Why I Like Cross Country Running

Race starting line at Van Cortlandt Park/ Tom Henning

Cross country running encompasses the most important values that one can take from sports. It is widely participated in when it comes to high school teams although it can also be considered an individual sport. Runners may practice together, but when it comes to race day, one is in a constant battle against every other runner and most importantly, oneself. The body's true stamina and capability are determined greatly by the mind when it comes to running. As a competitive sport, cross country demands one to have complete control over the thoughts that say its time to stop or slow down when you really should not. The mindset of a runner always has the ability to be honed since running a race is a having to constantly make decisions all the way through. A racer has to consider what how long to keep a certain pace, when to surge another racer and must also be conscious of the body. It always feels great to be in tune with your body's physical workings and have enough discipline to control yourself under strenuous activity.

The physiological aspect of running; as with any sport, is important although the right mental capability is needed to truly excel. The true magic of running is the learning experience that is gained about how your own body responds to stress and actually builds off of it for strength. Progression is the drive for running cross country and there is no other feeling like sprinting the last stretch of a race and demoralizing the unsuspecting victim who lets their guard down. As a result, there is a predatory instinct in overtaking another runner and it makes the whole thing exhilarating. After gaining experience from every race, I love getting more accustomed to identifying the runners who I can overtake early on and those who I'll take later on. Perhaps even more satisfying than getting ahead of someone is taking back the lead position from someone who has surged ahead of you. Learning how to respond to being beaten or left behind is one of the few things that helps me to grow as an athlete and a person. It feels great to see yourself recuperating from a tough loss and it propels you forward to set higher standards.

The standards that one chooses to pursue when taking up running define what kind of experience you draw from it. One can set goals to run at a certain pace, complete a longer distance or run in an event that bears some personal significance. The biggest sense of accomplishment for me is knowing that every ounce of effort I put into my workouts and practices all help me finish strong through the finish line of a race. With competitiveness aside, participating in the sport itself is an amazing experience because of the scenery one encounters. From the tree populated trails of parks to grassy riverside courses, they all produce an amazing sense of serenity. Running throughout every season also keeps you in tune with nature and allows you to fully experience it as you tread through the snow, endure the rain and withstand the overbearing heat. Running with the Flying Dragons however, is the most rewarding factor for me since it allows me to bond with great teammates and the incredible coach; Tom Henning.