Are you brand new to cross country? Maybe you or your kiddo was on a track and field team or you played a running-heavy sport like lacrosse, soccer, or football and you don’t understand what all the fuss is about? Why would I sign my child up to run miles and miles and miles and miles…?
Cross country is so much more than that and through our Elementary Program, we strive to help kids discover a joy for running, racing, and being part of a team. We use games and drills that help build strength, endurance, and confidence. They learn a bit about running form through fun activities like running with a potato chip in each hand. They also learn about different running speeds and when to use them in races.
And our program doesn’t make kids run for miles and miles and miles and miles. We use a variety of games to encourage them to run and eventually be able to run their race distance without stopping to walk.
Here’s a breakdown of the distances our Elementary Program kids compete in at our two meets:
- Pups · born 2017+ · 1 kilometer (0.6 mile)
- Gamma · born 2016-2015 · 2 kilometers (1.25 miles)
- Beta · born 2014-2013 · 3 kilometers (1.8 miles)
- Epsilon · born 2012-2011 · 3 kilometers (1.8 miles)
Running can be amazing for kids. It helps build confidence, improves sleep, and it boosts those feel-good endorphins. For some it’s essential to get wiggles out and helps with focus. Some even see an improvement in their grades. Running on a team brings kids together and they make new friends in the process.
Cross country is also excellent for kids who play other sports like lacrosse or soccer, to build endurance and stamina. The athletes who cross-train with a running sport are often the ones who can run circles around their opponents.
Registration for our Elementary Cross Country program is currently OPEN and has been extended through Sunday, September 10th. Practices will begin this week, but if your kiddo joins a little late, their coach will get them up to speed.
If you can’t fit joining a team into your schedule, consider signing your kiddo up for one of our races. They are OPEN to anyone who would like to run in kindergarten through about 6th grade. CLICK HERE to register.
If you have any questions about our program, or if you’re interesting in coaching one of our elementarny teams, please reach out to our Elementary Program Director, Tom Sharkey: 443-939-7133 or elementary@wolfpackrunning.org
