While I completely love Cross Country there are elements of the sport that aren’t that lovable.
The debate of Cross Country vs Track will never truely go away since both sports have their strengths and their weakness. In this article I want to express what are the good elements of Cross Country and what the bad elements of Cross Country are. While my stance on the debate is that I’m Team Cross Country, even I can admit that the sport is not perfect.
Pros:
1. Tons of variety for race courses
Cross Country truly allows one to run off the beaten path by the race courses being entirely different from each other since majority of races are held at different locations. In being able to run a different course for almost every race, one is always guaranteed a new running experience. Every race one competes in they gets to experience new sights as they race around different courses which is very beneficial to the mental aspect of running. Running is mentally easier when one is allowed to experience different sights because it means the runner is not being forced to do the same thing over and over. Variety in running is always beneficial to runners because it delays the possibility of runners experiencing a mental burn out. Running or racing the same thing over and over can quickly take a tole on a runners mentally because it can make the runner feel trapped in a never ending pattern that is starting to get annoying or boring. This is the prime issue of running long distances on the Track. The struggle of staying mentally strong and avoiding mental burnout is extremely difficult when you have to run the 5k or the 10k on the Track since one has to run the same circle around 12 to 25 times. Though in Cross Country, it is easier to stay engaged in the race since your mentally tends to stay stronger since your are running in a new setting that is exciting to explore as you run.
2. Allows one to train in different locations
Cross Country’s name truly implies the idea that you will be running across all different types of terrain. In Cross Country, the world is your oyster when it comes to training since one needs to be prepare for all different types of race courses. One can run through fields, forests, mountain trials, and on sidewalks and it would be considered good cross country training because one never knows what they will be racing on for their upcoming race. This variety in training allows the runner the chance to experience running in different locations which can help runners maintain a positive mentality since every day brings a new adventure in a new running spot. This variety is not as common with Track since many Track practice simply occur guess where, on the Track. It makes sense to train on the track during Track season because that is where you will be racing, so coaches will simply just have practice on the track despite knowing that their runners will get sick of it fast. This is not the case for Cross Country. While one may have some Cross Country work outs on the Track, majority of Cross Country practices and work outs can occur at different parks. I adore the variety of training locations that occurs in Cross because it allows me the chance to explore new areas and run in various directions. The beauty of Cross Country is that one can train for it anywhere in the world.
3. The amount of time spent at the Race is relatively short- 2 hour max.
Most of my Cross Country race are done in 2 hours since on average the women’s race takes around 30 minutes to be completed and the mens race can be done around 25 minutes. Then shortly after the races comes the medals and the next thing you know your back on your bus riding back home. Unlike Track meets, Cross Country meets go by in the blink of an eye since its one large race in which every runner is racing all together at the same time. The meets rarely get behind schedule meaning if you scheduled to run at 9 am, well you’re your likely going to run at 9 am. The time efficiency and effectiveness of Cross country races is a huge highlight because it makes the racing experience quick. I enjoy the quickness of this race experience not because I don’t enjoy the racing atmosphere (I adore being in racing atmosphere where I can watch other people race and celebrate with my teammates once my race is over) but rather I like the chance to have the rest of my day to do other activities. The quickness of this race is nice because it allows one to race while still have the remaining of their day to do other activities such as lazily binge watching their favorite tv show as one recovers their energy and once you caught your second wind you can go spend the rest of your day by hanging out with friends or family.
4. Your team is very close knit because you all train together
My mom always thought is was strange how close knit my cross country teams are considering that we were all racing each other for positions, but she never had to train for Cross Country before. Cross Country training is grueling because it often requires endless miles of running and long reps of mile repeats. It is a tough sport filled with struggles and nothing bonds people together like conquering a struggle together. Many Cross Country team are close because they spend so much time working together to accomplish feats they never have done before. They often have to run 10 miles together on the weekend and often spend those ten miles taking to each other about their lives, their passions, and their other hobbies. These long runs allows teammates to get to know each other on a deeper level as they work towards a common goal creating a quick bond of camaraderie. While Track teams can often be close, I tend to find Cross Country teams overall more connected to each other since everyone is doing the exact same training. Track has multiple events meaning people are training for different races so a long distance runner like myself will never have to train with a sprinter. In fact, I likely won’t even train with some distance girls like the 800 runners since that is a completely different race than the 10k. In this being true, while I might become close with my fellow 10k runners, I likely will not become that close with the entire team since I won’t ever have to train with everyone on the team. This is not the case in Cross because every person is running the 5k meaning everyone is training the exact same and all together. The close nature of a Cross Country team is a product cfrom the fact that these athletes get the chance to bond over their common struggles and learn about each other lives as they run multiple miles together.
5. Only need 5 runners to compete
One does not need a large team to compete in Cross Country because only 5 runners count towards the team score. While a team could always have more than just 5 member, I always liked how the sport of Cross Country really enforces the idea of quality over quantity. A strong Cross Country team does not mean a team that has a ton of runners or a team with one runner in the 17 minutes and the rest running a 25 minute 5k. A truly strong Cross Country team is a team that consist of 5 girls who race with only 30 seconds between each other. I love that this sport was designed to ensure that any team could be the greatest, no matter where they came from or how big their team is, as long as they have 5 dedicated runners who were willing to give the sport everything they had, they could be the champion team. This sentiment has been proven true at many of the races I have attended throughout my running career. I remember how in high school, the team that won state five times in a row was a team that only had 5 runners. Yet, those 5 runners were some of the strongest runners I have ever watched. I love how Cross Country is not a sport that thrives one the idea of strengths in numbers, but rather on the idea that even a small group of people can accomplish much.
