Beating someone much faster at XC in track

High School Running Distance

2 years ago 01/13/2022 10:25pm EST

Hi people, I know there are a LOT of variables involved when it comes to this topic. There’s a kid I need to compete against who runs almost a minute faster than me in a three mile course and I want to know if it’s plausible that I could beat him in a mile. (His mile personal best is also quite a lot faster than mine, but I haven’t run a mile in tiptop shape in years.) During COVID season, he absolutely destroyed me on the track in pretty much all events due to me being super out of shape form quarantine, whereas he had been training hard in that time. However, I now have had about a year of good hard training. So generally, do you guys think it’s possible for me to beat a guy running way faster than me in a three mile cross country race at a one mile track race? (Not giving too many specifics because I don’t want teammates seeing this post lol).

2 years ago 01/13/2022 10:30pm EST

re: didjeveh

At the beginning of 2020, Hobbs Kessler ran a 4:22 1600m.

At the beginning of 2021, Hobbs Kessler ran a 3:57 mile.

2 years ago 01/13/2022 10:49pm EST

re: didjeveh

Hmmm. Some pure distance guys (the type who will go to 5k/10k in college) are surprisingly inept over the mile distance, and you can do a lot of damage to them through leg strength and speed where your aerobic engine may be behind.

So it's totally possible, I've done it. Make sure you run A LOT, get your aerobic system firing, but I'd also spend some quality time running strides/fast 200s, doing plyo, and lifting weights (mostly legs but some arms too). I'm a miler myself, and I've done some serious damage to people who just float away from me during xc races on the track because they don't have as many gears as me. It's the kick that's important in the mile.

Once you get to race day, TRUST YOURSELF! When it hurts bad, just remember that you're no more than three minutes out from the line (idk how fast you are haha). STAY ON THAT XC FELLA'S SHOULDER like your life depends on it, then get to between 400 and 200 to go and blow his doors off.

Good luck!

2 years ago 01/13/2022 11:04pm EST

re: didjeveh

as a soph i was 3 sec off a sectional champion in XC...in the 800, i was about 4 min off in XC.

It's plausible

2 years ago 01/14/2022 12:29am EST

re: didjeveh

it's possible. very possible. but in the majority of cases, the guy who is faster in cross will be faster in the 1600/3200. ESPECIALLY when we are talking about a minute difference.

if you have a far better 400 and/or 800, there is a bit of a shot.

2 years ago 01/14/2022 2:14am EST

re: didjeveh

I had a teammate that ran 14:50something in cross and I ran 16:00. I beat him by 5 seconds in the mile consistently and shmacked him in the 400/800. It’s doable.

2 years ago 01/14/2022 8:25am EST

re: didjeveh

It's not uncommon at all. In our section, there was a 9:06 runner that dominated in XC, but could only manage a 4:19 mile and there were about a half dozen guys that could beat him at that distance. Ritz dominated Webb in XC but Webb would have blown him off the track in a mile.

Reply Replying to

Username

Password

Leave the password field blank to post anonymously.

Post Preview

By posting you acknowledge that you have read and abide by our Terms and Conditions.

Remember me on this device.

Beating someone much faster at XC in track

Of General Interest

This thread has already been deleted.

You have been subscribed.

Beating someone much faster at XC in track

Follow cramister

Block cramister

Follow high school xc coach

Block high school xc coach

Follow CopperRunner

Block CopperRunner

Follow SDSU Aztec

Block SDSU Aztec

Of General Interest

This thread has already been deleted.

Reply Replying to

You have been subscribed.