How I Improved In Cross Country Running [5 Tips To Get Better at XC]

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  • Опубліковано 24 жов 2022
  • Running cross country is not easy, but I sure miss it! Here's HOW TO IMPROVE in cross country with my 5K, 8K & 10K PR times and 5 tips (plus a bonus tip) to follow during training, workouts and races in your cross country season - whether you're in high school, college, or any level of runner!
    More XC RUNNING TIPS: • Cross Country Running ...
    #CrossCountry #RunningTips #TheAthleteSpecial
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 150

  • @nro337
    @nro337 Рік тому +230

    Visualize your performance in the race too! The course, how you want to feel when. Really helps you come in calmer during the race

    • @bryanhampson2710
      @bryanhampson2710 Рік тому +7

      It’s crazy how accurate the race ends up after visualizing it the night before

    • @bcgyt9136
      @bcgyt9136 9 місяців тому

      bro i can't visualize anything in my head 😭😭😭
      god nerfed me fr

  • @jacobfaughtrunningproducti974
    @jacobfaughtrunningproducti974 Рік тому +121

    Me chillin over here at 17:43 as a junior hearing him say 17:00 as a freshman is "not great"😂

    • @zacjohnson452
      @zacjohnson452 Рік тому +12

      It’s all very relative. My entire team is running 17:30+ and we’re dominating our league currently.

    • @bretonwayde6934
      @bretonwayde6934 Рік тому +1

      Facts

    • @i_is_piano1941
      @i_is_piano1941 Рік тому +1

      17:42 as a junior bro 😭 i gotchu by a second tho aaaaahhh

    • @jacobfaughtrunningproducti974
      @jacobfaughtrunningproducti974 Рік тому +1

      @@i_is_piano1941 I've ran 17:30 on pavement, so I might have you there🤣

    • @i_is_piano1941
      @i_is_piano1941 Рік тому

      @@jacobfaughtrunningproducti974 nooooo😢. Dw tho i’m literally going to race on pavement in 3 hours, so i’ll get you again there just wait a bit

  • @fatgy-9200
    @fatgy-9200 Рік тому +36

    Pre race vision:
    I’m gonna wake up early in the morning, running on 3 hrs of sleep, go downstairs and eat a bagel, ride the bus to school, sit through an excruciating 90 min of Algebra II then cruise through my other classes. I’m going to eat shitty school food for lunch that I know is gonna hurt me later but oh well. I’m going to ride the bus with my team to the meet and discover we have gushers in our team snack bin. I am going to eat 9-12 packs of gushers over the course of 10 minutes. I’m going to do my usual warmup and probably throw up, where I’ll then have to explain to my coach that my vomit is blood red because I ate an unholy amount of gushers and that I don’t have a life-threatening intestinal issue. Then, 20 minutes before the race, I’m going to decide it’s probably a good idea to have my first bottle of water for the day, because you gotta get that pre-race hydration. I then take a sip of an energy drink to get pumped up before I walk to the start line. On the start line, the energy drink, 16 oz of water, and the school’s premium teriyaki chicken I had for lunch is going to develop into a nasty gut pain that refuses to go away. I then run the race as any sleep-deprived, dehydrated, malnourished 11th grader that’s trying not to shit themselves would, and still end up with a PR somehow.
    Just about sums up the cross country experience.

    • @reivzs6761
      @reivzs6761 7 місяців тому +2

      bro at mt sac i could feel the water splashing around in my stomach and i was regretting everythting my legs hurt so bad my arms were giving up on me i wanted to throw myself off that hill

  • @kevinmshea58
    @kevinmshea58 Рік тому +97

    Now in every race the rest of my life I will think of how disappointed Spencer would be if I give up when it gets tough. 😂😂 Great video and definitely some great tips in here.

  • @thomasbitsche6224
    @thomasbitsche6224 9 місяців тому +10

    Had a XC meet where a teammate gave blood day of meet. He was cocky but he didn't realize how much a pint of blood given would affect him running.

