For the Love of Running

Analise C.

I joined cross country in sixth grade, just as we were emerging from the hibernation of shelter-in-place. Becoming part of its tight knit community helped me build a strong foundation of friends I would rely on throughout middle school. Be it handmade medals at mock meets or surprise popsicles during heat waves or group photos on bus rides, cross country is more than just a sport—it’s a team, one that sticks together no matter what. These are the people with an extra hairband for when you forget yours, sunscreen spray for cloudless days, and a cheer to get you through those last ten meters of the race.

Running can be demanding—and sometimes exhausting. Standing squished in a line-up of 50 or 60 people waiting for the whistle can be nerve wracking. Struggling up hills, hearing the ominous steps of the runner behind me can be disheartening, especially when the finish line seems ages away. It’s times like these when the support of my teammates matter the most, when their cheers ring loudest, pushing me to add a touch more speed, widen my stride just a little bit. This belief in building each other up is what makes cross country so special.

Cross country—really, Nueva sports in general— fosters a culture of support and encouragement which bleeds into all the social and academic parts of school. More than anything, it’s a place where we can give it our all and be proud, no matter the time on the score sheet. It’s a place where we push ourselves further than we knew you could go. From water fights on the cafe lawn to WBAL meets, cheering each other down dusty courses, we’re a team brought together by a shared love for running, an amazing coach, and a whole bunch of Maverick spirit.

Dylan L.

What I love about cross country is the feeling of accomplishment. Sure, running a 15K doesn’t feel like the most fun at the moment, but what they say about “runner’s high” is so true. I feel like I can do pretty much anything—until I realize my legs hurt too badly to do much else but sit. Setting personal records on mile times, upping my weekly mileage, not having shin splints for once, medaling in a race are just some of my simple joys of cross country.

Nueva Cross Country is a team but before that it is a family. Losing your voice because of cheering too hard at the finish line for teammates, feeling sick after eating way too many snacks provided by our amazing team parents, and high five-ing until your hands hurt are all common occurrences. We are super lucky to have Janita as our coach, who always makes us smile no matter how tired of running we are. Whether it’s running loops around the library, doing drills behind the J-Building, or long runs on the trail, it is the spirit of togetherness that keeps our feet moving. One of the coolest things about cross country is that we get to meet people across grades—some of my best friends on the team are fifth and fourth graders!

The cross country team has given me some of the most unforgettable memories. Cheering or being cheered for at meets or running in unison at practice are near the top of my list, but my favorite memories don’t have anything to do with running. Cross country is 75 percent running, 25 percent fun. I still remember back to sixth grade when after having way too much candy at our end of season party, myself and teammates performed a Rockette kickline. Or when during the recent heat wave we absolutely drenched each other in a water fight. This is what cross country is all about: togetherness.

← At the Crystal Springs Cross Country course, head coach Janita Kumar leads the Mavericks in a team-favorite pregame cheer: “Mavericks on me, Mavericks on three. One, two, three, Mavericks!”

Nueva Cross Country isn’t all about the race or your placing, but about hard work, determination, and team bonding. From long distance endurance training to short sprints and cheering on our friends to workouts in the cafe, the Nueva cross country team always has a blast. With constant energy, music and encouragement, practice is something you always look forward to. This is often the case because our coach Janita is absolutely incredible and always pushes us to do our best.

Not only is cross country fun, it has taught me to not let other people intimidate me. I’ve learned that no matter the size of the other runners or the school they run for, I can’t let that get in the way of running a good race. Our coach is a big reason why I have become more confident when I run, because no matter what the results are, she is always there to support me.

It has also been a place where I have gotten to meet a variety of students and make new friends. Our friendships get so much stronger because of all the memories we make together. We are always there to cheer on and motivate each other, creating a much tighter bond between all of us. It’s amazing to think that I can be friends with a fourth grader, someone I would never have met if not for cross country.

Some of my favorite things I will take away from cross country are all the unforgettable moments and memories because it creates an environment that I love to be a part of. We participate in team traditions every year; for example, to start the season we run with Pringle in hand to improve our running form and we always yell the same cheer on the bus to a meet. Also during the heatwave, our coaches also let us have a water fight with spray bottles and play “duck duck sploosh” with sponges.

For all these reasons and many more, I am so grateful to be a part of the Nueva Cross Country community.