1st year doing cross country

Hey! I am planning to do XC for the first time this year (I’m a junior). Any advice from runners on how to train over the summer and how hard the training is during the actual season?

We have summer practice and so does everyone I know who does cross country. Check to see if you have it. The training is always tough, but you have to push through. I run cross country and I don’t particularly like it because of the long runs. I just do it to stay in shape for track. But yeah, if you train hard you will be good.

  1. Stay hydrated
  2. have fun
  3. stay healthy, from your username I’m assuming you’re a girl. Don’t try to increase your mileage drastically and take care of your hips and shins.
  4. run in the grass or soft surfaces whenever you can

I was a first-year cross country runner last year, and I’m returning this year. In my experience, it is a good way to be active and stay in shape for other sports. Most schools (including mine) have summer practices, so you should attend some of those. I would start with shorter distances, increasing as you gain more endurance. It’s also nice to run with a group of friends. Good luck!