<p>I've played jv basketball at my school for the past few years and I'll be a senior this coming year. I think I might want to switch things up and join cross country just because I never got the opportunity to during my previous hs years. I can currently run a little under 3 miles without getting much tired and it's already the end of june. Are there any tips to boost mileage up to a good amount for when the season comes? Or is it impossible?</p>
<p>It is definitely possible. First, make sure you talk to the coach, and start going to practices NOW. Then, follow the R.T.L's. Don't run 10 miles on the 1st day. Run like 2-3. But don't go fast. Go at a moderate, relaxed pace. continue doing this the 1st week, and make sure you get 1 day of relaxing (sunday). Just keep building things up until the season starts in September. Also, work on abs a lot. They help. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Lol..I'm a cross country nerd.</p>
<p>Sit-ups, crunches, leg lifts... like Stanford said, ABS!</p>
<p>I never did any of that in my life before XC and was in for a rude awakening on the first day of practice. Also, if you can, try and do stair workouts. My team always starts with stair workouts and i've always found that they help a lot and after a week of those they made my first six-mile run (almost) a breeze.</p>
<p>Trust your coach. Do the runs he tells you to do. Don't cut. That's really all the advice you need. Everything else is common sense (don't go out in 100 degree heat without having drunk water/gatorade, get shoes specifically for running). But don't expect to accomplish much unless it turns out you're extremely talented. The best runners are almost always those that started as freshmen and gradually got better and better.</p>
<p>^Yes, the best runners are always the ones that put in the miles and miles of work. Take everything slowly, and gradually build a nice base right now. It will be fun, but it will hurt, so take everything slowly and be very careful not to get hurt. Listen to your body and run when you feel fine. Have fun!</p>
<p>Just remember, during the races, think like this: MY LAST CHANCE! ALL OR NOTHING! GIVE IT MY ALL! SUCK IT UP! FASTER! LEGS MOVE FASTERR!!! I WANT TO DIE OF EXHAUSTION!! It's what I try to think. I know someone who can "suck it up" so well that he always pukes after every race.</p>
<p>Drink tons and tons of water! And, try to eat healthy (healthily? Shoot...).
It's really important. On my first five mile run, I almost collapsed halfway through because I hadn't eaten anything all day. Not so smart.</p>
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I know someone who can "suck it up" so well that he always pukes after every race.
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<p>i did that once or twice. isn't it awesome when you sprint like there's no tomorrow following 3.1 miles of a gut-busting hill-filled cross country course? and how you don't even feel it because the only thing you can think of is winning? and then, you cross the finish line and feel like dying and the puke flies out. running is amazing :D</p>
<p>Pushing yourself is good and all, but in XC especially, there has to be a limit. If your vision becomes blurry, stop. If you hear a crack in your leg (this really did happen to a girl - interesting story), stop. If you can't breathe, stop. And so on.</p>
<p>dont do it</p>
<p>I took up xc in 10th and my shins never recovered in time for bball, so no tryouts and no team for me...</p>
<p>oh yeah and that girl who broke her leg somehow crawled the last 100m of the race (this was a state meet i think)</p>
<p>Get some decent running shoes for training. It's good to find sales, but you have to find the shoe that's best for you.</p>
<p>It will be worth it if you avoid injuries.</p>
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If you hear a crack in your leg (this really did happen to a girl - interesting story), stop.
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oh yeah and that girl who broke her leg somehow crawled the last 100m of the race (this was a state meet i think)
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<p>i saw a video of that. wow that girl showed some major balls out there but i think she should have stopped when she heard the first crack.</p>
<p>cross country is a great mind building sport...do it...but drink lots of water..and start running a bit at a time...i remember (i'm not that fast) dropping time from a 26:00 minute 3 mile to a 20 minute 3 mile...it felt amazing...so do it!</p>
<p>I should start running, I think I'm growing too fat during the summer.</p>
<p>only if you want to</p>
<p>Any of you guys been to the famous Mt. SAC cross country course? I love it! my favorite one</p>
<p>Ughh Mt. Sac, I didn't run it last year cause I was out most of the season, but freshman year, ohhhgodd. It was about a thousand degrees. The hills killed me dead. Really, really not my favorite course. Though, it was pretty amazing to be at the largest hs meet in the world and see the top runners.</p>
<p>Ya I like that course, I'm usually in the top 10 for my race. Absolutely kills people who can't run hills.</p>
<p>Where is that? (Mt. Sac)
I started out freshman year and got second to last in the whole state...heh...so the next summer, just ran and ran, building up to 1+ hour 6 days per week, and improved my 5k time by 8 minutes...you definitely don't have to be a good natural runner to do well in cross-country, just be dedicated and train :)</p>
<p>Do it! I learned a lot from joining XC. I went from a pathetic 30 minute 3-mile to a sub-22 3-mile because of my dedication to it! Just train hard and don't give up. It's definitely a mental sport...</p>