Running is good for you. Everyone knows that. But being a cross-country runner is different. You develop a different mindset and perspective about the sport and running as a leisurely activity. Whether you ran in middle school or high school, or are running in college, you can probably find some truth to nearly all of these circumstances.
1. Trying to hold in a laugh when someone says they can't run two miles in under 15 minutes. Amateur.
2. Knowing what the word "over-pronation" means. Bonus points for knowing what kind of running shoe you need if you over-pronate.
3. Silently crying when your coach says you're running hills at practice that day.
4. Shin splints. Chronic. Shin splints.
5. Having a love-hate relationship with your Saturday long run.
6. Loving a good nighttime run.
7. Rolling your eyes when people say they can't go on a run "because it's raining." Boo hoo.
8. Having a pair of "training socks" and a pair of "race day socks."
9. Paying over $10 for one pair of said socks. It's all about quality.
10. Pretending to be mortified about your past race-day horror stories (i.e. throwing up during the race, losing a shoe, falling down a hill, etc.) but secretly loving the chance to brag about how you still finished top three. #Champ
11. Having better abs than half the guys at your school.
12. Getting new training shoes/race spikes felt like Christmas morning.
13. Dreading track season. Running in circles isn't your thing.
14. Never having enough scented sneaker balls to cover up the smell of sweat, mud, dirt and musty water that's in your trainers.
15. Having a pair of norts in literally every single color. And a sports bra to match.
16. Planning your week out by your practices/races. Monday=sprint work out. Tuesday=long run. Wednesday=race day. Thursday=recovery run. Friday=hard work out. Saturday=long run.
17. Loving Sunday because it's your only day off.
18. Researching how to improve your form is a hobby.
19. Loving nights before a big race because you get to eat all the carbs in the world ... and it's good for you.
20. Knowing and believing that this sport really is 80 percent mental and 20 percent physical.
21. Pranking the opposite sex at invitational meets when you stayed in a hotel.
22. Getting on the start line and having to pee. Worst feeling ever.
23. Loving the adrenaline rush that goes through your body right before the gun goes off.
24. Being super happy all the time because running releases endorphins "and endorphins make people happy." *cue Elle Woods*
25. Watching people's reactions when you tell them you just finished a 12-mile run ... for fun.
26. Never having enough protein bars.
27. Dreading when your mom takes pictures at a race because NO ONE looks hot while running a 6:30 mile ... 3 times.
28. Getting legitimately pissed off when someone tries to cut you off. B*tch, please!
29. Always having that one couple on the team that sat at the back of the bus ... we know what you were doing.
30. Knowing that even though the hills sucked and the days were hard, you wouldn't have traded the inside jokes, long bus rides or friendships for anything else.
