NXN vs. Footlocker

FL all the way

SD is fun for all in December.

If you are running as an individual then run footlocker. If you are running on a team then run NXN. I don't know what region you're in but with those times I would imagine you would have a great chance at nationals at either race.

If I would an elite high school runner, I would choose footlocker

NXN if you are running with a team

Footlocker if you are running individually

HOWEVER, I haven't take much looking into it yet, but who knows? NXN might have a better field this year (which is quite possible).

FL gets 10 times the media coverage and exposure given it's held in a primo tourist location.

Both experiences are special, I've witnessed both, the athletes are treated very, very well.

I think NXN gets the nod because it's mostly about the guts and glory associated with competing in real sloppy European conditions (almost always associated with Portland meadows in Nov-Dec). Nike pulls out the stops for these athletes, whether they are individuals or teams. Can't wait to see it again this year.

What most are saying here:

Individual => FL

Team => NXN

I've taken my daughters to both. They had more fun at NXN because they were with their teams. But FL was a good experience, too.

Either would be a good choice in terms of competition, the fields should be split fairly evenly on the girls for the second year in a row... I think last year NXN was slightly stronger, but it seems like it should be about 50/50 for the top 12 or so girls this year.

So, if the competition at the two meets are comparable, and your team isn't thinking about competing at NXN, perhaps it would be best to consider what kind of runner you are: Portland is likely to be slightly cooler (think it's usually in the low 40's during the race) and more muddy, while San Diego is slightly warmer (think it's usually in the high 50's during the race) and has a hill... so would you run better through the mud in a little over 40ish degree weather or on a dry course with a hill on it in around 60ish degree weather in December?

Obviously, both courses favor strength runners to an extent. But there are differences between running a hilly course and running a muddy course, as well as running a race in 40 degree weather vs. 60 degree weather, particularly if you are in a northern state.

I've been to both. If you like running in a muddy swamp, then go to Nike. If you like running on a good 5k course in beautiful weather then go to FL. Nike is a bit cooler, but FL is way better in terms of course, weather, etc.

Been to both also....FL, while fun, cannot hold a candle to NXN for overall experience. It's really no contest.

Footlocker Nationals

It is the premier race and there is no comparison.

NXN is a much better xc experience, Nike puts on a better meet than Footlocker.

Does footlocker even exist anymore, are they still a mall store seeling fashion sneakers to hs kids?

I have taken kids to both and would pick NXN 10 times out of 10.

The course in San Diego is about as much like a xc course as a 10 yr old little league game is like a MLB game. You run around a pool twice, cross a road 4 times, the rest of the course is on grass that is about as long as the grass on a golf course green, real xc?

hs coach.......... wrote:

NXN is a much better xc experience, Nike puts on a better meet than Footlocker.

Does footlocker even exist anymore, are they still a mall store seeling fashion sneakers to hs kids?

I have taken kids to both and would pick NXN 10 times out of 10.

The course in San Diego is about as much like a xc course as a 10 yr old little league game is like a MLB game. You run around a pool twice, cross a road 4 times, the rest of the course is on grass that is about as long as the grass on a golf course green, real xc?

Wow, sounds like you have an ax to grind. It's funny how this topic comes up every year and people bash these meets both ways. People in this country are really spoiled, I guess, Amazing.

I'm guessing the OP is perhaps interested not so much in the 2 or 3 day experience of the meet and which one somehow provides a better or somehow more realistic xc experience. If she makes it to nationals in either meet, I'm betting she has already had lots and lots of experience on all sorts of xc courses, muddy ones, hilly ones, ones in parks, ones on golf courses, etc etc. Who cares? It's just one more race.

What most HS athletes are asking is which meet will best serve her needs of getting recruited by the school she wants to go to. And I think a high level performance in either meet would do the trick, so it probably doesn't really matter. My kid ran Foot Locker nationals twice, and certainly got lots of attention from college coaches, and not a single one ever asked him why he didn't run NXN. But the NXN participants get plenty of notice, too. By simple virtue of the fact that FL has been around longer, a lot of college coaches are more familiar with it and its qualifying procedures. They know that if you are at nationals, you are a high level runner. At NXN, things get a little muddier, since a lot of the runners are there only because they are on qualifying teams. But certainly a well known national level runner would not be faulted for going to either.

