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A few weekends back, the high school varsity cross country team hopped on a bus and traveled to Jiulong, Qingyuan (a rural location around three hours from Guangzhou) for their first of two annual mid-season retreats. Right after reaching the hotel, the team checked into their rooms, then changed into running gear for a long, slow night run.
Over around 50 minutes, the 19 runners along with the head coaches Parker and Archer ran a light 7.5 kilometres at a comfortable pace. All the runners pushed themselves to stay with the team, and despite the fact that running experiences, fitness levels, and ages varied between the 19 boys and girls, the group stuck together and finished the long run within around 5-10 minutes of each other. Freshman Rahul Samtani (who has just joined cross country this year) was one of the many asked about the run, and along with a few other less-experienced runners, he explained that he was scared about getting lost on this new route. However, the team members motivated each other to stay in a pack, which ultimately helped him keep up with the rest of the squad.
After the runners returned to the hotel, they showered and enjoyed a short break before meeting at the hotel’s restaurant for a local Chinese meal. After dinner, they were given a chance to shop for snacks and experience local life. They then headed out to enjoy some team-building activities and strengthen the bond between the runners.
The next morning, runners woke up at around 8 am and headed out to the neighboring mountains for a treacherous 2-hour run. The girls’ team ran 13 kilometres while the boys pushed themselves to hit close to 17. Many of the boys confirmed this was the furthest distance they had ever traveled in one go, and felt good about their newest accomplishment. Sophomore Leyla Sepahi spoke positively about the girls’ difficult run when she said, “The beautiful mountains made it easier to complete…, even though it was a lot longer than I would have preferred.”
Coach Archer often reminds the team that cross country is a team sport, despite the fact that members run by themselves. The fifth runner, she explains, is more important than the first. Archer looks to the captains and other returning members to lead and motivate the newest runners in pushing themselves and making the rest of the team proud. As younger students get closer to their leaders, she believes they are starting to understand that being part of this team is equivalent to being part of a family.
Despite starting new with a young team, the cross country season is looking like it will be a memorable one. All new members have brought in a fresh feeling of commitment and courage, and it will be exciting to see how they all perform in the upcoming races!
This article is a collaboration between writers Chirag Asnani and Nina Sepahi.
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