1. You've been given "the talk" by your coach. Not that talk...the only that involves the amount of liquid you should be drinking, and what color your urine should be.
2. Personal space may have been an issue for you before, but if you've endured seasons of being shoved to the back of the team room then it's likely you've learned to get over it. Nothing says being appreciated like "Oh...cross country? That's a team here? I forgot." So your forced to change in the hallway or in a stairwell or wherever else you might find.
3. That's another thing. Given the fact that you change in (practically) public places, you're not very shy about it anymore. Chances are you can walk up to the line at a 5k and see people shedding their clothes.
4. You've worn the same uniforms for so long they're now like your favorite sweatshirt or shorts. Of course it'd be nice to get new uniforms every once in a while, but now the thing is like family. Unlike many of the other teams at your school, you probably didn't get new uniforms each season. A consequence of being one of those teams that people sometimes forget about.
5. You can tell who is running in front of you solely from their calves. Now this one might sound infinitely weird to an outsider, but it's true. Simply judging from their calves and pattern of running, you can easily discern which legs belong to who.
6. Eating breakfast the day of a race can be a life or death choice. For all you newbies out there: trust your coach. Do not eat buttered waffles before your race to "Give you some engergy!" (Thanks Dad!) or you will become very good friends with a bush.
7. You've heard "Run, Forest, Run!" so many times that it will now haunt you in your darkest nightmares.
8. Just like your uniform, your shoes are like your family. In fact, they are more than that. They are your children.
9. Like dancers, you probably have really ugly feet. Torn up, bruised, bleeding, missing toenails, and lots of blisters.
10. It's all fun and games until someone spikes you going into the chute. You will fight to the death to retain your rightful spot.
11. You immediately correct someone when they call your sport "track". We run miles, and we like to keep it that way.
12. Carb loading parties are the bomb. Even if you don't like pasta. There is lots of music, eating, dancing and general fun to be had.
13. There is one person from some other school who has the pace as you. During your meets, you always hear their name. In fact, you hear it so much that you're starting to wonder if that's YOUR name. Chances are, you won't ever meet this person. Just let them be a blissful stranger.
14. The runner's high is real and very amazing. It also makes you sound like a complete weirdo when you try to explain it to others. "Oh yes! I ran 8 miles and felt absolutely amazing, I also felt really bad...but mostly amazing! You should try it."
15. You've met friends for life. Because there is hardly anything more bonding on this earth than the friendships you make when you feel like you're dying daily. We push each other, though the cold, heat, vomit, injuries, and you fight like real siblings but in the end you're always there for each other.
