Cross country is preparing for the upcoming 2012-2013 season by hitting the trails.

“Cross country lives up to its name requiring the competitors to run about 3.1 miles, which is the equivalent of a 5K,” said senior cross country runner, John Long.

In cross country, things are done a bit differently than in other sports both in scoring and division of the team.

Coach Charlie Carroll explained that there is no varsity team so everyone is required to run in all the meets.

To get back in shape after a long summer of relaxing, the team does a practice run from 2:05 to 4:3o, but these practices do not consist of just running.

Carroll has the team do a variety of stretches and uses weights on a regular basis.

Cross country is not doing the new conditioning class though, it interferes with the time the team meets.

The scoring system is also unusual.

“The places of the first five people to finish are taken and added together to make the teams score,” said Carroll.

In cross country, just like golf, the low score wins so the lower the place the better the overall score.

Carroll, who is going on his 31st year of coaching, says the team’s motto is “It’s not how fast you run or how far you run, but how fast you run far,” which perfectly encompasses how hard cross country is and the endurance required to compete in it.

The endurance required for the sport is not the only challenge the team faces, but they must also adjust to weather changes. If it becomes windy or starts to rain, the runners must persevere through it.

Most people would hate to run in bad weather, but sophomore Tucker Windley said, “There is no weather that can stop us.”

This attitude is what keeps the runners going.

When spring comes most of the athletes will not get a break, but they will start another sport like soccer or track.

Carroll explained that many of the members join the team to help stay in shape for their spring sports.

“The extreme amount of running, that is required, helps them build up their endurance for other sports,” he said.

Some of the team members have been running for four years or more while others just started this season.

The older members serve as mentors for the new ones showing them the ropes during workouts.

There are two team captains this year, seniors Riley Wells and Rhett Raibley, are the examples for the entire team and lead stretches and other exercises during practice.

“My favorite part of coaching the team is the commradarity that come with it,” said Carroll.

All of the runners are comfortable around each other and there is a relaxed feeling throughout the weight room as the team works out.