DS, 15, is a self-described “science nerd” and has been running cross country since 6th grade. He loves XC. The kids on his team are all different levels and from all different cliques. Very supportive group of kids and wonderful if you have a great coach (he does).

Anonymous wrote:I ran XC and track in High School! It was nice because I was fast enough to be varsity but not super fast so there was not a super high level of pressure. It tends to be very supportive and social, although female distance runners do have a risk of overuse injuries so look out for that. The best thing is, it really is a lifetime sport if you like it- I still train for and run longer races as a hobby just for personal enjoyment, and you can find a running club or running buddies no matter where you live.

I am the PP- I also wanted to add that I think XC/Track is a great option for a kid who wants to participate in a sport in HS but has not been in a specific sport for years and years prior (like soccer kids who have been playing since they could walk!) I had taken years of ballet but ultimately decided it was not for me and was generally active/in good cardiovascular shape and was able to join XC/Track and do well if you work at it.

I ran XC and track in High School! It was nice because I was fast enough to be varsity but not super fast so there was not a super high level of pressure. It tends to be very supportive and social, although female distance runners do have a risk of overuse injuries so look out for that. The best thing is, it really is a lifetime sport if you like it- I still train for and run longer races as a hobby just for personal enjoyment, and you can find a running club or running buddies no matter where you live.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you! Cross Country sounds perfect for her!


Is it a varsity sport like other teams? Or is it more like a club sport?

XC is wonderful! In general, the team will hold informal practices over the summer, then official practices will start about two weeks before school starts. Near the end of that period, they'll do one or more "time trials" ... timed races on the home course. (Probably 3.1 miles.)

The top 7 will be varsity, everyone else will be JV. If it's a large school with a large program, the freshmen sometimes run their own races at invitationals. Those are a little shorter -- 3K, I think.

Almost every kid improves significantly over the course of the season, and runners are generally good, supportive kids. I love it for my kids!

XC was fantastic for our now senior. He wasn’t a runner before and was hesitant. He never got into the tippity top, but his 5k time ended up where a ton of people would love. The best part was the supportive coaching staff, the team members who embraced everyone, he became a mentor to younger not so fast runners. It was just a nice, wholesome group. He said while he won’t continue running all the time he’s so glad he did this. Funny fact: he is NOT going to beach week with his XC friends because he knows they’ll wake at 6am (sleeping in too) to go run and he doesn’t want to feel the pressure.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our Fairfax County high school has a wonderful cross-country team, but it is definitely a commitment in terms of practices (5 days per week) and meets. It is also a "cut" sport. To initially make the team, students need to be able to run 2 miles in under 15 minutes, and they expect that their time will drop to 2 miles in under 14 minutes within the first month on the team.

Our FCPS HS doesn't cut Everyone is accepted (especially those who didn't make the cut for the other winter sports).
The caveat is you must show up to 5x/day week practice/stay the whole time/meets, etc You can't just come & go as you feel like.

what if your kid needs to stay after for teacher office hours/academic help? They must choose?

The student-athlete communicates with coach ahead of time and let them know you need to go to the dr, get tutoring, make up an exam.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our Fairfax County high school has a wonderful cross-country team, but it is definitely a commitment in terms of practices (5 days per week) and meets. It is also a "cut" sport. To initially make the team, students need to be able to run 2 miles in under 15 minutes, and they expect that their time will drop to 2 miles in under 14 minutes within the first month on the team.

Our FCPS HS doesn't cut Everyone is accepted (especially those who didn't make the cut for the other winter sports).
The caveat is you must show up to 5x/day week practice/stay the whole time/meets, etc You can't just come & go as you feel like.

what if your kid needs to stay after for teacher office hours/academic help? They must choose?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our Fairfax County high school has a wonderful cross-country team, but it is definitely a commitment in terms of practices (5 days per week) and meets. It is also a "cut" sport. To initially make the team, students need to be able to run 2 miles in under 15 minutes, and they expect that their time will drop to 2 miles in under 14 minutes within the first month on the team.