  • @arogueburrito
    @arogueburrito Рік тому +36

    watching Spencer talk about cross is so nostalgic for me, this is how I began my running career

  • @rilauats
    @rilauats Рік тому +15

    My season bests in 2023 -- 5k at 30::00 and 10k at 65:00. Hurting plenty well at 0.7k when I turn from downhill to flat. Sidebar - turning 60 yrs old this season.

  • @hyxinzai
    @hyxinzai 8 місяців тому +13

    These tips actually worked, as a high school cross country runner I was able to improve my pr from a 21:00 to a 17:21 within a season and I got a 17:33 on the meet two days ago

    • @lordofskag
      @lordofskag 8 місяців тому +1

      Man dude I ran a 18:47 as my pr this year and last race I ran a 23 because of how weak I felt.
      Anyways
      Imma get like you this next race

  • @monstrous.G
    @monstrous.G 8 місяців тому +5

    School cross country be the hunger games fr fr

  • @taylorevans5381
    @taylorevans5381 Рік тому +49

    I got you! This might be my last race in cross country this season in regionals and I have to beat my team mate to get top 7 and we’re pretty similar runners. I remember this video for sure!

    • @dragonedge_
      @dragonedge_ 11 місяців тому +1

      Did you make it?

    • @soupwater220
      @soupwater220 9 місяців тому

      how’d you do? no pressure no hate here i have experienced being so close to winning and losing at last second before in championships i was third the entire time and at the last second i was passed and didnt medal this was for track tho but still

    • @haydenwestfall8798
      @haydenwestfall8798 7 місяців тому

      I’m Literally in the same situation. How’d it turn out for you?

  • @robciervo
    @robciervo Рік тому +35

    Thanks for putting in those Lehigh clips from Paul Short. That’s where PA HS state XC Championships were my senior year of HS way back in ‘85. A great course of rolling hills. Good tips on the pre race routine. As a PhD in Sport Psychology I can tell you that is vital in controlling pre-race anxiety and stress. Good stuff there.

  • @markbateman9222
    @markbateman9222 Рік тому +14

    Agree with what you said about mileage in training for XCountry. After all, it's not a marathon you're training for! One thing i would add is to do some workouts on the sort of surface you are going to race on. Reps at race pace on the grass are great training for Xcountry. Depending on how much background you have, 5-8 x1000-1200 with a short(ish) recovery is a great workout especially if done on a slightly undulating circuit. It's also the type of workout you should be doing if your aim is racing well at 800-1500 later in the year. Also, practise running downhill! Something i never did and consequently always lost ground going down any hills.

  • @Irisgeneral
    @Irisgeneral 4 місяці тому

    I miss the XC season so so much i only started this year but this is one of my FAVORITE sports ive ever tried

  • @swede939
    @swede939 Рік тому +7

    Bro. I run for Warde High School in Fairifield, CT. I didn't even realize it was Wilton, CT. I saw some of the clips of you running at Allen's Meadow and I just ran there this season. I honestly love your videos because I want to get better at Cross Country. I've improved so much and I've helped my team a lot going into the winter season!

    • @swede939
      @swede939 Рік тому +1

      i ran my first varsity race here, great 5k course

  • @reide.a
    @reide.a Рік тому +2

    YOOO I DIDNT KNOW YOU WERE FROM CT! as soon as you showed the clip of you running the green monster i freaked out. i ran in the class s meet last week as a freshman, though my time was not even close to 17:00 haha. i’m hoping to improve throughout the year for next season and get as close to there as possible (like a six minute improvement, probably not gonna happen but whatever).

  • @FIFA_editz1030
    @FIFA_editz1030 7 місяців тому

    Thank you for sharing your tips bc I wanted to know how to improve bc yesterday was regionals and I started of top 4 or 3 then by the end of the race I was in 26th place with 17:21

  • @iloverunning8011
    @iloverunning8011 Рік тому +4

    Tip 4 is very helpful

  • @WashingMachineFr
    @WashingMachineFr 7 місяців тому

    This is great. I just had a meet today, we do 2-mile races in middle school and for my first year ever i got a 13:12 I’m really proud and am hoping to get below 12s by next year it’s gonna hurt like hell though!!

