Do you want to stay healthy and do something productive with your time? Think about joining the Manchester Township High Schools Cross Country Team during the 2024-2025 School year! Cross Country is a very rewarding sport that will make you feel good about pushing your physical and mental limits. Although running for miles on end sounds very intimidating, the benefits far outweigh the cons. Here are just some of the reasons why you should consider joining cross country:

Something to do after school

If you find yourself constantly bored after school with nothing to do, cross-country practices last anywhere from 1 ½to 2 ½ hours! It will definitely keep you busy and productive

New friendships

Cross Country is a great place to make new friends! There is no unnecessary drama or hatred on the team because cross country is a very individual sport. It is a very fun and friendly environment where teammates encourage each other to try their best. There is no judgment for being new! 

Cross-country strengthens your muscles and improves your cardiovascular functions

Your muscles will slowly but surely start growing once you start cross-country. It is a great cardio sport to gain some lean muscle. Your heart will get more efficient at pumping blood, and you will find yourself feeling much, much better after cross-country practices, thanks to those endorphins!

Mood improvement

As you run, your brain starts releasing natural endorphins. One of the more subtle benefits of cross country, endorphins are known to be a natural painkiller, stress reducer, and mood improver!

Test your mental and physical limits 

Different from ball sports, cross country is about endurance running. Running for as long as you can doesn’t just include your physical capabilities, but also your mental. Running is painful, for sure, but keeping your head in the game is even more of a challenge. Test your limits!

Opportunities 

Many colleges look for extracurriculars when accepting new students. Cross Country is a very impressive sport to add to your resume that will make you stand out from others! It shows your commitment and dedication and that you are a team player. 

Be one with nature

Unlike distance running for track and field, cross country is all about running on various surfaces, such as trails, dirt, sand, roads, and grass! It is certainly a different experience as compared to running around a track. If you enjoy nature, cross country is the perfect sport to admire the beauty of Earth on your run. 

Fun practices 

The Country team is constantly traveling to new locations for practices to keep it fun and interesting. Some memorable ones are beach/boardwalk runs, memorial parks, and exciting new trails.

If you find yourself even the slightest bit interested after reading this, do not hesitate to talk to the cross country coaches, Coach Struble and Coach Griffith for more information! Remember, high school is all about trying new things, and you may end up with a new favorite sport!