By Jenny Albers 
After each practice, each meet, as they shuffle to the car with beet-red faces and Jello-like legs, it’s easy to see that there’s something special about cross country kids.
These are the kids who don’t stop.
The kids who will themselves to just.keep.going. No matter what. Because there are no time-outs. No breaks. No benches. These kids cross the finish line even if they know they’ll be the last to do it. They think first place is awesome but know that finishing is more important that doing it first.
These are the kids who train even when they don’t have to.
The kids who run in the heat and humidity of summer in preparation for their upcoming season. Who squeeze in at least a few miles on the weekend. The kids who are willing to do what it takes to reach their next PR.
These are the kids who shine even when they aren’t in the spotlight.
The kids who keep pumping their legs whether they’re at the head of the pack, or the tail. They show up even when no one is watching and when the fanfare is minimal. They show up for their team, of course. But more than that, they show up for themselves. No matter how brutal the conditions.
These are the kids who have learned to measure success differently than what they’ve always been taught.
The kids who respect first place, and work towards earning that top spot, but understand that it’s not the only measure of success. They know that achieving a personal record, logging miles when their body doesn’t want to, and staying the course even when it feels impossible are all forms of success. Even without a first place finish.
These are the kids who realize they are capable of so much more than they thought were.
The kids who discover they can run a long race without having to walk. Who put one foot in front of the other when their legs are screaming to give up and their lungs are burning. The kids who use their mind to keep going when their body tells them to stop.
These are the kids who have learned that a simple pair of running shoes can take them to places they didn’t think they could go.
The kids who continue to explore new territory where they discover the treasures of perseverance, determination, and strength. And when it appears these treasures have dried up, they keep looking for more—because they know they’ll find it. It’s in these places where they conquer the giants of steep hills, long miles, and the phrase I can’t.
These are the kids who look at each other knowingly when Coach says, “cross country is the hardest sport.”
The kids who don’t tend to hear this message elsewhere but know firsthand it’s true. Who understand that it takes an enormous amount of fortitude—of grit—to compete in their chosen sport. These are the kids who hold their heads high despite their sport not being the most popular because they know their bodies and minds have taken them places where few attempt to go.
These are the kids who show up for their teammates.
The kids who cheer for everyone, regardless of pace. Who cheer for the runner in first place as much as they cheer for the runner coming in last. They know how much courage it takes to show up at the start line, and how much effort it takes to cross the finish line. These are the kids who celebrate every single finish and respect each of their teammates equally.
These are the kids who have learned they can.
They can keep going. They can beat records—even if only their own. They can finish. But more than any of that, they can run! For miles!
These are the kids who will carry determination, perseverance, and sheer will to just.do.the.thing with them for the rest of their lives.
The kids who will take their sport with them long after they graduate—middle school, high school, college—because it’s a sport that doesn’t end when classes do. And because the memory of that first runner’s high will beckon them to hit the road. Again and again.
See? There really is something special about cross country kids. They keep moving, no matter what. And in the process, they show us that we can too.
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