  • @ZipTieConnoisseur
    @ZipTieConnoisseur Рік тому +7

    Yo you probably won’t see this, but I run cross country at amity right now, and I actually ran a 26:01.04 at the Wilton invitational this year, and at SCCs I pr’d with a 24:18, so it’s cool to randomly find an xc UA-camr near me!

  • @bcrruns1085
    @bcrruns1085 Рік тому +1

    Great video!

  • @johnhenry5945
    @johnhenry5945 Рік тому

    Need to come down to Portland and race some xc in the fall next year !

  • @Anthony-mh7ix
    @Anthony-mh7ix Рік тому

    Ah yes, posting this after my season ends. You love to see it!

  • @ELN_Offical
    @ELN_Offical 8 місяців тому +1

    This is my first year running xc, I’m in 6th grade and I qualified for state!

  • @Coolkidb-qx7jr
    @Coolkidb-qx7jr 6 місяців тому +1

    I'm in 5th grade going into 6th soon and I'm also a cross country but when you said that your 8K time was a 23:00 my jaw dropped because that's only my 5K time. But all I got to say is you are FAST

  • @envy_coppr2146
    @envy_coppr2146 10 місяців тому

    Going to Wilton high this year and will race cross country

  • @Jaksa006
    @Jaksa006 11 місяців тому +25

    Bro as a 15 y/o on 4 *km* I got 16:34 😭 and placed 18/21 in my contry. But as 13 y/o on 1 km I got 3:05 and placed 5th in my country. I really dropped training during covid so that had a major negative impact on my running. (Just for clarification I am 16.5 y/o now) I hope I can get back in form at least a tiny bit.

    • @Windperfire
      @Windperfire 7 місяців тому

      country? Bro where do you live

    • @Jaksa006
      @Jaksa006 7 місяців тому +1

      @@Windperfire Croatia my guy. I don't honestly know why there aren't more racers. Maybe because it's clubs competition and not schools, so it's only "the best of the best". In school xc there are usually about 100 racers per category. What are numbers like at your place (guessing you're from the USA)?

    • @Windperfire
      @Windperfire 7 місяців тому

      @@Jaksa006 I am from the USA and to be honest, I do not know the average time. I am also a 16 year old but since this is my first year in Cross Country, my times aren't as good as yours. My best time was 19:35

    • @Jaksa006
      @Jaksa006 7 місяців тому

      @@Windperfire oh no no 😅 I meant the number of runners (per category)?

    • @Windperfire
      @Windperfire 7 місяців тому +2

      @@Jaksa006 Well for invitationals, there are usually 100-200 runners like yours. For Duel meets (A 1v1 between schools if you don't know), it's usually 30-50 people.

  • @daveconvoy5793
    @daveconvoy5793 Рік тому

    Love these recent vids you have Allie have done 🎉

  • @jayden.08
    @jayden.08 10 місяців тому +1

    dude ur crazy my best was 26 and a half minutes freshman year

  • @Dollface.
    @Dollface. 8 місяців тому +2

    I have my first cross country meet tomorrow. It’s only two miles but I’m so scared😭 So I won’t give up because I know Spencer will be disappointed in me😖✨

    • @akwschannel9066
      @akwschannel9066 8 місяців тому +1

      How’d u do?

    • @pokics
      @pokics 8 місяців тому +1

      how did u do

    • @Dollface.
      @Dollface. 8 місяців тому

      @@akwschannel9066 Omg I forgot I made this comment! But I did okay for my first race. I got 22 place out of 64 girls so I didn’t do bad! Thx for asking!

    • @Dollface.
      @Dollface. 8 місяців тому

      @@pokics I did pretty well for my first race! I got 22 place so I’m proud😋

  • @elushuto5270
    @elushuto5270 7 місяців тому

    Regionals today :) thx for the tip
    Edit: I’m a freshman in HS

  • @Miklip
    @Miklip Рік тому +2

    Some things that people do is they look back and it slows them down a bit

  • @zanepoenix8268
    @zanepoenix8268 Рік тому

    Sections on Thursday trying to qualify for state with the team

  • @nathanpresswood15
    @nathanpresswood15 Рік тому +24

    LeTtTtTtTsSsSs GoOoOoOooOo, we love the og Spencer content!

