CROSS COUNTRY isn't about the pain but about how far you are willing to go to sacrifice for your team.

Mancos Meet!!

Way to go Pirates!!!
Kade

What's the Lure?

In most team sports, team members are valued for a certain skill that they possess and contribute to the team. For example, in basketball, the point guard may be the ball handler, the center may be the rebounder, and the guard may be the three point shooter. The success of the team depends on each individual’s execution of their unique role within the team.

Obviously, cross country is much simpler than most sports because running is the only required athletic skill and each runner shares the same role on the team. All runners know that raw running ability often takes a backseat to mental skills such as toughness and desire. Running requires mental skills and character traits, which can’t be tallied like points on a scoreboard, but they can be developed during practice. In practice, we don’t necessarily practice running. Rather we train our minds to endure pain and combat negative thoughts. Hard workouts improve fitness, but more importantly, they try to duplicate the pain you will experience during a race, but in a smaller dose. Gradually our running improves as we increase our fitness, callus our pain sensors, and acquire the skill of staying positive in the midst of adversity.

The success of a cross country team is dependent upon the degree to which each team member is willing to suffer through pain, which is a shared pain that each runner will inevitably encounter. As Coach Anderson likes to say, “You must out-suffer your competition.”

My question for current and past team members is: Why do/did you run cross country? What’s the lure? Most people avoid pain and suffering, but you seem to enjoy testing your will and raising your pain tolerance! Why do you do this crazy sport?

#1 FAN

The Pirates biggest fan in San Diego is wondering how the first meet went.

I have been running each morning on the beach trying to stay faithful to my interval and tempo runs (hills are hard to come by on Coronado Island). As beautiful as it is here is does not compare to the fresh air, beauty and camaraderie that I experinced in Pagosa running with you all.
My advice to all you runners inlight of my recent move is this. Enjoy where you are at, enjoy the people you are with and push forward even when you are afraid of failing.

Keep me posted. How about a Pirates trip to good ole Cali?


Miss you all,
Michelle Hundley

We are Pirate Cross Country!

We believe in the power of the long run, and the stories can create. We believe in positive thinking and that mental strength is more important than physical. We believe in running in the woods, in the rain, in the snow, mud and sun. We believe that the lessons learned in suffering can be transformative. We believe that fun can be had nearly anywhere and anytime. We believe that the power of a smile can overcome any climb. We believe that winning is everything, as long as winning is framed in the context of succeeding. We believe in team, in us, and in you. We belive that cross country rocks, and will change your life.

We are Pirate Cross Country!

Thank You All

you know when i started CROSS COUNTRY i did it because i didn't want to do football. i kept thinking this will be hard, this will suck ,but let me tell you i was way wrong. thanks to the coaches and all of the runners i have had the pleasure to run with i love the sport. We all got into the conversation of the old times where the front of reservoir hill was considered a hard run, when sprints consisted of seven, thirty second intervals; it all got me thinking how far we have all come and how well we have become friends. Cross country is the best decision i have made in my life. I guess I wrote this blog  just  to thank all of you for all you have done for me and let you know how much i appreciate it.

Running Quotes

* "Nothing worthwhile ever comes easy"
* "If you stay in your comfort zone, you're not going to do anything special"
* "Once you're beat mentally, you might as well not go to the starting line"
* "Learn to run when feeling the pain: then push harder"
* "It hurts up to a point and then it doesn't get any worse"
* "Don't let what you can't do interfere with what you can do"
* "Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go"
* "Success is peace of mind, which is a direct result of knowing you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming"