Cross Country, often referred to as XC or CC, is a sport found in most high schools and colleges. It is mostly only known by those who are on the team, their family and close friends. Each meet is a 5k (3.1 miles)* and practices consist of running. I have run cross country since my freshman year of high school and, although I don't plan on running in college, it's one of the best things to ever happen to me and here are 5 reasons why:

1) You don't have to be "good" at running.

Any person, no matter their fitness level, can run. When I started running my freshman year, it was to make friends and try to get into shape. Before this, I had never run a day in my life (except in middle school gym). I started off as the slowest one but eventually worked my way up. My first meet was 34 minutes, or something, and I walked probably more than I ran. However, I stuck with it and improved my time to 28 minutes in just that year. I'm really glad I stuck with it and didn't give up. That being said:

2) It's all mental.

In cross country, your biggest competition is yourself. Although you run against other high school teams, the only person who can control how well you do is yourself. This makes the sport a bit more challenging because aside from the sore legs and heavy lungs, your mind is really what is pushing you to go. However, you'll be amazed what you can accomplish.

3) Your teammates are the best.

Everyone in the sport understands the endurance you need, whether you run one mile or four. They get it and because the team is small, everyone is your friend. In my experience, there is minimal drama and everyone gets along. Having your teammates cheer you on at the last leg of a race and having celebratory team dinner are the best.

4) Distance running is better than track.

I've ran track and field and cross country and I have to say I love cross country so much more than track for two reasons: 1) I'm not a sprinter and 2) there's so much more to look at. I find that if you run a longer distance, or just run in general, that it's more tolerable if you have something to look at or focus on besides how much everything hurts. Running with music or a friend also works.

5) Running clothes

Maybe this is a girl thing, but having a cute shirt or pair of running pants that make you feel good adds confidence that makes you feel like you can do anything. This is especially helpful if they're comfortable and easy to move in. Running shoes are also fun to shop for and customize to your style and personality.

So if you like running, but hate being bored and sprinting all the time, consider cross country. If you don't want to run with a team, then I definitely encourage running longer distance on your own. It really does pay off and is the best sport out there.