    • @massimopicca
      @massimopicca Рік тому +2

      why do you have to say LeTtTtTsSs GoOoOoO in every video

    • @nathanpresswood15
      @nathanpresswood15 Рік тому

      @@massimopicca BeCaUsE, it's the ultimate way to pump someone up! LeTtS gOoO!

    • @massimopicca
      @massimopicca Рік тому +2

      @@nathanpresswood15 I don’t see how using a variety of lowercase and uppercase letters pumps people up, but you do you

    • @nathanpresswood15
      @nathanpresswood15 Рік тому +1

      @@massimopicca I guess so lol, should I go with all uppercase now then? 🤔

    • @massimopicca
      @massimopicca Рік тому +1

      @@nathanpresswood15 yes

  • @ezkur
    @ezkur Рік тому +3

    Favorite workouts during base phase training for 5k/8k/10k?

  • @thomasperez358
    @thomasperez358 Рік тому +1

    What were your go to xc race shoes?

  • @Frostzy.
    @Frostzy. Рік тому

    Nice video! Keep posting amazing content like this

  • @adrianlifts2
    @adrianlifts2 Рік тому +3

    I am currently waiting my section meet for tomorrow, hoping to go to state.

    • @Briman242
      @Briman242 Рік тому

      How did you do!??!

    • @adrianlifts2
      @adrianlifts2 Рік тому +1

      @@Briman242 I would have qualified as an individual, but our whole team made it for the first time in 55 years!

  • @danieldunstone6128
    @danieldunstone6128 7 місяців тому

    nice, what about xtraining how to get fitter if your limited with amount of running you can do like me due to injuries so i ride use spin bike, what are xtraining tips

  • @KY-fh5kh
    @KY-fh5kh Рік тому

    Ontario University Championship XC tomorrow, baby!

  • @liamstutz4304
    @liamstutz4304 9 місяців тому

    I’m cookin at Wilton invite this year

  • @elliemconie
    @elliemconie 7 місяців тому

    What’s weird is that in the US XC finishes after you finish high school/college. Whereas in the UK you compete for a club and you can do cross country from age 9 up to like 90

  • @SUB-4
    @SUB-4 Рік тому +4

    Running in NXN as an 8th grader soon hope this helps get my time under 17.

    • @SUB-4
      @SUB-4 Рік тому

      *NXR

    • @ZYZZ_WHEY
      @ZYZZ_WHEY Рік тому

      @@SUB-4 you can edit ur comments on UA-cam btw,

    • @SUB-4
      @SUB-4 Рік тому +1

      I know just doesn't work well on my device.

  • @HoldenL
    @HoldenL 8 місяців тому +3

    i didn’t do sports for 3 years and i just started running again in freshman year highschool (current) and i ran a 33:25 5k😭😭😭

    • @abiss2951
      @abiss2951 8 місяців тому +3

      Hey! I’ve never done sports before and that’s a few seconds better than my PR(also freshie.) I’m proud of you, bro. KEEP RUNNING!

    • @HoldenL
      @HoldenL 8 місяців тому

      @@abiss2951 ty. i will🥹

  • @haydenncoff2011
    @haydenncoff2011 7 місяців тому

    i’ve just started cross country and im in 7th grade and i’ve just won the championship and got 5th place out of 70

  • @maristranquille2125
    @maristranquille2125 Рік тому

    ye nice

  • @CamlinWatkins
    @CamlinWatkins Рік тому

    I’m going into 5 th grade this year any tips on xc

  • @ethan.wroblewski
    @ethan.wroblewski Рік тому +2

    Believe it, or not, but I think I’m the only runner that never ran cross country I boxed in the winter, and fall. Spring I ran distance for track. Boxing was always my first sport I ran distance for cross-training.

