WHAT IS CROSS COUNTRY?

Cross Country is a team sport involving running 5,000 meters (3.1 miles) over varying terrain.  Cross Country courses can be found in state or metro parks, on golf courses, in fields, in woods....anywhere a 5,000 meter course can be set up. There are three kinds of meets: dual meets involving just two teams, jamborees which involves three teams and invitational meets involving 10 to 30 teams. 

 

HOW DO YOU KEEP SCORE?

Cross Country is a unique sport because lowest score wins based on each runner’s finishing place. A team’s score in a meet is determined by simply adding the places of the first five runners for that team. The lowest possible score is 15 (1+2+3+4+5). The 6th and 7th runners can displace the other team’s top 5 scoring runners.  Below is an example:

 

Team 1 places: 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11.  Their score is (3+4+5+7+8=27)

 

Team 2 places: 1, 2, 6, 9, 12, 13, 14.  Their score is (1+2+6+9+12= 30)

 

Team 1 wins with the lowest score of 27 and team 1’s #6 and #7 runners added points to team 2 by placing in front of their #5 scoring runner.  However, if a team takes the top 3 places in a dual meet, they automatically win.

 

HOW LONG IS THE SEASON, HOW LONG ARE PRACTICES, AND HOW LONG ARE THE MEETS?

We have optional practices throughout the summer starting in mid-June.  Mandatory practices begin mid-August. Our meets usually begin the end of August, and the final competition of the season is the State Meet, which is always the first Saturday of November.  All athletes compete through the conference meet which is around the 3rd week of October.  Varsity athletes (top 9-10) continue training for Regionals (last week in October) and hopefully, State.

 

Our practices are from 3pm-5pm at various locations including the high school, Huron Meadows metro park (our home course) and Brighton Recreational Area (aka Bishop).

 

The length of meets vary. Dual meets are at 4:30pm and 5:00pm.   Boys run first in even years and girls run first in odd years.  We are usually done by 6:00pm.  Invitational meets are on Friday or Saturday and vary in time based on the meet schedule and distance from home.  We are generally home by mid afternoon on Saturday meets.

 

HOW DO I GET TO PRACTICE AND MEETS? 

It is the athlete’s responsibility to make arrangements for transportation to and from practices.  Many upperclassmen drive to practices if underclassmen need a ride.  Transportation is provided to all meets and departs and returns at the high school.

 

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO RUN "VARSITY" OR TO RUN "JV"?

In dual meets there is no distinction between varsity or JV.  In a dual meet, the entire team runs in one race.  In invitational meets, there are normally two separate races - a varsity race and a JV (junior varsity) race.  In the varsity race, each school is allowed to enter its 7 top runners, and in the JV race each school can enter as many runners as they wish. 

 

HOW MUCH DO RUNNING SHOES COST?  DO I NEED SPIKES?

Shoes and a one time purchase of a warm up are the only equipment required in cross country.  Shoes cost around $150.  It is crucial that the athletes get “fit” for the correct running shoe based on their body.  There are many running stores in the area including Running Lab, Ann Arbor Running Co. and Running Fit.  High school athletes generally get a discount at these stores.  Injuries are preventable with the correct shoes.  Each pair of shoes can last for about 400 miles, which is generally the length of one season, depending on the athlete.  Spikes are not required but encouraged if the athlete can run a 5K in 23 minutes or less.  We suggest purchasing them early in order to train in them before racing.

 

HOW MUCH DO WE RUN IN PRACTICE?

Training is based an athlete’s fitness level and ability.  We do not have girls run more than they are capable and each day is different.  A beginner runner who has not trained over the summer will start running 15-25 minutes and progress up to a long run of 4-5 miles at the end of a season.  However, a veteran senior who has run 300 miles over the summer will run upwards of 8-10 miles on a long run day.  Keep in mind that miles are broken up with warm up, run/workout and cool down.

 

DOES EVERYONE RUN IN EVERY MEET?

With the exception of the Spartan Invite, Portage Invite, Regionals and State finals, all athletes compete at every race.  

 

AS A SPECTATOR, WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT TO SEE?

What a spectator can see during a meet is based on the course. On some courses you can see virtually every step of the race because of how the course is set up, while on other courses you may be able to see only the start, the finish, and a few segments of the race here and there. By the nature of the sport, even the spectators are "active" during a cross country race. There are no bleachers to sit in, and many spectators literally run (or at least walk briskly!) from one part of the course to another to see as much of the race as possible. 

 

WHAT ABOUT INJURIES?

Although there is no contact in cross country, injuries can occur if proper measures aren’t taken.  Even then, sometimes they just occur.  First, proper shoes are essential to avoid injury.  Second, following the appropriate training schedule and running consistently.  Third , taking time to properly stretch after running and rolling sore muscles with a foam roller.  Ask a coach to determine the appropriate protocol to alleviate an injury.  This may include resting, exercises at home, seeing our trainer or getting help from a doctor or physical therapist.