Thank you so much @neonerudite ! I’m going to try to get started with some relatively short runs this weekend, I se up a course on RunKeeper for today that’s nothing too long, it says 1.89 mi but it’s probably a little shorter than that. I know that’s really short for cross country runners, but I haven’t run over a mile in a long time so I don’t want to dive into long runs just yet.
@CalChong wow, that’s my goal too. When you’re running, just think of how much closer you’re getting to your goal; you have to be able to tell yourself that every run and every practice counts, because it does and it all adds up. I seriously believe you can achieve that goal if you put in enough effort, and that’s the hard part; you have to remind yourself of your goal everyday, remind yourself how good going to state will feel and how proud it’ll make yourself and your team. I’m rooting for you 
@DogsAndMath23 that’s good to start, you do not want to pile it in early, that’s how you get injuries (shin splints, runners knee etc). So starting shorter and work your way up is the way to go :).
Thanks so much for the advice! I’ve been running at least a little every day since Friday, excluding Monday, which I know isn’t very much time but I’m really happy I haven’t given up immediately.
I know it isn’t much, but going from walk-running one mile a week to running (albeit with a lot of walking) several times a week is an adjustment for me.
I talked to my teacher and he said that the requirements for cross country are pretty lenient if you’re first year, so if I can run the entire 3 miles without stopping, even at a pretty slow pace, I’ll probably be on the team (based on my running speed).
I’m kinda worried that I’m not running continuously enough since I’ve been doing intervals, but I figure it’s a start.
Hi everyone! I’m new to this discussion here. I also am doing track right now, but I’m pretty sure that my coach wants me to do cross crountry this coming fall too. I’m really nervous, and haven’t decided whether or not I am going to.
How’s everyone else’s seasons going (if you are currently running track)?
I ran my second half marathon today. My first one was 4/25 and I got 2:35:11. Today I got 2:17:34, about an 18 minute difference! It’s so exciting and reassuring to see progress and growth :-bd
Wow, congratulations!
I’m happy to say that I’ve been running still, although probably not enough/in the right ways. Yesterday I ran about 1.6 continuously, which isn’t a lot, I know, but I haven’t run over a mile nonstop in at least two years. My math teacher has given me the task of running 3 miles continuously by Friday…I’m aiming for about 2 this weekend, and I figure I’ll keep bringing it up throughout the week.
@Rylee0021 hi! Cross country is really fun. Especially if you like distance. You should go to a summer practice (if your school has them) and see how it goes and see how you like it. If you enjoy it, then keep doing it!
@TotallyTrudy wow, good job! An 18 minute difference is really amazing. It’s always a really really good feeling to kept getting better and better.
@neonerudite everyone has been telling me how fun it is! I have decided that I will be running cross country this fall, and I’m excited for the summer practices to start in July!
I’ve run two miles a couple times now, and I can’t say it’s easy for me but it’s definitely not as hard as I’d feared. Any tips for pushing through to 3 miles, though? I’m thinking tomorrow I’ll run two miles, then walk a little, then run another mile and just keep shifting that over until there’s no gap.
My times aren’t good but they’re less terrible than I expected, since I was thinking that my 3 mile time would end up being around 30 minutes, lol, but I’m guessing it’ll be 25-28 minutes. My two mile time has been about 16:30-17:00, and my one mile time is about 7:45-8:15. I know those aren’t competitive time at all, but I figure I’ll get faster, even if I can never run the three miles in under 20 minutes.
Also, do you have any simple tips for getting a good start for sprints? Based on 0.07 mile sprints, I’m guessing my 100m time is about 15.5-16 seconds. I’m confident that running in more ideal conditions (running straight ahead, proper warm up, not fiddling with the app on my phone, a better start) can bring me down to 15.0 or lower, and proper form can hopefully get me down to 14. I don’t think my school’s JV track is very hard to make for a sprinter, fortunately for me.
I am starting to like running, at least. Well, downhill running. Flat/uphill running I just dislike less 
I guess that’s progress.
Just found this thread and I’m excited! I run a lot too, however I’m not on my school’s CC team because it conflicts with band season 
I run a lot on my own though and have done two marathons! Any other marathoners out there?
@DogsAndMath23 for getting to 3 miles, I would say just keep running and stay consistent and it well get much more easier. Keep adding more mileage bit by bit until you reach your goal; don’t focus on speed until you have. Good mileage (distance) base. If you keep running at least 3 times a week (I usually run 5 times a week), I promise, running 3 miles will become SO easy.
I don’t have much knowledge on sprinting, unfortunately (since i only run distance :P). The sprinters at my school usually do 100m and 200m repeats, focusing on things like their form and their starts, and also incorporating in strength for their legs in order to build muscle.
I’m a sprinter (200, 400 mostly) and our workouts are usually repeats of 200’s or 300’s. We do block starts the day before a meet to work on ‘driving out’ too. Pretty much the whole idea behind being a good sprinter is having an upright strong form, make sure you’re arms swing forward and back with a lot of power, and push off the ground with each step (pulling the track behind you). Since you’re running distance maybe you’d want to see how fast you can run a 400 or 800?? My coach is having me run 3 miles 5 days a week for summer training to prepare for the 800 next season :’( . I definitely know how you feel haha.
@lsalck32 I’m not a marathoner, but I am a half marathoner! I’ve done two so far and have another one Saturday. I’m signed up for a marathon next April, and I’ll start my training in January. It’s exciting but also pretty scary!
@TotallyTrudy That’s awesome! I’ve done four half marathons and I have 2 more marathons next season! I love the sport because it’s so accessible but so difficult at the same time! What’s your fastest half?
I started running in January, so I’m not super fast or anything haha. My first half didn’t go so well, 2:35:11. I went out too fast, didn’t properly hydrate or eat my gels when I planned to. I ended up crashing around mile 7 and I had to walk a lot. I trained for a 2:25 finish. However my second one I did a lot better and got 2:17:52!
I’m going to do another half on Halloween and hope to get around a 2:10 finish. I’d love to get sub 2 hours but I don’t know if that’s feasible considering how new I am and that’s a ton of time to shave off! I’m doing a lot of speed training over the summer though so we’ll see :-/
I bet you can! I’ve dropped 25 minutes over the course of 4 halfs! Are you doing a big city Marathon next spring or a local one?
The marathon I’m doing is the Country Music Marathon in Nashville 
It was my first half back in April, too. It’s a tough course! The first half is basically all uphill #:-S
Would you mind telling me what your fastest half time is?
No way! My first full was Knoxville! My fastest half is 1:35 but I’ve been running that distance for about 2 years now!