Cook County Cross-Country Team Takes a Great Leap into the Season!

Story by youth volunteer Ezme Mundell

Hi, I am Ezme Mundell and I just joined the cross-country team. Cross-country is a sport where you run in a rough outdoor climate, not on a track! A normal practice consists of a couple of different things. First, you do your core workout as one group: push-ups, crunches, leg lifts, and lots more. Then we do what is called “pre-coffee” which is a way to get your arms and ankles warmed up! Then on some days, we do a hard workout, and on some days we just run at what is called “conversation pace”. A part that makes cross-country special is the coaches that push you hard!

April Wahlstrom and Emma Spoon are the amazing coaches you just heard about. They both said, “Cross Country is the best sport, filled with strong kids willing to suffer together and encourage each other to get through it and make it FUN!”

We just had a time trial last week to see how fast you could run either a 3k or a 5k. Basically, it is a competition against yourself to see how you will improve.  We have a home meet coming up on Thursday, August 31st at Pincushion. I am so excited to race! 

Kalli Hawkins August 30, 2023