A Thought About XC

* Track conditioning starts next week and the kids have been chomping at the bit to get back to running, training, and racing; even though as several have noted, that they quote, "hate running in circles." One student in fact has asked me EVERYDAY since the end of XC season when does track begin. If you think this is hyperbole, please know it is not. I ran (pun intended) across this yesterday and just wanted to share it. Hope you enjoy. And if you are reading this, we have survived this:

that really actually only turned out to be this

Read and enjoy. 

Dathan Ritzenhein on the track.

Cross country is racing in its purest form and it always brings me back to the pure love of competition. I don’t look at the clock and check my splits or worry about the weather. You get out there and just go, trying to push it to the max. I have had some battle royals with great runners as well as some total blow outs and that excitement is something I love. The strategy in cross country is so much more than on the track or road. On the track you just try not to get dropped and kick at the end. One the road you can focus on time and splits. But in cross country things can change all the time, and you need to know your body and be ready mentally prepared to run on your own. It doesn’t matter if you have dropped everyone or you are being dropped, you have to be able to push yourself.

DR running the world's best sport: XC

Happy Wednesday,

    David