10 Things Kids Who Grew Up Running Cross Country Know

banjophilia wrote:

10 Things Kids Who Grew Up Running Cross Country Know

3. The human warrior instincts coming alive in your pack of teammates. Excuses do not hold up with people with whom you share the rituals and traditions of training, practice, and preparation for intense competitions.

9. We can take ourselves too seriously. Part of the beauty of belonging to a team (or tribe, pack, or clan) is that we have others to encourage, scold, and keep us honest. In our sport, there is much laughter as after all we are just playing when you look closely at it. Serious play mind you, but play nonetheless!

.

[quote]banjophilia wrote:

The 3rd point is idiotic. You're flopping around on a field at 6min/mile pace - not going to war. Get over yourself. Cross country isn't even the hardest running event.

The 9th point is shared by all sports. It isn't unique at all to running.

The other points are fine I guess.

banjophilia wrote:

7. Teamwork is everything. On a cross-country team, the seventh team finisher means just as much in the overall score as the superstars up front. No other sport scoring emphasizes the importance of the less talented team members than ours. We often undervalue the contributions of those who would be riding the pine in other sports. Thankfully, we compete in a sport that doesn’t have a bench!

10. New shoes are awesome. Who of us doesn’t grin ear to ear upon opening up the little cardboard box and sliding on that beautiful, lightweight, cushioned, speed improving pair of new shoes? They automatically make us faster.

7) The 5th person is more important as they are the last scoring member of your team. The 6th and 7th runners are just displacers. They really only matter if they are ahead of the other teams 5th runner. There is a bench. At my high school we had 35 kids on the team when we lined up for the State. Only seven of us got to run in the State meet. I was glad that I was one of them but I was also glad that the other 28 members were there watching and cheering. I couldn't let them down!

10) At age 61 I still feel that way when unboxing a pair of new running shoes. (even if I won't be running faster)

Runningart2004 wrote:

6. Always run behind the girls team.

Lol I gotta say. My high school self would say this is the most correct of anything on here,

Hold on now.... wrote:

In fact, whether I was 15 or 51, I never needed a team around me to perform. I didn't see what it would have provided.

Honestly sorry that you never got to experience a team like that. Rarified air, my friend.

The ability to have guys around you to work off of during a race is unbelievable.

Welcome to college wrote:

Hold on now.... wrote:

In fact, whether I was 15 or 51, I never needed a team around me to perform. I didn't see what it would have provided.

Honestly sorry that you never got to experience a team like that. Rarified air, my friend.

The ability to have guys around you to work off of during a race is unbelievable.

So you couldn't have paced off of similarly talented runners in a college meet? You didn't know what pace to run, what guys you should be racing, your effort level without other runners wearing the same kit as you?

Odd.

I ran on good teams, and I ran on some bad teams. Either way I liked that I was in charge of me. When that gun sounds it's all you, every one of your teammates could fall in a ditch but it has no bearing on where you finish.

If you guys like this post, you should just go all-in on instagram. It's chock-full of runners posting about things that "ONLY RUNNERS" can relate to.

This LRC attempt is like shtty 1940-era instagram memes. And the current memes/jokes suck. At least go to the source.

SalmonRice wrote:

You're flopping around on a field at 6min/mile pace - not going to war. Get over yourself.

Petition to change the LRC motto to this??? Where your dreams become reality has a certain disconnection from life in the "trenches".

Bridges freeze before other surfaces.

When running hills, make sure the 1st 2 steps after you crest the hill are powerful before you go into downhill mode

SalmonRice, on the team I was on we had 7 guys who ran 5 minute pace, and some JV guys who were ready to step in, so you can call BS if you like but we would happily lace up and give it a go.

The factorial of 5 is 15. In smaller divisions, the factorial of 4 is 10.

1. it gets cold as the season goes on

2. there are hills

3. if you're in bad shape you'll know it quickly

4. usually the top runners separate themselves pretty quickly

I enjoyed this list. Agree with most all of it. I'm 20 years out of high school and still have some great XC memories.

It makes me happy when I see a big pack of kids from my local XC team out for a run- they are out there working hard and making some memories that will last a lifetime, regardless of where life takes them.

Welcome to college wrote:

Runningart2004 wrote:

6. Always run behind the girls team.

Lol I gotta say. My high school self would say this is the most correct of anything on here,

Hey man I'm here for a laugh lol. The OP was too serious.

I had plenty of races over the years, mostly marathons where I ended up behind the elite and semi-elite women. Marathon you have tons of time to take in the scenery!

I remember I ran Peachtree one year with a sea of bun huggers in front of me!

More things an XC guy knows.....

1. Girls like abs. But your GF's gay friends will like them too so shrug off the drooler making comments

2. Most commercial treadmills are set to a max of 10mph.....but some can be set to 12mph if you know the maintenance codes.

Alan

Runningart2004 wrote:

I remember I ran Peachtree one year with a sea of bun huggers in front of me!

LOL I can confirm