Any XC Runners here?

[Deleted]

I don't run cross country, but I do some running. I just ran my first half marathon earlier this year. My running partner is doing a marathon in June that I would like to do with him, but I just don't know if I am going to have enough time to train. Hopefully.

[Deleted]

NY can be hard to get into, but it is a good goal. I would like to run one, just to do it..

[Deleted]

Snerd,

Find a race you wan to run in Spring/Early summer. Sign up for it. It is good motivation. Even better if you get someone to run it with you.

[Genuine GA Peach]

the last 5K I ran (about 2 weeks ago) had a small amount of XC running. There's a Turkey Trot here that is XC. I've run one other 5K that is on grass. I liked that part, but it's a 2-lap course. I HATE repeat courses! I'm okay with an out and back, but I cannot stand running more than one lap for an actual race. Just a mental thing I guess.

DH's good friend runs XC a lot. She also likes mud runs (NOT my thing at all!) As long as it's a well maintained trail, that's fine. The one I ran recently had a few washouts and some big tree roots, so you really had to watch your footing.

MM - you can do a 10K. Aren't you in AL? If you are ever in metro Atlanta, there's a great 10k in September. The Big Peach Sizzler. It's all down hill! They run from one Marta station (the rapid transit system) to another. It's a blast to see what a great run time you can get!

[Deleted]

Went running for the first time in the month since my race. ugh. not fun.

[teen persuasion]

I don't run (except running my kids around to activities ), but my kids do XC. The XC season just ended after Halloween. Most of the team will also do track in the Spring, and a good number do swimming to keep up their conditioning over the Winter.

The XC team begins training as soon as the track season is over (late May). They will practice w/ the coach thru June until school is out, then have Captains' practices over the Summer until official practices begin again 2 weeks before school starts.

They have a series of stretches and other exercises they do before running, and will run a warm-up mile and a cool-down mile before and after their actual "run". They alternate "hard" days and "easy" days - an easy day may be one mile less and at a lower intensity/speed. Hard days they try to make personal best times. They also alternate where they run - one day per week at their home course (the ravine), the other days are either on the track, or along the canal (they have mile marker landmarks for various distances). Part of some practices are spent in the fitness room, as well.

The coach has a whole schedule for varying fitness levels that the kids can progress thru. Beginners start at smaller distances and only increase them if they work thru so many weeks at level A, then B, etc. DS2 learned that he needed to start training in the Spring to advance thru enough levels to be at least a displacer by the Fall meets. DS4 (in 8th grade) is beating DS2's Sophomore year times, since he's started earlier. By the end of this season, DS4 broke 20 for a 5k.