Cross Country

Cross country is a running event that takes runners over various types of terrain. Running teams of various numbers are taken over land, trails and even through water. They compete for points and time. Cross country is usually held in the fall and winter months of the school year. It provides a good alternative activity for those that want to participate in the spring track season.

Cross country as an organized sport began in England in the 1800’s. Schools started to introduce it as part of their sports programs. Many towns organized steeplechase races where participants would run from village to village using the town’s church steeples as boundaries.

In 1878 cross country was introduced to the United States. At first cross country served only as a preparation for those wanting to participate in track. However the sport soon gained its own following and independence. The sport soon caught on worldwide with competitions springing up in several different countries. Despite this popularity cross country was dropped from the Olympic roster in 1924 claiming it was not appropriate for the summer games.

Cross country runners need to be good at distance running. They also need to be fairly agile as the sport involves a variety of surfaces. There is no special equipment needed for cross country except a good pair of running shoes. In colder climates good quality track suits may be needed. Training for cross country involves lots of outdoor running in various climates. There is also some light weights and stretching that need to be done to build strength and reduce the chance of injury.

Cross country running is an endurance sport. Cross country runners run for longer distances over a wide variety of surfaces. Cross country is a sport that can be done anytime of the year but it is most common in the fall and winter months. Many distance runners use cross country as a preparation for track but others compete solely as cross country runners. Cross country running is something anyone can learn to do. There is no expensive equipment needed and the health benefits are numerous.