Cross country is the best type of racing
August 4, 2025
Fall is approaching, and as the weather (hopefully) cools, it’s time to start thinking about fall racing. While many folks, including myself, love a fall marathon or other road race, there’s another type of race that reigns supreme in autumn: cross country.
Why is running 5-10 kilometers over grass and dirt so great? It’s raw, pure racing. Imagine the first time you ever raced. Not the first time you toed the line of an official race, but the very first time you ran with others to see who was the fastest. You were probably about 5 years old, standing in a grassy field at some school or daycare. Someone said they were faster than you. You didn’t think so. Another kid thought they were actually the fastest. Suddenly the field was full of kids running from one end to the other. No thoughts on pace, form, or what shoes you were wearing. Just moving your little-kid legs as fast as they could go.
Cross country is pure racing like that. Every course is different, so you can’t easily compare your pace or times between races. You have to go by feel, chasing the runners ahead of you and not getting caught by those behind you. You’re seeing who is the fastest in that place on that day.
Oh, and there’s not an aid station in sight.
This pure racing creates camaraderie and an overall great energy. There’s just something about running through a park, golf course, or farm that helps keep competition friendly and vibes high. It’s the perfect mix of intensity and fun. Everyone wants to race hard, and it’s easier to do that by working with other runners than by trying to lock in for a certain pace alone. Even though you ultimately want to beat your competitors, you will race better if they have a good day too — and they know they’ll race better if you run well.
Cross country is also a team sport. Knowing your race impacts your team’s score can help bring you and your teammates closer together and be a motivation boost in tough races. It’s always fun to see your teammates out there on the course with you.
Also, since cross country usually takes place in parks or other confined areas, courses often have loops, which makes cross country great for spectators. From friends with dogs, moms with cowbells, and coaches and running vets seemingly transported from the 1960s with stopwatches, split shorts and cotton t-shirts, cross country crowds really are the best sports fans.
If no-frills, pure racing in a supportive environment sounds great to you, welcome to the cross country gang. For the young’uns, most schools and colleges offer cross country. (In college and don’t want to commit to varsity? Check out club cross country!). If you’re a kid-forced-to-be-an-adult like me, the USA Track & Field Association offers club cross country with divisions across the country and a nationals meet in the winter. Other countries have club cross country teams and races, too.
If cross country doesn’t sound great to you, I’m not mad, just disappointed. My advice? Try it anyway. It’s only a few miles, and you’ll have a great excuse to convince your friends to go to brunch after.