Can We Please Share the Road Until Springtime?
For a brief time every winter, we runners are forced onto the roads with the rest of the world. Can't we all just get along and share the road?
For cross country runners and marathoners alike, there is a palpable sense of optimism in the air when August rolls around.
As far as running goes, there is something about August.
Whether you are a high school cross country runner or a fall marathoner, when August rolls around there is a buzz in the air among training partners and teammates.
Everyone seems to be thinking about it in some way. We’ve made it. The summer mileage— so many miles!—has been logged and the proverbial well is almost full. Because the foundation for fall training and racing is laid with this steady mileage buildup that happens in during the summer the months that lead up to the beginning of the fall season.
That’s right, the work starts in June. When it’s hot and humid and running at any point in the day is not necessarily high on the list of fun things to do. It’s just a daily grind. No racing, no exciting track workouts, just straight up miles. Sometimes doubles. Sunday long runs. Getting up early to beat the heat, if that’s even possible.
It often feels as though the rest of the world is sitting back and relaxing on the beach or in the cool confines of air conditioning while we runners are out there working our tails off with our eyes on the prize. It’s a serious commitment and requires a different mentality. A drive and determination that a lot of people don’t have or don’t want to use for this purpose.
But, distance runners, kids and adults alike, are a rare breed. And those who truly love the sport, who want to get the best out of themselves when it matters most, in this case late fall, tend to be ready and willing to embrace the suck of summer. Pay now or pay later. You choose.
And now it’s August. The excitement for the start of the fall season is almost tangible. I know this as a marathoner, as a coach, and as the mom of a former cross country runner. There’s a buzz in the air and everyone is feeling it.
For high school runners, the group chats are set up and the conversations among teammates begin to simmer. Team goals are discussed among returning runners. Personal goals are listed out and written on a sticky note for the bathroom mirror. And that notion of what’s possible begins to spread.
Typical conversation among friends, training partners, teammates goes like this:
“I can’t believe it’s August!”
I know this summer has flown!
“I’m so fired up for fall!”
Me, too. So ready!
“You did your summer training, right?”
YES! Every damn mile!
It’s a standard conversation for all of us, really. Whether you are a long-time runner or a seasoned high school athlete, both will tell you the same thing. If you’ve signed up for cross country or a big fall race and you roll in day one without any mileage under your belt, things are going to be noticeably harder. Your legs will feel it. Your lungs will protest. And your risk of injury will be significantly higher. There’s no faking a base. You either put in the work during the summer, or you spend the first few weeks lagging behind while chasing fitness you could’ve already had.
And now it’s August. The nerves start kicking in, especially for those who are new to the team or have never run a big race before. For the high school kids, new trainers are purchased. The uniform is pulled out of the back of the drawer. The spikes, which still have dirt in them from last year, are tried on for size, just to be sure. Perhaps a few strides are done. And that’s when it really sinks in.
Cross country season is here. Giddy up!
This is what we live for. All of that summer training is put to good use. Let the fine-tuning begin. As a coach, there’s nothing better than seeing a team full of wide-eyed kids ready to test themselves. There’s this palpable sense of optimism in the air. What can we become? How far can we go? I’ve been coaching high school cross country for 14 years. August is the sweet spot. It’s what everyone is aiming for and when the calendar page gets turned there is both a huge sense of accomplishment and an even bigger sense of optimism. It’s the same every year.
I can’t help but compare the experience that my athletes have, the summer build up into the fall transition, to my own experience as a marathoner. Every year I sign up for a fall goal race that tends to happen sometime in October. My training cycle is usually around 12-16 weeks so, just like my high school kids, I’m beginning to build my base in the thick of the summer.
The easy runs are hard. The long runs are harder. The exhaustion from both are immeasurable. And yet, again just like them, I put the time in knowing that it will pay off when it matters most.
And now it’s August. Also just like them I can feel the excitement building as I prepare myself for the big event. My running partner and I have bonded over sweat and iced coffees. We’ve shared the suffering, found strength in numbers, and tried hard not to complain. Perhaps I will buy the fresh race singlet and the new shorts with the extra pockets.
Maybe I’ll treat myself to a new pair of racing shoes that cost more than I’d like to admit but are undoubtedly worth it. And I, too, will put the goal down on a sticky note and tape it to my mirror. Because in a way, we all want the same thing. We want to see all of our hard work come to fruition.
This is what makes the start of the high school cross country season or that final month of marathon training so electric. For those who’ve committed to the process, who’ve sweated through long runs in July, hit tempos on tired legs and learned to love or at least appreciate the early morning grind, day one feels like a quiet celebration. It’s the beginning, yes, but also a sign that the work is going to pay off. And the real fun—the racing, the breakthroughs, the goals that we’ve all set for ourselves—all of that is just around the corner.
And now, it’s August. The parallels between fall marathon training and high school cross country training are impossible to ignore. We all know that feeling. We know the discipline it takes to build a base. The way our long run becomes sacred. The satisfaction of stringing together quality workouts. The nervous anticipation of a fitness test or tune-up race. Whether we’re 16 or 46, the formula is the same: do the work, trust the process, and believe in what’s coming.
So here’s to the start line—whether it’s your first XC season or your 10th fall marathon—and all the sweaty, gritty, hopeful miles that lead you there.
Boston-area editor-at-large Rebecca Trachsel is a mom, a competitive age-group marathoner, a high school cross country and track coach, and music lover with a coffee problem. She’s still chasing big goals and having a blast along the way.
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