Why I Want To Do Cross Country

Of the more than twenty million Americans who are running today, most who start do so for the wrong reasons, with the wrong attitude, and tend to lose interest after a few weeks or months. Many quit. This is usually because they become concerned with superficial goals such as time and distance and never discover the more profound mental benefits that running offers. (Lilliefors 15)

When I first joined cross country I was not fast nor a runner. I was one of the slowest people on the team, but I wanted to get faster and I was determined to improve. Some days we would do a hills workout and I would get to the top of the longest hill and think, “I could just run back to Armstrong right now and be done”. But then, I thought about how if I did another hill, I would get better and some time during a race when there was a big hill I would look at it like it’s nothing. I could go up the hill easily and pass a couple girls. So I would do another hill. Then the next time we did hills I rememberd how many I did the last time and pushed myself to do one more. Through that cross country showed me that I could be faster and tougher than I thought I was if I put in the effort and want it

After every race, you can vaguely expect what you will see up on the clock. I know, now, how much I put in, is only as much as I can expect to get out. Running has helped me form some ideas that are still fresh in my brain but will hopefully help me become a better version of myself. Just remember, someone may have a lifetime ahead of them, but they need to make the last bit just as good as the

When most people run up a hill, they slow down. When I see a hill, I speed up and say to myself: “I LOVE hills!” Of course, I don’t really mean it. Nobody’s fond of running up hills, especially on a violently hot day in the middle of August. I was taught this mantra by one of my Cross Country coaches, Kelly. If I don’t think that I can do something, the first thing I try is telling myself that I can. Mindset is about 75% of your performance in a race. I love to run because it makes me feel like I can do things that are impossible. When I get back from a five mile run in the pouring rain, I feel like everything is right with the world.

I had no experience as a runner nor did I have the form. This did not phase me however. That year I promised myself to push through all the six mile runs, sore legs, gnarly blisters, and at times, lack of oxygen. At every meet and speed workout practice I pushed myself further and further. I set a goal every time I kicked off from the starting line and never let myself get discouraged when I failed. By my senior year, I was the fourth fastest runner on varsity. That year our varsity team won the district meet, which qualified us to run in the 2016 state meet in Oregon. The transformation over the years were evident. My determination to accomplish my goal of becoming a faster runner was complete. If I had simply just given up that first day of practice, I wouldn't have ran along side of the fastest runners in Oregon or have met the multitude of people that are now my closest friends. Having a goal sets one up for a challenge, whether it being physically or mentally, goals keep us active and thinking in more ways than one. Still, if someone has self-control, confidence, and a goal, they are still not complete.

Having the desire to one day see those views in person or enough self-confidence to finally post a decent beach picture without being self-conscious. Running on the cross country team will quickly whip you into shape. Maybe you won’t get that rock-hard six pack that you have always wanted at first, but if you stay consistent with it, you’ll end up being closer than you were before. Since cross country is a very active sport, especially since it is a long distance, you will burn several hundreds of calories and can influence healthy eating habits depending on your goals. Running cross country will improve your overall strength, endurance, health, and hopefully influence positive daily

I am an extremely passionate runner; my primary focus is to be an encouraging, hard working team member. This commitment entails running up to fifty miles a week, as well as lifting three days and cross training three days for about six months of the year. I pour my time and energy into this sport because it challenges me to become a tougher person. Cross country has taught me to keep a positive, growth mindset and to ruthlessly chase every goal. Additionally, I am best friends with all the girls on the team. I give them everything I can offer to make cross country the happiest place in the world. I am a leader, being named Captain of the ninety person team my senior year. No matter the sacrifice, no matter how I perform, I am ultimately on this team for my teammates.

My Accomplishment There are many accomplishments I am proud of completing, but the one I most admire myself for is joining Cross Country. I knew that I could run I was just afraid of all the running they did but now that I am in Cross Country I can’t seem to think what my life would be without this sport. I was encouraged to join this sport by my coaches and my parents. They knew I had the ability to complete this goal, but I just had doubt in myself. I believe that every sport takes dedication and my biggest accomplishment is Cross Country.

Running has many different aspects of workouts and forms of doing it. Comparisons a lot of people make is that cross country and track are the same thing, but those two sports are entirely different. Both do deal with running, but the differences are very major and they go much as to change the workouts done for the sports. More comparisons that are mostly said that if a runner enjoys long distance running then they also should go out for track since it has long distance events. Even though it has those events it doesn’t change the fact the two are very different.

Summer is a great way to start off running slow. Also running with someone can be easier to focus and meet goals. Giving up is not a part of any sports, especially cross county. Using other team members in a meet is also

It is your teammates and your coaches encouraging you to finish the last three miles.

A big part of running is not just your physical abilities. It is also a mental sport. Your body can be pushed so far and hard and keep going, but it is your mind that tells you to stop. We learn what is good pain and bad pain. We teach ourselves not to stop when we feel like it.

One thing should be said about Cross Country, it is no easy sport. Most of the time is spent running, miles upon miles. There is not always someone around to monitor everyone’s activity levels, it would be very easy to stop running; however, doing that only hurts oneself. Even though times it would have been easier to quit, I persevered, knowing that it would benefit me in the long run.

To be completely honest, I don’t think what I said before is really a full explanation at all, but I guess the thing that I dislike the most is the competition aspect of cross country meets. I actually just had a cross country meet today (you were there), and I enjoyed every second of it. I liked

Many see the foible of running, for they believe it is repetitive and boring. Those who say that have a good point. After all, one is just moving quickly down a long, straight, unchanging asphalt road with no electronics to play with or nothing to eat or drink. They do not understand that running is very versatile