Malcolm had an aptitude of this event and did quite well from the outset. The "Dorm Run" was an annual event which took place during the Lent Term and in which the majority of the school participated. The course was over about 3½ miles of gravel tracks in Clumber Park next to the school His first run was on Friday 11 February 1955 and he finished a creditable 52nd. In 1956 the run took place on 10 February and this time Malcolm finished in 19th place. This automatically entitled him to his House Colours as having finished within the first 20 runners. The 1957 race was run on Friday 8 February and this time Malcolm finished in 7th position. The 1958 run was cancelled due an outbreak of influenza.

There was also an annual steeplechase run each Lent term but Malcolm has no recollection of these although records show that he finished 3rd in 1958.

Malcolm was a member of the school cross-country team during 1957 and 1958. In the latter year he usually finished well up the field, occasionally being 2nd in the team behind David Griffiths who was unbeatable. However, Malcolm did well enough that year to be awarded his school half-colours. The Worksop team were used to running on firm surfaces but one event took place over muddy fields and through a stream. David Griffiths won the race and Malcolm came second to him. However, the entire other team took all the other places between them. Malcolm gained school half-colours for his performances that year. W Wood of Pelham house had a similar pace to Malcolm and they often ran together in 1958 but Malcolm would outpace him to finish the race.

When Malcolm first arrived at Worksop, running took place in gym shoes, and it was not until later that proper cross-country shoes with block-grips on the soles were introduced.