Our FCPS HS doesn't cut Everyone is accepted (especially those who didn't make the cut for the other winter sports).
The caveat is you must show up to 5x/day week practice/stay the whole time/meets, etc You can't just come & go as you feel like.

I also heard that unlike other schools Chantilly running program is not very welcoming of kids who tried out and didn’t make other sports first. They want cross country/track to be your first choice.

I would say that they are perfectly wonderful and welcoming... if you can run fast. I know cross-country has a reputation of being a "no-cut" sport in this area, but that is not true at a number of area high schools.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our Fairfax County high school has a wonderful cross-country team, but it is definitely a commitment in terms of practices (5 days per week) and meets. It is also a "cut" sport. To initially make the team, students need to be able to run 2 miles in under 15 minutes, and they expect that their time will drop to 2 miles in under 14 minutes within the first month on the team.

Our FCPS HS doesn't cut Everyone is accepted (especially those who didn't make the cut for the other winter sports).
The caveat is you must show up to 5x/day week practice/stay the whole time/meets, etc You can't just come & go as you feel like.

I also heard that unlike other schools Chantilly running program is not very welcoming of kids who tried out and didn’t make other sports first. They want cross country/track to be your first choice.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our Fairfax County high school has a wonderful cross-country team, but it is definitely a commitment in terms of practices (5 days per week) and meets. It is also a "cut" sport. To initially make the team, students need to be able to run 2 miles in under 15 minutes, and they expect that their time will drop to 2 miles in under 14 minutes within the first month on the team.

Do you mind sharing which high school?

Chantilly HS

Ah yes of course. I actually ran Cross Country at Chantilly many, many, many years ago. I did hear Chantilly is a little more “hard core” these days than some other programs in Fairfax County in terms of tryouts and cuts.

Cross Country is commonly known as the social sport because everyone who shows up for practice competes in meets against other schools. It’s to a schools advantage to have a hundred or more runners.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our Fairfax County high school has a wonderful cross-country team, but it is definitely a commitment in terms of practices (5 days per week) and meets. It is also a "cut" sport. To initially make the team, students need to be able to run 2 miles in under 15 minutes, and they expect that their time will drop to 2 miles in under 14 minutes within the first month on the team.

Do you mind sharing which high school?

Chantilly HS

Anonymous wrote:Our Fairfax County high school has a wonderful cross-country team, but it is definitely a commitment in terms of practices (5 days per week) and meets. It is also a "cut" sport. To initially make the team, students need to be able to run 2 miles in under 15 minutes, and they expect that their time will drop to 2 miles in under 14 minutes within the first month on the team.

Our FCPS HS doesn't cut Everyone is accepted (especially those who didn't make the cut for the other winter sports).
The caveat is you must show up to 5x/day week practice/stay the whole time/meets, etc You can't just come & go as you feel like.

Anonymous wrote:Our Fairfax County high school has a wonderful cross-country team, but it is definitely a commitment in terms of practices (5 days per week) and meets. It is also a "cut" sport. To initially make the team, students need to be able to run 2 miles in under 15 minutes, and they expect that their time will drop to 2 miles in under 14 minutes within the first month on the team.

Do you mind sharing which high school?

Anonymous wrote:So they teach kids strategies? I think my kid would enjoy running if they could get past the side ache pain. I have a medical condition where I can’t run so I’m not much help, I would love my kid to be taught tips and strategies for things like breathing and side aches.

Aside from high school, are there running clubs or something for younger kids in the same way you can do soccer or baseball outside of school?

Check and see if your local running store has any type of youth running clubs or sessions.
Your kid could also just train on their own and run races for events/track progress. Prior to Covid, on any given weekend there were usually several 5ks within an hour or so of DC. Of course, they all stopped in March 2020, but they are slowly coming back again. If you live in the Fairfax/Loudoun county area, check out PR racing--they have lots of races. https://potomac.enmotive.com/