Why Cross Country?

All summer, two of our kids have been training with a home-school cross country team.I run with them and drag along the other two kids to practices, as well, insisting they join us for at least part of the workouts. Sometimes the unofficial runners “forget” their shoes or socks as a not-too-subtle means to avoid running.

I have sent them onto the course barefoot.

I run with them and drag along the other two kids to practices, as well, insisting they join us for at least part of the workouts. Sometimes the unofficial runners “forget” their shoes or socks as a not-too-subtle means to avoid running.I have sent them onto the course barefoot.

Don’t worry, it’s grassy.

Anyway, not long ago, the co-op’s art teacher asked me about the cross country team. I went on and on about how happy I was not only that the kids could be on the team but also that I could practice with them. Following the coach’s training plan makes me work a lot harder than when I’m just looping around the neighborhood by myself.

Intrigued by my enthusiasm, the art teacher tagged along to one of the practices, curious to see the team train.

After practice was over that day, he said to my kids, their friends and me, “Cross country is one of the most brutal sports to train for, especially in this heat. So I’m just curious…what motivates you to run? What gets you out here?”

He asked me first. “Why do you do it?”

“Health and fitness, I suppose,” I answered. “And to keep my kids going.”

I have sent them onto the course barefoot.

Don’t worry, it’s grassy.

Anyway, not long ago, the co-op’s art teacher asked me about the cross country team. I went on and on about how happy I was not only that the kids could be on the team but also that I could practice with them. Following the coach’s training plan makes me work a lot harder than when I’m just looping around the neighborhood by myself.

Intrigued by my enthusiasm, the art teacher tagged along to one of the practices, curious to see the team train.

After practice was over that day, he said to my kids, their friends and me, “Cross country is one of the most brutal sports to train for, especially in this heat. So I’m just curious…what motivates you to run? What gets you out here?”

He asked me first. “Why do you do it?”

“Health and fitness, I suppose,” I answered. “And to keep my kids going.”

I have sent them onto the course barefoot.

Don’t worry, it’s grassy.

Anyway, not long ago, the co-op’s art teacher asked me about the cross country team. I went on and on about how happy I was not only that the kids could be on the team but also that I could practice with them. Following the coach’s training plan makes me work a lot harder than when I’m just looping around the neighborhood by myself.

Intrigued by my enthusiasm, the art teacher tagged along to one of the practices, curious to see the team train.

After practice was over that day, he said to my kids, their friends and me, “Cross country is one of the most brutal sports to train for, especially in this heat. So I’m just curious…what motivates you to run? What gets you out here?”

He asked me first. “Why do you do it?”

“Health and fitness, I suppose,” I answered. “And to keep my kids going.”

Anyway, not long ago, the co-op’s art teacher asked me about the cross country team. I went on and on about how happy I was not only that the kids could be on the team but also that I could practice with them. Following the coach’s training plan makes me work a lot harder than when I’m just looping around the neighborhood by myself.Intrigued by my enthusiasm, the art teacher tagged along to one of the practices, curious to see the team train.After practice was over that day, he said to my kids, their friends and me, “Cross country is one of the most brutal sports to train for, especially in this heat. So I’m just curious…what motivates you to run? What gets you out here?”He asked me first. “Why do you do it?””Health and fitness, I suppose,” I answered. “And to keep my kids going.”

I have sent them onto the course barefoot.Don’t worry, it’s grassy.Anyway, not long ago, the co-op’s art teacher asked me about the cross country team. I went on and on about how happy I was not only that the kids could be on the team but also that I could practice with them. Following the coach’s training plan makes me work a lot harder than when I’m just looping around the neighborhood by myself.Intrigued by my enthusiasm, the art teacher tagged along to one of the practices, curious to see the team train.After practice was over that day, he said to my kids, their friends and me, “Cross country is one of the most brutal sports to train for, especially in this heat. So I’m just curious…what motivates you to run? What gets you out here?”He asked me first. “Why do you do it?””Health and fitness, I suppose,” I answered. “And to keep my kids going.”

Don’t worry, it’s grassy.Anyway, not long ago, the co-op’s art teacher asked me about the cross country team. I went on and on about how happy I was not only that the kids could be on the team but also that I could practice with them. Following the coach’s training plan makes me work a lot harder than when I’m just looping around the neighborhood by myself.Intrigued by my enthusiasm, the art teacher tagged along to one of the practices, curious to see the team train.After practice was over that day, he said to my kids, their friends and me, “Cross country is one of the most brutal sports to train for, especially in this heat. So I’m just curious…what motivates you to run? What gets you out here?”He asked me first. “Why do you do it?””Health and fitness, I suppose,” I answered. “And to keep my kids going.”

