Cross Country

Cross country running is a sport in which entire teams of runners compete against each other by racing to finish a course over open or rough terrain. It is different from similar running sports such as road running or track running because of the type of course. Cross country courses may include grass, mud, woods and areas of water. Teams of cross country runners are made up from groups of 4-12. The ideal seasons to go cross country running are during autumn and winter when the softest underfoot conditions can be found.

The History Of Cross Country Running

Cross country running began in England in the early 1800's. It was a popular sport in public schools and was was associated with steeplechasing. By the 1850's and 1860's two-mile cross country courses were part of major university sports. By 1865, natural cross country was separated from steeplechasing, which featured flatter fields and barriers. Cross-country running first ran its way into the United States in 1878. The cross country race was originally served as a training practice for athletics but gradually became accepted as a formal sport. Despite the international popularity of cross-country the sport was dropped from the Olympic Games after 1924 because of it being viewed as inappropriate for summer games.

Cross Country Running Tips

Traning for cross country involves building endurance for the long journey ahead. In general, cross country races for men range between 5 kilometers to 15 kilometres, 2-8 for women and 3-5 for high school cross country. You can't conquer the course by studying the terrain or comparing it to other courses already run. Courses are rarely alike and may be very different in composition. Even the same course may feel differently due to weather and various underfoot conditions. Although there is some standardization in league practice, because of these reasons no records are kept in international competition. It's important to understand the scoring system since scoring is done on a team basis. Points are awarded to individual runners equal to the position in which they cross the finish line. Only the first runners in for a team are counted towards the overall score. Team members are awarded ranks based on the number of points top runners have, the lowest score being the best.

Equipment for cross country running may include athletic supporters, vests singlets and cross country shoes. The ideal cross country footwear is cross country spikes, which are light running shoes with rigid rubber soles and a hard plate in which spikes can be screwed into. The length of the spikes are determined by the conditions. Other cross country running shoes might include studded shoes or flats, as well as shoes with a cross country logo for looks.

Whether you are arranging activities for a group of boys or are taking part in an athletic competition, cross country is a challenging and rewarding sport. For cross country running quotes you can't do much better than Doris Brown Heritage, a five time champion, who said “When you put yourself on the line in a race and expose yourself to the unknown, you learn things
about yourself that are very exciting.”