Things you see and hear again and again at cross country meets

1. The kids who are throwing the frisbee, football, or playing with anything else before there race.

2. The shirtless guys who go get their awards wearing a backpack and hat (backwards obviously).

3. The kids who don't want to show their white thighs so they wear sliders under their running shorts

osm wrote:

People racing in bulky trainers, or worse, basketball shoes. I've never understood this, especially in XC. Spikes are really cheap online, and if you could do something that takes 30+ seconds off of your time without effort, why wouldn't you? On the other side of the coin, I was at a meet today, and an entire team strolled up to the line wearing brand-new Victory Elites. At Van Cortlandt, no less. I don't even want to think about what those shoes look like now.

I think I've heard of someone breaking 14:00 in trainers. 13:55 or so; can't remember who it was though . . .

spectators walking on the course

a kid carring a huge pile of sweats back to the tent

dogpile in the tent

people warming up by running up and down the biggest hill before a race

people eating candy bars before they run

people yelling about how wet their socks are

two runners from the same school running to runner A: Don't let runner B catch you don't let him get close…To runner B: Pass runner A I know you can do it

lean down the hill

open your legs when you go down (stride out)

The fast kid whose form is awful

The male with the really long hair who leaves it down

the kid with fists clenched while running

the many kids vomiting

you're on pace for a pr

you're on pace for…

you gotta speed up now

push it

you could get a medal

pull

get up that hill

somebody taking a wrong turn

Some kid got a stick stuck through his spikes in the first half mile and ran the rest of the race with it in there it was probable 1 to 1.5 cm in diameter and about a foot long

kids running for the porta potties

someone mad the water jug is empty

arguing over who has to carry the tent to the bus

Tuck your shirt in before a race

the kid who thinks the five min gun is actually the starting gun or somebody who tries to start at the whistle

"Mom buy me a t-shirt"

In the tent "get off the tarp with your spikes"

"whose blanket is this? I'm stealing it"

Coach: "Somebody carry the cooler to the bus", Runners: "Freshmen:

"set up camp"

"wheres the Map? What is this?' Is that a pond?"

Durring the medal ceremony our number one runner got first but had to leave early, usually somebody just goes up pretends they got the medal and acts nonchalant...since it was first place everyone wanted to go up, so when one kid went up to get it we all yelled good job (his name) very loudly so it was clear he wasn't the amazing runner

The overweight dad who claims to have run a 4:30 mile in high school, but he doesn't run now because of his knees. Every cross country meet ever has had that dad in attendance.

I have a pretty funny story about one of our slower runners (22+) this past season. Apparently during one of our duel meets he had to go to the bathroom, so he ran off the course and took a dump. He somehow managed to PR though

Other teams sarcastically telling you that you can finish the race even though you are perfectly capable of finishing, they just are a little faster than you. Even though you can run a 11:30 for the 2 mile

Didn't Frank Shorter once quip, "everyone ran a 4:30 mile in high school".

teenage wasteland wrote:

The overweight dad who claims to have run a 4:30 mile in high school, but he doesn't run now because of his knees. Every cross country meet ever has had that dad in attendance.

FastAsDuck wrote:

Other teams sarcastically telling you that you can finish the race even though you are perfectly capable of finishing, they just are a little faster than you. Even though you can run a 11:30 for the 2 mile

sad

"KICK NOW!!!!!!" At the mile to go mark...

1. Cowbells! Like why?! I’ve never understood why cowbells are always at XC races.

2. Spectators yelling, “Go [insert team name here]!” when they don’t know the name of the athlete they’re cheering on.

3. The post-race confusion back at the team tent where everyone is trying to figure out where they are supposed to put their shoe chip.

4. People who call out times at random parts of the race. I understand why they call out times at mile marks and stuff but some people will just call out times like 1.634 miles into the race.

Shut up, democrat.

Flagpole, what do you say/yell @ cross meets?

The one parent who stands in the chute

CrossFan wrote:

"You gotta get out!!!"...dumbest thing ever. I actually had a D1 college coach (actually a reputable distance running school) tell my sons, who ran for him, that "running even/negative splits is p*ssy high school running". Apparently, the way the human physiology works changes between high school and college.

Actually, I find that high school kids respond to any cheering that's positive, no matter what is said or makes sense/not. Most kids pick it up when yelling/cheering people are around. Go back in the woods where all there are is crickets/frogs, and you see how different they respond.

As a high school coach, I appreciate any parents coming out and having the enthusiasm to support the kids. What truly baffles me is that probably 60% of kids have parents I've never even met or seen all season. I just don't get that.

Thank you for the positive post.

sbeefyk1 wrote:

"KICK NOW!!!!!!" At the mile to go mark...

Get that guy ( Pointing)

All the way through the chute, all the way!

There's actually a video of me in an 800 stopping dead with 100m to go and walking while looking my mom dead in the eye because she was yelling, "Run, Gabby, run!" Needless to say she didn't tell at me after that. It really breaks my concentration to hear my name in her voice.

There's always some girl who ran a junk race pretending she's hurt so she has an excuse right after finishing. Ask me about my teammate who turns out not to be worth all the hype.

There's a neighboring coach that's too old to run around the course that blows a really loud whistle every 90 seconds or so so they can keep track of the time or something.

Wtnn wrote:

CrossFan wrote:

"You gotta get out!!!"...dumbest thing ever. I actually had a D1 college coach (actually a reputable distance running school) tell my sons, who ran for him, that "running even/negative splits is p*ssy high school running". Apparently, the way the human physiology works changes between high school and college.

I don't disagree with this coach, actually. Science says "run even splits".but the reality is that races start unevenly. I've tried to get athletes to ignore the fast starters but found that in most instances that once you are out if touch with the lead you never come back. I had one exception over the years - a girl that wouldn't get rattled by the fast starters and would come back to win but she was uniquely disciplined. For most I say stick with the lead if you are trying to win.

I just won my meet Saturday this way. My mom always videos and counts people until she sees me. I am past 80th at about 400m. I won by almost 10 seconds.