Cross country races are held off-road and take place in the winter, outside of the track and field season. The courses can be flat, hilly, undulating on grass or muddy terrain. Even the same course can become a very different test as the weather and conditions underfoot change. As such, while times are usually taken, there are no rankings for any given distance. Events can be over a range of distances, the length of races usually being dependent on the age group competing.
Many clubs are involved in cross country leagues and championships, and there are open races which individuals can enter. There are also cross country relay events including national cross country relay championships. Many of the clubs which enjoy road running are also very active in cross country events. The ability for cross country races to have large numbers participating means they can be suitable for wide ranges of ability levels.
Events usually give information on who they are suitable for and previous results also help indicate this. The UKA Rules also give the ages at which athletes become eligible to compete in events of certain distances. There is something very unique and exhilarating about racing against someone else and trying to reach a certain point first. The aim is to get there first. Cross country is the only discipline in athletics which is just sheer racing. All the others have time, a set distance or elevation as central features of the challenge.
Another feature of cross country which I love is its connection with nature. Running through fields and green spaces, or up and down hills is what we humans evolved doing — running in our natural environment. Cross country allows us to fully appreciate exercising out in the fresh air and immersed in beautiful countryside. Your local club is the obvious place, but if that feels a little overwhelming, here are a few tips to make a start.
Slipping and sliding around are an integral part of cross country, so you need shoes which will minimise this. Cross country spikes, which are more cushioned than track spikes, are ideal. Trail shoes or any footwear which has good grip underneath are alternatives.
Trying to run on a muddy, slippery course in trainers is rarely fun. The terrain used in cross country can vary enormously from mud baths to occasional sections of road, and everything in between. Simply running on all these types of surfaces, in any amounts, will help you get used to them. There aren't many high school girls who have run faster than 19 minutes in cross country, in the , 60 seconds in the and 27 seconds in the She has also cleared 14 feet in the long jump.
Howell freshman Emily Endebrock has a comparable skill set. She was the only Howell girl to break 20 minutes in cross country last fall, going In track, she's run Fusik has been to three cross country state meets and two track and field state finals. In track, she's qualified three times in the 3, relay and once in the Her personal best for the is She helped Brighton finish fifth in the 3, relay at last year's state meet.
By the time I start, I'm already working on my finish. The effort's about the same there. It's just a little more spread out in cross country and all at once in the But even for those cross country runners who run distance events in track, there's a significant difference between the sports.
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