23 things you see at every cross country meet
There's no doubt cross country is a sport unlike any other, and only those who are a part of it truly understand it, but that's what makes it so great.
In honor of this weekend's regional championships, let's review some of the things we've seen at every meet this season:
The world’s longest porta-potty lines
The kid who warms up in flannel pajama pants
The coach with six stopwatches and a clipboard
The coach that runs everywhere
Overzealous leg slapping at the start line
Parents trying to decipher the course map and debating the best spots to watch
Parents then racing to said best spots
The teammate who wears excessive KT tape
The dad who always says, “Well why didn’t you just run faster?” when you're disappointed with your time
The overprotective volunteer who won’t let anyone remotely close to the finish line
Or the volunteer who insists you keep moving through the finish chute even when you’re about to throw up
A cornucopia of granola bars, bagels, and bananas at each tent
Dogs. Even when there are “No dog” signs posted everywhere, there are always dogs
Younger siblings running around, wrestling, and exploring
The naturally talented freshman who has no idea how fast he or she actually is
Or the kid who has a ridiculously fast kick leaving you to wonder if he even ran the first part of the race
Short shorts
The superstitious teammate with a very particular race-day routine
Pre-race huddles, chants, and dances at the start line
The teammate who throws up after every race
Teams that go on really long cool downs
Competitors and rivals giving high fives at the finish line
A bunch of really hard-working kids with an unusual bond that’s not found in most sports
