Toughest HS X-C courses

Thanks for posting this topic. I'm jealous those of you who had real XC courses to run on.

I ran in SoCal and the only course that didn't have a stretch on pavement was our league finals course. If I remember correctly, even Mt. SAC starts on pavement.

In 1983 we ran an alternate course at Mt. SAC that was all on pavement. I ran something like 16:30 and was shocked that I had ran so fast because my previous best was something like 18:15. Turns out the course was only like 2.7 miles.

I know of what you speak...after college I moved to So. Cal. and noticed that due to NOT getting access to golf courses for X-C, out here, due to 'year round golfing'; that most of the races were in public parks with alot of pavement to transverse. (sidewalks, parking lots). I don't think I ever wore spikes; but wore the Oregon Waffle racing flat.

Well .. at all of these courses, at least you have solid footing and no major obstacles. Check out the "mud run" from a course in Charlevoix, MI. I think the course record is something like 19:00 ....

http://www.runmichigan.com/photos/03/cc090603pg15

Click around that site. The pictures are insane.

that course is ridiculous and dangerous...running through knee high streams? no thanks...don't need a broken ankle or torn knee ligaments.....only for the very brave or very stupid. (i notice it starts out tame enough on flat grass/road area...lol

Looks like Elkins West Virginia without the steep hills.

Renesaince run in Douglas County Colorado.

The course record is BS _kid ran short (not on purpose). 2rd fastest time EVER run on course is 16:57. This kid had a pretty good track season 9:19, 4:19, 1:54 in colorado. Chirs Valenti (RWTB) only ran 16:56 as well.

2 of three miles are up hill.

thinker wrote:

Looks like Elkins West Virginia without the steep hills.

If what you say is true, then you win. I can't imagine the mud, obstacles, etc, AND steep hills. What was your time when you ran at Elkins?

Did I ever run in Loose Park!?! Of course! I went there once to run a 2 man 6 mile relay. I was supposed to run with this kid from SMS but when Veryln Schmidt got wind of it he put a stop to it. So I'm standing there with no partner and someone points out this old guy, white hair, beard and tells me he's looking for a partner. I figure some old dude is better than nothing so we agree to run together. He takes the first three mile leg. After one mile he's in the lead and I'm crapping my pants figuring there would be no pressure on me. By the time he gets done with three miles he's about one step in front of Steve Shaad from Bonner Springs. I ended up holding on for third but man was I embarrassed. The guy was Mike Chaffee and I got to know him when I was at KU.

BTW... my best on that Lawrence course was 10:10.

hereford is by far the toughest xc course i have ever seen, more less run on, just mention the dip to any maryland runner and they will immediatly cringe on the spot

Sect 3 rocks wrote:

replying wrote:

- Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, in New York City is very difficult.

- As is Bowdoin State Park where the NY Federation Meet is held annually.

WHAT!!! Coming from upstate NY, when I was in HS I loved to race on those courses because they were some of the easiest that we ran on. Try Guilderland (Sect2), FM/Green Lakes State Park(sect 3), South Jefferson (Sect 3), Marcus Whitman (Sect 5) if you want some really difficult NYS courses.

No. Van Cortland and Bowdoin are definitely slower look at times run at both courses.

Either way Sunken Meadow is harder then all of them runners from Section XI always have slower times there despite having some of the best runners, i.e. Sheridan, Tschirhart, Dalpiaz, Krause. Look it up.

This course is tough. My 3 mile pr in high school was 15:03 and I ran 17:10 on this course (and won). In addition to two tough hills you had to jump a creek twice during the race. The course record holder was a Kinney finalist and ran around 15:00 at Mt. Sac (old course) and just over 9:00 for 3,200 on the track.

I personally have never run elkins but my team mate one year ran 16:35 on are home course and ran 18:17 at elkins. there are two three creek crossings and one hell of a hill with several smaller hills once you get to the top

that sounds like Schmidt...(or chicken schmidt as we called him, with a grudging respect). And who can forget his shadow, Clipboard Charlie?

Though younger than me, I remember Shaad from Bonner Springs and Mark Denning, (a 1/2 miler). Nice guys. Shaad had good endurance/strength, but not much of a kick; Terry Glenn from Wellington outkicked him alot. I ran a 2 man, 10 mile relay one summer at SME, alternating 1/4's. Lots of gatorade and blisters doing a 20 x 440 workout in mid summer...lol..

Dave Anderson and Ryan Eichner, both big time blue chippers from SMS obliterated everyone...lol...of course, they were in midseason form, unlike the rest of us slugs.

yes, bwine creek is definatly up there, since the top 2 times on the course are just under 16 and just over by two of the fastest high school runners ever, or at the very least two footlocker national champs. as for the comment about the first hill, commonly known as maintanance hill, this is not what kills you, although it is very steep it is not that long, what kills you is the 200+meter incline before that hill while you are still in the woods. also the small hill just after the 2 mile mark which then leads into an 800 meter steady incline, oh yeah and the finish is uphill, take a look from the finish down to the start and its a scary site at how much you go up in elevation over a 5k race, especially since you are in delaware, it is down right shocking.

sunken meadow

cardiac hill HURTS

MT. SAC!!

Not only cardiac, but the gradual hill before it, as well. That picnic area takes a lot out of you even before you get to the real hill.

yea boiiiiiii wrote:

sunken meadow

cardiac hill HURTS

Brandywine is tough, but only becuase people shoot their wad in the first mile.

I ran there once; my Junior year in '82.

First mile in 5:30 and I was in ~10th. Ended up 2nd to MD state champ (17:21 vs 17:24).

You have to be very aerobically fit to go out in <5:00 on that course and keep going.

only 22 boys have ever gone under 16 at SM and the state meet has been held there a few times. The fastest time is only 15:32 held by olympian John gregorek