Mud, sweat and forever friendships…high school cross country. Photo by Gry Larsen

Middle school and high school cross country/track were where I started as a coach in the 1990’s. I realized then what an honor it was to be a part of each young athlete’s running journey during this important stage of life. Leaving school coaching to raise a young family was a tough but necessary decision. I missed this age group and their passion and energy. Someday, I hoped to get back to the schools.

My fall schedule opened up this year and there was an opening for an assistant xc boys/girls coach at our local high school. I soon found myself trailing packs of runners from my bike each weekday afternoon and back into the familiar rhythm of Saturday morning meets. After all of my coaching experiences, I wondered if I would still enjoy high school cross country. There are so many reasons that my question was answered with a big yes!

I get to see the athletes in person each day - something missing from many of my coaching positions.
I get to work with other coaches who care about this team and each kid on it. Collaboration is what makes coaching fun. Working with others always teaches me new perspectives and skill.
High school kids are incredible. I know what an honor it is to be a part of their athletic and high school growth and memories. They make me laugh and cry - every day.

Most importantly, cross country is a sport that requires everyone to believe in the mission of the TEAM’s success. Each runner can have individual goals. But when every athlete dedicates their performance to the team and knows that others are doing the same for them, magic happens.