Comments on: First time for cross country in high school?

By: divasadrabg

divasadrabg — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 14:59:42 +0000

I’m a sophomore and this is my first year running cross country also. The season is almost over but this summer for conditioning, we ran 3.5 miles every Monday, Wednesday and Friday and did weight training every Tuesday and Thursday.

For me, I took it slow and each day tried to run a little bit farther on the 3.5 trail each time. I usually didn’t time myself because I wasn’t going 5K race pace. Now, I’m running varsity and I lettered. So I think the workout I told you above would work just fine. It helped me build that mental strength to keep going despite the pain (it numbs down when you ignore it) and the physical strength to keep going.

As summer conditioning continued, we started doing two-a-days but that was only for people who could handle it.

Hope this helped! And good luck!

By: observer

observer — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 21:56:40 +0000

If you’ve nvr ran b4, just ease into it at the start of summer, no use injuring ur self. Start w/…idk, 10 miles a wk and just build up. Take one long run, a few shorter, maybe a few like tempo runs whereyou start slow, go medium/hard int he middle, and then go slow again (super fun!) and mayb try to run some routes w/ more hills, watevr keeps u interested. You may want to do some light weight lifting, and work out ur abs, it helps on hills. Ideal summer mileage is prolly 35-50 wkly miles, but if ur a freshman, 20-35 is permissable, watevr works bst fer you! Good luck!

By: tweety_babyxo

tweety_babyxo — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 10:11:34 +0000

Well since its the summer that your starting your training. I would suggest a more of an endurance and strengthening technique. Mainly during school time we run up to 5 miles every afternoon (varsity). I’d especially want to get you prepared for the the weather around that time so your lungs can adjust. Going longer than 5 miles is best suggested depending on if you have time. I wouldn’t have you start off running that long but you should gradually increase to being able to do at least a one more mile over 5. And mind you a 5k goes very fast especially if your Varsity. You should also practice a few times with the actual speed used in a 5k for freshman. Also consider both Indoor and Outdoor Track those are mad fun, I’m a sophomore right now and up there with Varsity in XC(Cross Country) because of all the training from track, this year was my first time going for XC and I moved right passed the seniors on my team to second fastest runner in XC (on my team). And it opens lots of doors if you’d ever have dreams of the olympics or lowering the scale to a good/excellent college like Yale. Or going to Washington Dc a lot of the high girls down there are beast but I wouldn’t dare to go down there not to scare you or anything its just a big step. Anyways hope I helped…

By: freakkstaaa!<3track

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:08:52 +0000

well im a freshman this year and in cx,(cross country) and just in practices we run about 5 to 7 seven miles daily so you have to be prepared. when i first started i was only used to running about 3 or 4 from juinor high so it was a huge step for me. but you get used to it. and in high schoool its ALOT more fun. (well i guess depending or which school you go to) but theres cross country camps for my school and you go up to the mountains go camping to lake and everything and still get your running done there its alot of fun. but if your not used to that much running.. DON’T overdo it thats the worst and eat right too. very important.

By: Matthew

Matthew — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 12:17:03 +0000

Well it depends on how long you plan to run for, always start a lower pace, the gradually build it up.

Go out for a run on your own and get a feel for a comfortable speed and distance.

Once you have that, you can smoothly build up the distance and become a more competent runner.

I find that mentally you need to believe that you can do it, to build confidence, that’s all you need.