Frequently Asked Questions
WHAT IS CROSS COUNTRY?
A high school cross country race is typically 3.1 miles (5K) over trail and road, in varied conditions. It is a team sport where the score is determined by adding up the places of each team's top five finishers. Each athlete’s point total is arrived at by simply counting their place. The team with the lowest score wins the race. It is also an individual sport, where all athletes race to be their best self on the day. Cross country will teach you the value of hard work and patience. It will develop your mental toughness. Nobody sits on the bench in cross country!
WHEN IS CROSS COUNTRY?
The official season runs from late August to early November for athletes that make it to State. Most of the team participates in optional summer training to prepare for the season and have fun over the summer!
HOW DO I SIGN UP?
WHO CAN SIGN UP?
Anyone! XC is COED and there are NO CUTS!
Beginner runners welcome - there's a spot for everybody and training plans are based on experience level.
Non-fall sport participants: XC is the most fun and rewarding option out there for strength & conditioning for your other sport!
I'm talking to you: basketball players, wrestlers, boys swimmers, gymnasts, baseball players, girls golfers, boys soccer players, fast-pitch softball players, girls tennis & badminton players, and (of course) track & field athletes!
Still not sure XC is for you? Check out our Hype Video to see what Cross Country is all about.
IS THERE A CALENDAR WITH ALL THE DATES I NEED TO KNOW?
Why, yes there is! Click here.
WHERE DO I SEE RESULTS?
WHAT IS SUMMER TRAINING?
WHERE CAN I FIND INFO ABOUT THE FALL SEASON?
HOW DO I HELP OR GET INVOLVED IN THE PROGRAM AS A PARENT?
WHERE ARE THE RHS XC ALL-TIME RECORDS?
WHAT EQUIPMENT DO I NEED?
Running Shoes: A quality pair of running shoes is the most important piece of gear a runner can have. After all, this is what’s between the runner and the ground and is the primary defense against injury. Cross country shoes should be designed specifically for running, be less than a year old with fewer than 500 miles. A good rule of thumb is to buy a new pair of shoes for each season (Cross Country, Track, etc.) Redmond XC works with Super Jock n Jill in downtown Redmond. They hold an annual “Spike Night” where Redmond runners can get a discount and find a shoe that works for them.
Cross Country Spikes: Spikes are specialty shoes used mainly to race, but occasionally might be incorporated into training. These are lighter shoes with "spikes" for grip on the bottom. They are lightweight and have better grip on the variety of surfaces that we run on (mud, gravel, sand, etc.)
Running Watch: All runners should have a watch. All of our training at RHS is done by time. These can be simple watches with a start/stop timer, or more elaborate GPS running watches. You can find a chronological watch at Target, Fred Meyer, Amazon, etc. These should be worn to practice every day!
Running Clothes: Athletes need to bring layers to practice. Late Fall in the NW is can get rainy, windy, and cold days. Long sleeves, sweatshirts, rain jackets, sweatpants, running pants, a good hat and a pair of gloves will be helpful for training. If you're going to splurge on one of these, the socks are probably the most important. Take care of your feet and they'll get you where you want to go.
Redmond Spirit Gear: You can Order Redmond XC Spirit Gear. The website will be open all season, but order ahead of time so that you can wear your gear to practice!
Water Bottle: It is important to stay hydrated throughout the day, remember to drink a little a lot, not a lot a little! Bring a water bottle to practice. Hydration packs or carriable water bottles are not necessary. Just a basic water bottle with your name on it works great.
Roller: You can buy a foam-roller, a stick-roller, or a lacrosse ball (or find something similar around your house). Self-massaging sore muscles is a great way to prevent tightness and injuries. You can do this one your own time before and after practice and bring to meets.
Competition Gear: Athletes are issued uniforms for the season. These include: a jersey top, shorts, jacket, sweatpants and optional bag. These need to be returned at the end of the season, or they will have to pay a fine. If you are likely to lose a uniform or want to keep one throughout high school, you can order the jersey/short option on the Spirit Gear website.
WHAT IF I NEED TO MISS PRACTICE?
Attendance is required Monday through Friday. Saturday Long Runs are optional for JV athletes and required for Varsity. There are multiple Saturday invitationals where the entire team participates. If you have to miss practice, athletes must:
Email your group coach before practice. Attendance is taken DAILY via Final Forms at the beginning of practice, and all missed practices automatically generate an email to athletes and parents.
Athletes should be the ones emailing their coaches. We encourage athletes to practice self-advocacy and independence.
Five total absences (excused or unexcused) and you will remove yourself from the team.
Three unexcused missed practices and you will remove yourself from the team.
WHAT ELSE CAN I DO TO BE A BETTER RUNNER?
WHY SHOULD I JOIN CROSS COUNTRY?
If you're still unsure, check out these videos below!