  • @affabaffa4393
    @affabaffa4393 Рік тому +5

    Dude your state must’ve had a lot of fast course, 17:00 and 150th at state lmaoo
    Georgia’s state course is almost entirely uphill a 17:00 would be like top 25

    • @colew213
      @colew213 Рік тому

      same here in arizona 😭

  • @inserthandsomefacehere9401
    @inserthandsomefacehere9401 9 місяців тому +1

    My freshman year I ran 24:32 how you so good

  • @lucianarioslazo79
    @lucianarioslazo79 8 місяців тому

    I think this is the DOWN moment for me, sometimes is so stressful to not see my results 😭😭😭 I need to get better

  • @mauros2270
    @mauros2270 Рік тому +8

    My garmin 245 music says I can run a 16:44 for the 5k but i never even broke 18 before but the reason why is cuz i get scared when i race after the first mile i slow down and just try to relax because I didn’t know it was supposed to hurt i would just try to be as relax as possible and would normally finish at 18:46-19:15 and in my workouts I go way faster. Im a 4:40 miller and I’m super scared to hurt after one mile i feel like i could die if i keep going but im not out of breath im breathing fine like if it was tempo and then just slow down cuz im scared. Help

    • @aaronjenkins6048
      @aaronjenkins6048 Рік тому +2

      Similar PR to you for the mile at 4:42, ended up running 17:08 over 5k. My biggest tip for XC races is know the course beforehand so you can map out how your race will go. I generally went out in 5:30-5:40 for the first mile and went from there. If I was feeling okay I would keep the pace steady and test the people behind me, if I was starting to struggle I'd let someone pass me and then latch onto their shoulder. Having a person to target helps a ton with mental strength

    • @andrewn405
      @andrewn405 Рік тому +2

      The garmin thing is a prediction so I think it focuses on the future based off of your running cause mine says like 16:00 flat and I’m at 17:20

    • @spencereasterbrook9357
      @spencereasterbrook9357 8 місяців тому

      mine was at 14:45 once, then went down to 19:30 when I was injured lol and im a 16:10 3 mile lol

  • @anaboveaveragedog
    @anaboveaveragedog 7 місяців тому +1

    17:00 flat asa freshman!?! 15:58 as a shophmore!?! That would be 1st place in the state where I live why is your state so good

  • @insanity0854
    @insanity0854 Рік тому

    How am i eight grade how should I run in the winter for the mile my usual run are like 4 miles everyday so 20- 30mile week pls help

  • @I_love_music-Abby
    @I_love_music-Abby 7 місяців тому +1

    EVERY FAST PERSON IS NAMED SPENCER I SWEAR.

  • @VMDXmp3
    @VMDXmp3 9 місяців тому +3

    I just signed up for cross country without even knowing anything abt the sport 🤷‍♂️

    • @sapph3342
      @sapph3342 9 місяців тому

      Same I did terrible my first “meet”

    • @user-lz5ef8hy5b
      @user-lz5ef8hy5b 8 місяців тому

      dumb ways to die 😅

  • @Ashtonj7116
    @Ashtonj7116 11 місяців тому

    17:00 would get top 15 at my my state meet

  • @5littlewrestlers
    @5littlewrestlers Рік тому +2

    is 11.58 good for a 3k

  • @bradynanderson4907
    @bradynanderson4907 Рік тому

    Wow

  • @littleninja8003
    @littleninja8003 Рік тому

    green lake

  • @user-xe9on1cu5o
    @user-xe9on1cu5o 8 місяців тому

    sir im 28 im in good shape but my running sucks im bevileve it or not im 312 but im in good shape i was wondering how can i be able to run cross country im want to be there for my family and be able to be there for my nice that like a daughter to me i already lost two of my brother i just dont want my mom and dad to lose me so that benig said how do i do cross country
    oh and the only time i can run is when i have adrenaline

  • @ChannelP-lf7jx
    @ChannelP-lf7jx 5 місяців тому

    I started in 4th grade and I am in 5th now

  • @Callum528
    @Callum528 Рік тому +1

    i hope you see this but i was wondering in gr 10 i ran 4k in 14 min and placed 53 in provincials is that good?

