My running wish: cross country team racing for adults

“How’d we do?” 
 
“I think our 4th runner finished ahead of their 3rd runner.”
 
“Sweet!”
 
That kind of chatter and whisper follows cross country races, a form of running and competing enjoyed mostly by high school and college runners, racing that adults don’t have the chance to enjoy.

Ask anyone who ever ran cross country in school, and they’ll tell you it was one of the most enjoyable times of their life.
 
One of my dreams is to organize cross country racing for adult runners.  To treat those who never had the thrill of running team cross country—and to let those who did return to days when the success of your running friends mattered. 
 
One of the greatest parts of racing as a cross country team is the sense of camaraderie and concern for your teammates.  Years ago we “ran 7 and counted 5,” or” ran 5 and counted 4”—meaning you really cared how your team mates competed against other runners. 
 
Competing as a cross country team brings out a sense of pride and mutual respect for other runners that you can’t find in individual racing. In fact, how your team’s middle and last runners finish matters far more than who finishes first. Knowing your fellow teammates are working hard during the heart of a race inspires you to work harder yourself.  Few racing experiences inspire effort and celebrate others’ contributions more than running as a cross country team.  Talk about feeling excited about others’ success!
 
I know most runners enjoy the fitness of running and the individual sense of accomplishment when they race. So I wonder if the experience of cross country racing for adults would appeal to other runners?  
 
It might be time for me to depart from directing conventional road races and design and direct a cross country race or series of races in our community that leads up to a team championship.
 
It’s a great time of year to dream about running, and we’re looking forward to hearing about everyone’s running dreams—big or small, achievable or unlikely—at tomorrow's Take It and Run Thursday.

Comments

[Betsy]

This is a genius idea, Tom. I'd be right there with you.

[crossn81]

USATF-MN has both a cross country team circuit and a road running circuit. It is a lot of fun! Some of the races only attract team members while others are established races that enjoy the infusion of USATF team runners.

It would be really easy to create if there are cross-country or even trail races in your area.

[crossn81]

USATF-MN has a team cross country and road race circuit. It is a lot of fun and we have maybe 10 teams that compete.

A lot of the team events are part of other major events in the community, with a few being mostly just the USATF runners.

It is a lot of fun and could be easy to create if you have lots of races in the area.

[Lacey]

I want to be on the team! :)

[milanorunner]

Tom! that is an excellent idea!!! I am looking for a new and innovative way to raise funds for the track I am trying to build. I have to figure out how to pull this off. I wish I could hug your neck! What a great idea!!!

[Ben]

A little town around here tried that last year. I thought it would be really cool to get up a team from our University, but we could only get two to commit. One of whom didn't show up. So the actual runners in this race were
(a) One group of young men who seemed to be a H.S. cross country team maybe four years later. They finished first through fifth.
(b) One group of middle-aged guys from the same town. They finished sixth through 10th.
(c) Me. I finished 11th, dead last. But our team got third place, of which I am rightly proud.

[Dina]

Tom - I echo your feelings about high school cross country teams. And having you for a coach during my experience made it extra special!! I think this would be a lot of fun!

[Ken]

Tom... The best part of high school for me was cross country! I remember our team winning the Conference Meet in Illinois, and I finished 7th on our team. Because of me being in the top 7... I lettered as a Sophomore. Those were the best 4 years!
Ken

[Ken]

Tom... The best part of high school for me was cross country! I remember our team winning the Conference Meet in Illinois, and I finished 7th on our team. Because of me being in the top 7... I lettered as a Sophomore. Those were the best 4 years!
Ken