1. The first sip of water after a 10-mile run.

There is no greater relief than the first sip of water you take after a 10-mile tempo run in blazing, 90 degree weather.

2. Bus rides on race day.

Sing-alongs to all your team jams brings everyone closer together.

3. Post-race naps.

When you finally had a chance for a nap after a race, whether it be on the bus ride home or when you actually got home, you went into a coma and awoke feeling like a new person.

4. Running your favorite course.

Everyone has at least one course they loved to run on, whether it was easy, challenging, beautiful, or simply trodden with great memories. The anticipation of running this course was always super high because you would probably PR and get feel all the warm-n-fuzzies of nostalgia.

5. Wearing bright calf-high socks.

Bright calf-high socks instantly transformed your chicken legs into highlighters.

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Ultimate Fashion Statement

6. Short Shorts.

Sky's out, thighs out.

Sadly, this motto isn't applicable when going business casual.

7. The freedom of going of commando.

To some, not wearing underwear sounds absolutely disgusting, but when you have underwear already built into your shorts, what's the point in wearing any?

8. Competition.

If you were an athlete of any sport, chances are that you're pretty competitive, but considering XC doubles as both a team and individual sport, it's even fiercer competition.

Now that you're in college, you have to find a new competitive outlet, but intramural underwater basket weaving doesn't quite fill the void left by XC.

9. Carb loading.

Eating three plates of pasta the night before a race was a must.

But back then, it didn't come with a side of remorse.

10. Team bonding.

Your team also doubled as a second family and you were there for each other through thick, thin, boards games and team dinners.

11. Mocking other sports.

XC season always meant relishing in sayings like "my sport is your sport's punishment" and "real athletes run, everyone else just plays with balls."

12. Trail runs in the fall.

Nothing beats a leisurely run through a vividly colored wood and hearing the crunch of freshly fallen leaves under your feet.

13. Being in the best shape of your life.

College leaves no time in your schedule to train like you did in high school, and even though you're still pretty fit, walking up a few flights of stairs is much more of a challenge now than it once was.