Autumn is a time for jack-o'-lanterns, pumpkin pie, and cross-country running. There’s a certain kind of beauty to racing up and down hills, over rugged land, and through muddy ravines that brings running alive. This time of year, it’s invigorating to see scores of high school and college runners training in groups throughout the streets of my hometown.
Years ago I discovered cross-country running when I belonged to a training group that met at Lehigh University, where I observed these student runners who inspired me to fall in love with running in a new way. I liked going off trail into the grass on a course that was infamous for its muscle burning hills and tough terrain. Those lung-screaming quad-kicking hill repeats taught me how to handle discomfort while making me stronger: it turns out cross-country training is a great way to build power, which ultimately translates into more speed.
Later, as an assistant cross-country coach at a local high school, I worked out with the boys and girls daily. Not that I’m an expert on the team sport—I’m a solo kind of runner. But I ran at the front of the pack with the fastest girls and some of the boys, and then jogged back to encourage the slower runners. The kids responded with team spirit and—begrudgingly at first—accomplished all the track intervals, hill repeats, and fartlek surges thrown at them. In the height of the season, we stayed on soft surfaces that seemed to help reduce injury while strengthening feet and ankles. We ran together throughout the year, on weekends, and during the summer. Suddenly the kids were getting faster and they couldn’t wait to face another challenging course together. To my surprise, I felt like one of them—a team member! Over the years, I’ve remained in touch with many of these kids who continue to run.
Recently I got the bug to run a cross-country race, but my youthful exuberance was unable to carry me through this time, as it descended into an unqualified disaster. With ankle-twisting turns and a steep downhill, I had as much trouble getting up the inclines as I did coming down. Treacherous exposed roots and rocks caused tricky footing—and relief that the 5K was finally over.
With the rise of Tough Mudder and Spartan obstacle off-road races, there is a plethora of fun ways to experience the joy and pain that is cross country. Use our handy Race Finder How Des Linden Keeps Showing Up.
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Lori is part of the Runner's World Challenge (soon to be Runner's World VIP) group headed to the Marine Corps Marathon. To learn how you can be part of the RW VIP program, visit runnersworld.com/vip.