Anyway, not long ago, the co-op’s art teacher asked me about the cross country team. I went on and on about how happy I was not only that the kids could be on the team but also that I could practice with them. Following the coach’s training plan makes me work a lot harder than when I’m just looping around the neighborhood by myself.Intrigued by my enthusiasm, the art teacher tagged along to one of the practices, curious to see the team train.After practice was over that day, he said to my kids, their friends and me, “Cross country is one of the most brutal sports to train for, especially in this heat. So I’m just curious…what motivates you to run? What gets you out here?”He asked me first. “Why do you do it?””Health and fitness, I suppose,” I answered. “And to keep my kids going.”“Okay, that makes sense,” he said. Turning to a friend of ours, a young man, he posed the same question.Our friend answered, “Well, I’ve done triathlons and been on a swim team, so it made sense to start training as a runner to get stronger.””Oh, I see,” the art teacher replied. “So you’re already a big goal-setter and you’re used to the intensity. How about you?” he asked, turning to my youngest daughter. “Why are you running cross country?””I like being able to run,” she answered, “and to do well. And I like being healthy.””Well, that’s good,” he replied. He turned to my eldest daughter. “How about you? What’s your motivation?””My mom made me,” she answered.”What?!” I exclaimed. “I didn’t make you…did I?””Well,” she continued, turning her attention to the art teacher, “my mom gave me a choice between running the Mini next spring or joining the cross country team. So I chose cross country, because a 5K is a lot shorter distance than 13.1 miles. And it’s more fun to be on a team than it is to train with my sisters for the Mini.“The art teacher wasn’t sure what to say. Neither was I. Because, frankly, I forgot I said that until she brought it up. And suddenly I realized that if I were true to that “deal,” I would have to require my non-cross-country daughter to sign up for the half marathon!Guess we’ll deal with that later.In the meantime, the two girls officially on the team have trained hard and logged miles and run continuous hills, sprints and striders. We even signed up for a 5-mile road race that our coach’s company organized a month or so ago. That was a big challenge.Finally, last Thursday, after all of this training, our team had its first-ever middle school meet.We didn’t know what to expect.The coach talked them through it while they stretched, giving them very simple, basic strategies like, “Don’t start out too fast” and “Stay on the course.” Cross country is not rocket science.A Christian school in town hosted us. We have a full middle school team, but don’t have enough high school runners to form an official team. Our hosts kindly let our three high school boys and two high school girls run the 3K along with the middle school students (high school teams usually run 5K). The older students’ points didn’t count in the overall score. I have one high-school-aged daughter on the team, and one middle-school daughter.The girls ran first.After two false starts, they were off.The parents from the other team showed us where to stand so we could cheer the runners at the mile mark as they turned a corner and crossed a softball field. The first runner to come down that stretch was from the other team, but she happens to attend our church, so we know her.As she came around the corner, my son, not realizing how the path looped, accidentally stepped right into her path! I couldn’t snatch him away fast enough for her to avoid him, so she had to push him aside and press on.I was so embarrassed. So was my son. And I promise we weren’t trying to sabotage her results. Honest.She was so tough. She just kept on going and got a great time. And the spectator-obstacle couldn’t have cost her more than a millisecond. She won by a lot regardless.I held my son right next to me as the next runners came around the corner.Then we spotted the first girl from our team, moving along at a nice clip.”Who is that?” one of our parents asked.”Is it Olivia?” someone speculated.”No, she’s not running today,” someone replied. “Olivia hurt her foot. Is it Jaci?”Finally they recognized her and shouted her name with gusto.My middle-school daughter!Following her were a few runners from the other team, and then, my other daughter! My eldest, the high-schooler!We spectators made our way back to the finish line in time to cheer the speedy girl from the other team. She was the winner by far.Then we watched the others run in, one by one. We cheered. We clapped. I jangled my keys and shouted things like “Keep it up!” “You’re almost there!” and “All the way! All the way!”The atmosphere was positive and uplifting—the boys positioned themselves throughout the course to encourage the girls, and parents applauded runners on both teams along the home stretch.My daughters reported later that they were able to pass other runners one by one. Our team didn’t win, but check this out:Youngest daughter: 4th placeEldest daughter: 10th placeThe eldest daughter’s results didn’t officially count because she’s in high school, but we were thrilled nevertheless, for the speed and strength she has developed during this training season.Cross country is not for the faint of heart. But for those who train hard, show up at practices and run those hills and sprints…transformation awaits.The coach says that if you log those miles between practices, “that’s when the magic happens.”But it only happens if you log the miles. It doesn’t happen if you sit at the computer all day. You’ve got to get out there and do it.And it’s not magic.It’s perseverance.And God’s grace to give us these bodies and the strength to endure.So if you’ll excuse me, I need to pull on my running shoes. We have to run 60 minutes today.Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. (Hebrews 12:1)