The XC Race Start Is Pure Magic
There is nothing quite like the start of a cross-country race.
The quiet anticipation as hundreds of runners line up across a field. Their nervous bouncing, last-minute strides, teammates yelling encouragement.
Then the gun goes off.
Suddenly, there is the sound of hundreds of feet stomping into the ground at once. A sea of runners begins converging across the field, everyone fighting for position before that first turn, which is always too tight. If you are standing anywhere near the course, you can feel the wind as they rush past.
This is one of my favorite moments in all of sports.
I have been lucky enough to see many great sporting events over the years, but very few can compare to the start of a cross-country race. Seeing my St. Louis Cardinals win the World Series still gets the top spot, but a good XC start isn't far behind.
Starting this week, scenes like this will begin playing out all across the country. High school and college runners will spend the next few months racing through parks, fields, trails, hills, mud, and whatever else the course throws at them.
That unpredictability is part of what makes cross country so great.
One week it might be hot and miserable. The next could bring rain and mud. Then you get one of those perfect fall mornings with its cool, crisp air, changing leaves, and weather that makes you want to run forever.
If you have kids running cross-country, you probably don't need any encouragement to get to a race this season. You'll already be there, moving from one part of the course to another trying to catch them as many times as possible. But if your kids are grown, you don't have a runner at home, or it has simply been a long time since you've been around the sport, find a local race and go watch.
Stand near the starting line. Listen to the footsteps.
Watch that huge pack of runners come charging across the field. Cheer for the kid in the middle or back of the pack who is fighting just as hard as the runner up front. And maybe allow yourself to remember what running has meant to you.
The races you have run. The people you have met. The places your own two feet have taken you. The difficult days running has helped you through, and the good days it has made even better.
Cross country season has arrived.
Get outside, find a race, and enjoy one of the best traditions our sport has to offer.
Take your cross country season to the next level with our complete pre-season and in-season strength guide. This can also be used as a track season guide. It is designed to fit along side your running program and support your running gains, helping you peak at the right time, run your best, and prevent overuse injuries. Click the link below for more info.
