Sisu Oudejaarscross Almelo

Sisu Oudejaarscross is a New Year's Eve cross-country race in Almelo, in the Dutch province of Overijssel. It is run in the Nijreesbos and organized by Almelose Atletiekvereniging SISU, the local athletics club. The name says a lot: “Oudejaarscross” means an end-of-year cross, so the race is built around closing out the year on muddy forest paths rather than on city streets. Hundreds of runners line up for it, and the event is old enough to have reached its 49th edition. SISU lays out a varied course through the woods, with natural height changes making it tougher than a flat park run. The appeal is simple: a local club race, a forest course, and a hard run before the year ends.