Cons:
1. Sometimes there might be too much variety for race courses
While there are some benefits to getting to race a difference course for almost all of your races, there also the huge burden of inconsistency. While one Cross Country course may require you to run on a field of short grass for the entire race, the other could have 3 big hills you have to run over not once, but twice. The inconsistency of Cross Country courses can make it very difficult to PR often since every race has new elements that could either help or hinder your race. Some runners look at hills with excitement while others look at them with dread. Some runners love the idea of the race happening on a golf course while others prefer the mountain terrain. A runners preference can often can come into play making it difficult for the runner to race extremely well if the course is the exact opposite of the runners preference. In most cases, people run their best times on courses that are flat with no hills, but what happens if one has to run a hilly course. What happens if one week your racing on a flat field and the next week your racing on a golf course filled with huge rolling hills? Should you expect your time to slower because of the conditions or should you be able to race the same time regardless. This is the biggest issue with Cross Country courses since their ever changing nature can often make it difficult for runners to race consistent times. Often one has to attempt to run as fast of a time as they completed on an easy course on a much harder course meaning they have to run even harder. This makes it is very difficult for a runner to run a PR often or finish their race within a certain range of their PR. In Cross Country, a runners time will likely fluctuating through out the season simply because of the inconsistency of the sports race courses.
2. Not that well know of a sport leading you to always have to explain the sport to others
Whats that? This is the response I always get whenever I tell someone I’m in Cross Country. I can’t tell you how many times I have to explain what Cross Country is and confirm that it is an actual sport that has nothing to do with traveling to another country. And don’t get me started with the amount of people who often listen to me explain the entire sport and only respond with this beyond aggravating saying, “So its pretty much Track”. Only runners know that there is a huge difference. As amazing as Cross Country is as a sport, it is easy to see that it is not the most popular sport. It does not have the popularity of other sports such as basketball, football, or volleyball meaning anyone who runs Cross will not get the same amount of recognition as other sports. Though as much as people will respect you for being a Cross Country runner because they view you as a fit beast for volunteering to run more than a mile, you should not expect tons of people to know your meet schedule and show up to your races. The sport does not have a popular status attached to it so if your trying to join a sport that gets other peoples attention and gives you more street-cred on campus, well Cross is just not the sport for you. Though if your desperate to have the status of being a jock, remember that Cross Country is known for being a no cut sports meaning anyone can join. Yet, Track is also a no cut sport that has the exact opposite popularity status as Cross so do with that information as you will.
3. Not much cheering to be heard while your racing
Don’t get me wrong, you will hear people cheering every once a while on the course as you race since your coach and parents are likely running from spot to spot just for the quick chance to cheer you on for a couple of seconds before you dash away. While the sight of watching your love ones attempt to run from spot to spot to cheer you on is entertaining, its nothing like the cheering you hear when you race around the track. In Track races, you hear almost a constant cheering from people because your constantly surrounded by people. On the track you run the same path over and over making it easy for your love ones to pick a spot and cheer for you every time you complete a lap. They could even split up as they pick a different spots on the track to cheer you on so you hear someone cheering you every 100 meters. Another downside of Cross is that one will never get to be cheered on by one’s teammates since your entire team is racing at the same time as you. This means there is no chance you will hear any cheering from your teammates since they will either be running ahead of you or behind you. Cross Country really tests ones mental strength since one is forced to run majority of their race without hearing any words of encouragement.
4. Same distance so you better love 5k’s
My soul truly belongs to the 5k, but even I a die hard 5k fan can admit that running the same distance almost ever single week is still exhausting. During Cross season your expected to get faster and faster at ever race at a distance that demands a ton from your body and requires more recovery days than one often gets with a week after week meet schedule. I can’t imagine how difficult it would be to run the 5k multiple times when you do not care for it at all. Now you might be thinking, “well why would you have to run the 5k when you don’t like it”. Well, welcome to college mid-distance track runners. For most colleges, if you are recruited or given scholarships money to run in college you are expected to run Cross Country and Track meaning you will be racing the 5k more often than ever before. My 800 meter teammate/roommate can personally attest to the fact that transition to running a 5k every week can be difficult. Yet, do not stress the transition too much because even die hard Cross lover like me can admit that racing a 5k is a challenging task.
5. No bleachers so you better bring a chair
Ok so I know for some people this might not be that big of an issue, but for me it is honestly a huge pet peeve of mine. It not the fact that I have to sit on the grass that drives me crazy its the fact that sitting on the ground with no back support is my core problem with this issue since my back is similar to those of a grandmas. After sitting on the grass for a couple of hours either leading up to the race or following the race as we wait for medals, my back begins to feel extremely tight and uncomfortable. Nothing is worst than beginning your warmups for your race already in pain because your weak back is tight from sitting on the ground for too long. I know this sounds sad, but its true. This problem only started occurring in college because all throughout high school my team always brought lawn chairs to sit in leading up to our race. So little me never had a clue of how sadly weak my back would be from sitting on the grass going into my first few college races since it is a rarity for college teams to have lawn chairs because their teams tend to be around 30 individuals. Though don’t worry about me, I bought myself a tiny lawn chair to fix the issue, but the diva side of me just wishes that there were more comfortable options for our racing tent.