It is very hard for me to find fault with the FL 'experience' either. The athletes are put in the Hotel del Coronado, right on the beach on Coronado Island, for crying out loud. The place must cost $500 a night. It is gorgeous, a national historic landmark, and it is all decked out for Christmas. There is an outdoor ice skating rink on the beach. It is surrounded by beautiful homes and restaurants. The organizers essentially sequester the athletes while they are there, to give them time to really get to know one another and not just hang out with teammates, coach and parents. Maybe some coaches don't like that. Some of the guys my son met were instrumental in helping him with his college choices, and many remain friends. What's not to like? Whether NXN is somehow better, who knows. It's dumb to argue one vs the other. They are just different. Either one is ok. And you'll get lots of 'stuff' at either, if that's important to you.

NXN is a shoe convention. It's not setup as a competition. The course is so narrow it's a figure-8 junker race. It's held in the worst part of the U.S. in December. Even the left coasties avoid that pathetic area during the holidays.

Face it- most kids won't make it to Nationals- both are excellent experiences. My kids really enjoy the regional meet in Terre Haute- run by the same guys that put on the NC2A meet- they have a great weekend for the kids- Free Pasta dinner the night before, fireworks to start the race, and a great course. My kids also have liked FL- they just prefer the earlier date of NXN and don't have to travel through Chicago. We're fortunate enough in the MW where kids dont have to choose- they should do both!

NXN is not an excellent experience for kids. It's a sham. The idea is to pack as many kids in so that their parents will pay $200 a pair for cheap Chinese shoes sewn up by slave labor for $2 a pair. Why travel all the way to Portland, a cold and wet and boring place, for that when you can get it at home at the 24 hour Walmart Supercenter. At least Footlocker is setup and balanced so that the best kid can win on his or her best day.

Thanks for all of the input! I wouldn't be going with my team, so I would be looking at it from an individual standpoint. I am in the Midwest as well - is it possible to do both? I thought that they were on the same weekend. To me, it seems that Footlocker is the more historic meet, whereas Nike is newer and thus puts in a lot of hype to try and make itself as respected as Footlocker. Both seem like great experiences. I've never been to a national meet before, so I'm sure I'll thoroughly enjoy either experience!

Unless they have changed the dates this year, midwest athletes can run both meets - Lukas Verzbicas and several other Midwest guys ran both just last year.

As I wrote above, Foot Locker nationals is a meet with a lot of tradition, as you mention. Just the experience of staying in the Del Coronado Hotel and walking around it and walking out onto the beach with your fellow athletes will be something you will remember for the rest of your life, if you can make it to nationals. I can't speak for other athletes, but in my son's case, the way they run the meet, with the athletes together for several days, created friendships that I think will last a long time. In addition, there actually is a team aspect to Foot Locker - you would be part of the Midwest team. That is kind of neat, too, since you will probably have competed against a lot of these girls, and now they are your teammates.

My only experience with NXN is as a spectator. I have know several athletes who really liked it.

Last year, weather in San Diego was gorgeous. Despite what one negative comment said above about the Foot Locker course, it is actually a great course. It is in Balboa Park. It goes through a beautiful Eucalyptus grove, and has both a challenging uphill and a very steep challenging downhill. It is true that it crosses a road at one point, and does go in back of a pool, but they put rubber mats down on these very short stretches. Most of the course is gorgeous. You will be running so hard that the surrounding sights on the course will probably not be your first priority.

Best wishes to you whichever you choose, or if you choose both. You really can't go wrong either way. If it were me, though, I would not turn down a chance to stay in the Del Coronado at Christmas time - it is unbelievable - a huge Christmas tree in the lobby, carolers singing, boutiques downstairs, the outside skating rink, the beach. Amazing. I want to go back!