of the 2030 Winter Olympic Games is exciting, and it would be great to see more exposure of cross country over the next few years to help that to happen, driven by increased participation and also opportunities for non club members to race, so more people can come to know and love the discipline.

As with all athletics I think we always need personalities in the sport to come out to get people interested in watching. Setting varied and challenging courses at international and global events will also help. It would be great to see cross country attracting the kinds of crowds that cyclocross has in Northern Europe.

M.A.: What do you think makes people love this sport where you struggle, get dirty, and repeat a small loop several times?

G.S.: It’s all involving and you can leave everything else behind you. XC tends to be more team focused than track or road, and you see a great spirit of togetherness around the club tents that line the course. Many courses are laps of two or three loops  which is not too much that it becomes repetitive and you can hone your technique on each turn and hill for the next time around. Also the absence of fixed measured distances means that times are less important and it becomes much more about race tactics, at least for the front runners.

M.A.: It's amazing how you see both kids and old people at competitions, do you think it awakens the most childlike and spontaneous spirit in all people?

G.S.: Definitely. It can really bring a smile to your face It’s the most natural thing in the world to run off the road, and which is why so many runners love cross country. Those like myself who enjoy mud and hills are totally in their element!

M.A.: What is the peculiarity of the UK scene in this field?

G.S.: The UK weather is certainly a big part of it. There aren’t many other sports where you’ll see several hundred people huddled together in rain or snow wearing nothing but a vest and shorts!

I think we are also lucky that we have a lot of hilly parkland and open ground close to big urban centres, that provide for perfect courses. Often the biggest limitation is the parking! It can also be very much a family event, with races for age groups from under 11s to vets, so tends to be more of a day out than your typical Sunday morning 10k road race.

M.A.: Do you have any favorite trails or races that you think are most spectacular?

G.S.: The one that comes to mind first is Parliament Hill - this has to be the most iconic race venue in UK cross country, and frequently the location of the English National champs, with a testing hilly course that can get incredibly muddy. Looking down at the mass of thousands of runners up the long starting  hill with the tall buildings of London in the background makes for an incredible sight.

The annual Oxford vs Cambridge varsity cross country is less well known and certainly more exclusive, but as a photographer experiencing this for the first time last year it was fantastic. The race has everything you could wish for - a river crossing, varied terrain, that historic rivalry, and also all white vests to really show off the mud!

M.A.: Do you have a favorite club?

I don’t have a favourite but it’s great to see clubs competing that are steeped in the cross country tradition, such as the London club, Highgate Harriers. A club with Harriers in the name generally suggests a long tradition of cross country running. I also really like both the Highgate and the Victoria Park & Tower Hamlets vests. Belgrave Harriers are killing it in women’s XC in England at the moment and are the current National relay champions and that’s great to see too. I should also mention Leeds AC, as the place where I grew up, and St Albans which is my own club. Overall though I'm very neutral and like to see any club do well. I'm just there to try and capture the moment.