    • @mitchibaby_12
      @mitchibaby_12 Рік тому +1

      Great! And remember you beat others that's winning in its own way

  • @user-pu6ve9ox6l
    @user-pu6ve9ox6l 7 місяців тому

    OMG ARE U A GUYANESE I AM ❤❤

  • @thomasbeasley3271
    @thomasbeasley3271 Рік тому +8

    I run cross country in England and your cross country looks like a road race to us 🤣. I came 5th in my latest XC which was a 10k. The course was dreadful. About 1000 places to twist your angle then swimming in mud 🤣

    • @clibothy
      @clibothy 7 місяців тому +1

      I wish our XC courses were like that. You’re right in that they’re like road races, in California there aren’t a lot of really interesting courses

  • @alfdickinson1971
    @alfdickinson1971 Рік тому

    Is that Wilton, CT?

  • @allendale10
    @allendale10 Рік тому +1

    I'm based in the UK - why does XC stop in the US after college????

    • @dandillon2163
      @dandillon2163 Рік тому +2

      There is no reason it has to. I guess XC ended after college for Spencer. It didn't for me. I went to High School and College in New England. Opportunities are out there if you really love running it. Find a club that has other runners who will keep you motivated. I kept getting better at XC after College and made several US National teams. In my day we had athletes like Carlos Lopes who was still winning World Cross Country Championships when he was almost 40.

    • @ezekiellloyd8369
      @ezekiellloyd8369 Рік тому

      XC clubs aren’t that popular here

    • @allendale10
      @allendale10 Рік тому

      @@ezekiellloyd8369 we don't have cross country clubs, we have athletics clubs that do T&F, XC & Road running and most of us do it all

  • @chenybot69
    @chenybot69 8 місяців тому +1

    sohpmore rn 29 minute 5k

  • @energyviper8465
    @energyviper8465 8 місяців тому

    I am in 8th grade and I can run a 21:25 is that pretty good?

    • @recolex
      @recolex 7 місяців тому

      Yes very good

  • @jdcarson9550
    @jdcarson9550 Рік тому

    Freshman running 20:57

  • @aaronnichols736
    @aaronnichols736 Рік тому

    Hey man, since it looks like you’re trying to find where running will take you next, why don’t you do what deestroying is doing for football. Go seek out the best xc meets and then the best track meets and lift the athletes up from your soap box… just a thought.

  • @heroesinoursparetime8963
    @heroesinoursparetime8963 Рік тому +2

    Man's saying 17:00 as a freshman and my freshman pr was a 21:06. What am I missing?

    • @fluffywuffyrat
      @fluffywuffyrat Рік тому +1

      The courses can be very different, some are fast and some are slow

  • @DennisC_X
    @DennisC_X Рік тому +2

    First!

  • @Notnotcam
    @Notnotcam Рік тому +4

    Clicked off an older video of yours for this one😂

  • @scrunywhiteboy2649
    @scrunywhiteboy2649 Рік тому

    Bro making me feel bad I got 23:14 my sophomore year so far

    • @Newnewrom
      @Newnewrom Рік тому

      Don’t worry, you can do better. You just gotta put the work into it, but enjoy the time you have as well

  • @TOMas12408
    @TOMas12408 7 місяців тому

    No way I live in Darien and have raced against Wilton dozens of times

  • @hogrider5510
    @hogrider5510 7 місяців тому

    My friend burned out. He was our best junior high runner, but today at our meet even I beat him. His best time is about 18 minutes. Mine is 22…
    Ps. We are freshmen

    • @clibothy
      @clibothy 7 місяців тому

      Is it an injury? If not, everybody has their bad races

  • @AriWeiner-mq2wq
    @AriWeiner-mq2wq 7 місяців тому

    He said 17:00 isn't good

  • @thomas1630
    @thomas1630 Рік тому +1

    Dude you should be a high school CC coach and track. You are so dead on most people run their whole life and dont get this.

  • @That_Ramdom
    @That_Ramdom Рік тому

    Bro all u need is to practice.

  • @davidgoater2181
    @davidgoater2181 Рік тому

    Bud, you’re running out of content……

  • @dant3113
    @dant3113 10 місяців тому

    Bro I was running 15:00's in Jr High and didn't even qualify for finals in Cali 🤣. As a freshman I was killing my varsity team and still no good. I stop trying Junior year and gave up now I climb The tallest mountains in the country for fun lol