Cross-country, also known as cross-country running, is a long-distance running event that involves running across the country. These running events are often mistaken for marathons, which are usually run on paths and roads. Unlike marathons, however, cross-country running involves running along various terrains – from woodland areas to grassy meadows.
Not only can people compete in cross-country running events, but some runners will train in cross-country conditions to strengthen their stamina and running techniques. Cross-country running is also a wonderful way to explore the country’s scenery on foot.
If you’re looking to start your cross-country journey, here is everything you need to know about cross-country running!
Where Did cross-country Running Get its name?
Cross-country dates as far back as 19th-century England where kids would play a chasing game wherein two children played the “hares” and had to run as far away as possible from the “harriers”, who were the other kids chasing the hares.
This steeplechase game became an event when small English towns would compete against each other to race to another town. This would include running through farmland, woodland areas, meadows, dirt, and all kinds of terrain across the country – hence why it adopted the name of “cross-country” running!
Championships began to develop in the late 1800s and early 1900s between England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, and France, before the craze swept across Europe and the rest of the world.
What is the Point in Cross-country?
The main point in cross-country running is to win the race. There are two main types of cross-country running events: individual and team races. Individual races are the easiest to follow and understand, because the runners don’t have to rely on the rest of their teammates. They simply have to run the race as fast as they can.
Team cross-country races are quite different to individual races. Runners are put into teams according to the country they are from (or the region if it is a national competition), with the numbers varying depending on the size of the competition.
In most cases, the general rule is that the first five finishers of any cross-country race will score a point depending on the place they get (1st place will get 1 point and 5th will get 5 points). Once the meet is done (this is usually measured in laps), the points are tallied and the team with the lowest number of points wins the race.
Aside from winning, there are many benefits to cross-country running. People mostly opt for cross-country running compared to marathon running because of the various natural environments they find themselves in.
These runners get to enjoy the country for free, which is why so many people commit to cross-country running in their personal lives outside of competitions. As a result of this, cross-country runners are well-adapted to running in various terrains and environments, which can only make them stronger runners overall.
The second main benefit of cross-country running is the physical benefits. Cross-country running is all about endurance training and improving stamina as opposed to building muscle from sprinting, which is why a lot of marathon runners will often train in cross-country conditions. If you can run effortlessly through an uneven woodland area, you can definitely run fast on a road.
Thirdly, cross-country running has pretty easy rules to follow. The main aim is to complete the race without injuring yourself, which isn’t too hard to understand. With rules as easy as this, you can understand why so many runners enjoy the thrill of cross-country running.
Cross-country running is also a very calculative sport. Runners are constantly at risk of injury from the uneven and unpredictable terrain, so they have to calculate their routes very methodically to prevent twisting their ankle or breaking a bone.
They’ve also got to consider the length of the race and whether it is individual or not, because a team race is far more methodical than an individual one. A lot of mental and physical training goes into cross-country running!
What are the Distances in Cross-country?
Each cross-country race will vary in distance, but the average race length for men is 7.5 miles (or 12,000 meters) and the average race length for women is 2.5 miles (or 4,000 meters).
The distance will vary depending on skill level and age, as races are only filled with people within the same categories to prevent unfair advantages. For example, an 18-year-old isn’t likely to run in a cross-country race with a 26-year-old, as the latter will have had far more experience in cross-country running.
Is Cross-country Difficult?
Cross-country is one of the most difficult running events. While the distances of cross-country running races might not seem that long compared to marathons, the environment of which the runners are putting themselves into is what makes it such a challenging sport.
The risk for injury is very high in cross-country running. Runners will have to run through such a vast range of terrains, such as down steep hills, woods, forests, through rural towns, across muddy fields, and often through shallow rivers and streams. As you can imagine, these places are a haven for potential injuries.
One foot in the wrong place can lead to a sprained ankle or broken leg, which is why training for cross-country running is far more complex than marathon training. It’s far easier to go from cross-country running to marathon running than the other way around.
If you’re running with a team, you’ve also got your teammates to think about, too. These races are far more calculated than individual cross-country races, making them harder to train for and to complete.
While you might consider cross-country running as a nice run through a field, it’s not as simple as that. Cross-country running is one of the most mentally and physically challenging sports in the running world, but it can also be made deliberately relaxing. If you want to try cross-country running out, there are no rules as to how hard you push yourself. If anything, you must start slowly before you progress due to the risk of injury.
