How in the h**l do I get through cross country practice?

Question

Okay, I'm 13 and I joined cross country. I want to quit, which I normally don't do, but I joined cross country to have fun and I'm just miserable. I already ordered T-shirts, and stuff like that, so I can't quit. My foot is injured, by the end of practice my legs are jelly. I know it's supposed to be hard, challenging, and the first few weeks it was and I thrived. But I don't want to do it anymore. I dread going school because I know once it's over I have to go to XC. And soon, I'm going to have to start doing ballet for two hours afterward. How do I do this? I just want to get through it.

Answer 1

People like to think XC and Track are sports for people who got cut from other teams and such. They aren't half as easy as people make it out to be. If you don't like working hard and don't enjoy quit. It is only going to get harder and if you are doing ballet or dance or something your legs will die and you probably get injured.

Or you can suck it up, ice and stretch your foot every night, and stick with it and hope it gets better.

Answer 2

I cant imagine my 4 years of high school without xc. i made so many friends, had such great times, loved the competition, traveled..ah i wish i could relive those years!

Answer 3

You can quit even though they've already ordered the t-shirts but you will see that the longer you do cross country the easier it will get and you wont feel like that any more. Your body is just trying to get into shape thats all.

Answer 4

Talk to your coach.  A foot injury can become progressively worse if it is not cared for, and cross-country should be fun.  

Answer 5

Did you know I was exactly the same way?

Did you train before tryouts started?

I barely did, and the first few weeks of cross-country was pure h**l.

I am 13 too, but twelve at the time of my cross-country last year when I was in 7th grade. Firstly, running on an injured foot is a bad idea and running on it will only make it a lot worse. If you can, take a break for awhile until it heals and start up again. Cross-country only makes you stronger.

If the coach still makes you run then it is best to quit. Running on an injury is bad news and can cause problems later in life.

A lot of problems.

Cross-country starts in November for me..

But anyway, over the weeks you WILL get better if you keep on trying. You need a positive mental state of mind an a burst of confidence. If you keep doing it, there's no doubt that it will become easier and easier.

It's definitely not uncommon for your legs to feel like jelly after a run. You are getting stronger and stronger as long as you have time to rest and don't over exercise.

I was just like you, and look at me now! My time when from an 18:44 to a 14:28 two mile. :)

Good luck.

Answer 6

Yeah, we do the same thing... I <3 it and i hate it... But tell your coach 'bout your foot and strech real good:)

Answer 7

Definitely talk to your coach if you're having a foot problem. Seeing as you're probably a freshmen and as a result, probably won't make Varsity - your placings won't matter. It's more important for you to be healthy than to overwork your body.

For a few ideas regarding soreness and such:

Directly after practice, stretch. This removes the lactic acid in your body which causes soreness. Also, ice your legs in the areas that they hurt. Follow the MICE method in icing (move it, ice it, compress it, elevate it).

As the season goes on you'll see that your body will get more adjusted to cross country - so don't give up! Since your 13, this is probably your high school sport - and the first time you've practiced five days a week. You're body's not used to it and as a result is becoming very sore.

But ultimately, if it is truly making you unhappy - you should quit. Making yourself dread the next day is no way to live life. But first, try the above methods.

Good luck!

Answer 8

for the foot injury its probally your body adjusting but you should still tell your coach about your foot and usually your first xc season is hard but it will get easier and you will soon enjoy running

Answer 9

As a former world class XC runner myself, sorry to hear XC isn't working out for you.  Sounds like your coach is not providing you the proper attention.  With respect to your feet, I will agree, if your body is unable to take the stress, XC is not fun and can be quite a bummer.  Normally to correct those problems you can see a podiatrist and he can give you orthotitics which are arch suppose for your feet to correct the imbalances.  However at your age, you are barely in puberty.you are about to start growing and becoming a man. By the time you are 17, your body will change so much that you will not recognize your 13 year old body at all.   Those supports can be expensive and you would keep out growing them

That said at your age, you would probably be running for 30-40 minutes.  After running XC, there is no way you will be able to ballet.  That is for sure.  If you have the ability to do ballet and have a greater interest in that, quit running and get into ballet.

After two months of running, normally your legs are suppose to adjust.  Certainly after a hard work out, you cannot perform ballet. Ballet is for the highly coordinated.  Running takes little coordination. You are young. At your age, you can try a variety of sports to find what sport is best for you.

If you are getting no joy from running, there is no point in continuing to feel miserable-life is to short.  I would recommend not trying to get through it, but just sticking to ballet.  XC Running is absolutely the most inexpensive sport to get into.  All the stuff you buy, you can use in your everyday life.  So nothing is wasted.  Just because you are not in XC doesn't mean you can't wear a XC t-shirt or running shoes.  Lighten up.  Don't take it so hard.  The most import thing in life is you and how you feel.  Do what you like most and you can't go wrong.  If you want to return, no problem.

I also seriously didn't start running until I was 15.  I think 13 maybe too early to join the sport.  Ballet, if mastered will enable you to do well in a ton of things.  It is a wonderful discipline. I don't recommend XC until you reach HS anyways.