MARTIN COUNTY - Contrary to popular belief, there is more than just football in the fall and winter months in West Texas.
While much of the communities attention is focused on the hard hitting action on the grid iron, several athletes wake up early and stay late after school pounding the pavement in preparation for cross county season.
Cross country is the sport for the high school distance runner. Some consider these athletes some of the most dedicated because the effort required is more than most are willing to give.
Because of that, cross country develops its own cult like idiosyncrasies. Those eccentricities make the cross country runner a unique individual.
That’s why many say, “You know you're a Cross Country runner if…”
You could retire if you earned a nickel every time someone asks you, "Why do you run so much?"
You name hills.
You run further in a week than you travel to meets.
You have running withdrawal if you don't run everyday.
You wake up every morning sore and happy because of a great workout the day before.
Your Saturdays for the fall are already booked.
You can add up miles and meters in your head, but for any other kind of math you need a calculator.
Your room smells like sweat, dirt, and Icy-Hot.
You cringe at the term “shin splints.”
You know exactly what a difference 0.1 miles can make.
You find yourself saying, "That's not a hill..."
You know Monday equals intervals.
Your calves are bigger than your biceps.
You run through puddles, not around them.
You would give up homecoming to go to the state meet.
You're a snot rocket pro.
You have run 6 miles while singing the entire way.
You know cross country is a contact sport and have elbow-shaped bruises and spike marks to prove it.
You don't laugh every time you hear the word "fartlek."
You run the mile in gym class at an easy pace, and you still beat everyone else.
You get fired up for pasta… for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
You dream about running.
You size up every hill, track, path, lane, road, field, and anything else that may get marked on a map for its training potential.
Every time you see a beautiful place you think ,"This would be an awesome place to run" and then you go get your shoes.
You find yourself looking at people you don't know in public because you're almost positive they're runners, too.
Your biggest pet peeve is being pushed through the chute after you cross the finish line.
Your pre-race ritual includes a porta-potty stop.
You have epic tan lines.
You know all the locations of road kill carcasses near your school.
You know every store nearby that has drinking fountains and bathrooms.
Every possible running route around your school has a name that only your team understands.
You've forgotten what carbonated beverages taste like.
Reading this list made you go out for a run.
Most middle or high school cross country runners were nodding and smiling as they read through this list.
For many athletes at Stanton and Grady the week ends with the sound of the fourth quarter buzzer on Friday night. But for the elite few that brave the early morning bus rides every Saturday morning, the week does not end until they sprint through the chute and collapse.