Well it’s feeling more and more like fall around here, and though now my cross country season consists of about two races in the winter, I can’t help but think back on the days when the turning leaves made my stomach turn in nervousness and excitement for what was in my opinion the biggest and most important season of the year. I remember all those long, grueling workouts on hills, grass and muddy fields. I remember looking down a lineup of over 200 girls thinking I was trying to beat all of them. But never was I more nervous than when I was thinking of those other 6 girls wearing the same uniform as I was, looking at me with trust and a bit of a threatening gleam in their eye (because at some point you’re thinking “don’t blow it!”), all trying to make the season’s efforts worth while, make history and make the podium in the team standings. I can honestly say the four most nervous races of my college career always fell on that Monday near the end of November. It was great! The drama, the upsets, the emotion, the excitement, the limp bodies wobbling down the homestretch-it inspired heroic performances by underestimated freshmen and gimpy attempts by injured veterans; all was worth it if you could fit five in the top 100.

It’s funny how now, there is a lot more at stake in my racing: Money, rankings, money, professionalism and oh yeah, money. Still, those things don’t make me as nervous or inspire me in quite the same way. It’s different when you’ve worked hard and laughed and lived with 6 other people for months, even years when all is said and done. I’ll never forget my first cross country season. At the NCAA meet I was in the top ten as a freshman and our team was third. Not bad, and it’s only upwards from here right!? Well, no, but looking back it all seems to have a golden glow. We didn’t realize how good we were, it was such a great time and we surprised ourselves every meet. I’ll never forget my last cross country season either-lots of ups and downs ensued in between the two. I struggled through the season half unfit all fall, being dragged through races and workouts by the others. We finished 3, 15, 34, 78 and…..191. Our usual number 5 had an off day and number 6 ran hard to take her place but it just wasn’t enough. I would have loved to go out with our highest team finish ever, but that number 5 is the most important runner and she really holds the fate of the team score. I’ve been close to the position myself (during one of those “downs” I mentioned before), and though sometimes I now try and kick down an extra girl for an extra thousand dollars, it’s not the same as a panicked effort to get your fading legs to move you ahead of a girl so your team doesn’t lose by one point. It’s one thing to let yourself down, but man it’s not a fun bus ride home when you’ve let down 6 competitive girls!

We all have great stories from cross country-there are more than one person’s hopes at stake, and the shared victory is definitely sweeter. The best ones are of the things we do to get to the top! I myself have climbed a few sand dunes, and seen teammates lose their lunch in a workout or two and a few other hilariously disgusting scenarios will forever be in my memories. So to those who still have some xc left to race-make some memories, sling some mud! Even if you get sick in the last straightaway or lose a few shoes, (ahh memories, right Steph?) I bet you’ll still look back on it fondly some day.