XC in 12th Grade?

AVT

USAFA 2015
10-Year Member
Joined
Sep 7, 2009
Messages
372
Hi, I am a candidate for 2015.
I am wondering if I should participate in Cross Country this year for my first time. I have been involved in Track & Field since 9th grade.

Pros:
-Improvement in CFA mile
-Improvement in running endurance for USAFA
-Possible better chance at being a Track captain as assistant XC coach is head Track coach

Cons:
-Will not hold a leadership role
-Not competitive enough for Varsity letter
-Less time for other activities

XC starts in one week and I can barely run 5km which is what we run at meets. School starts in three weeks, and I still have 4 more books to read for AP classes (1 first semester, 3 second semester). I will have AP Physics, AP Calc AB, and AP English during XC season.

My only athletic involvement will be 4 years of Track and Field with possibility of being a captain and Varsity letter this year. I plan to have a better CFA to deal with this.

I'm in the top 3% of my class out of ~400 with a GPA of 3.9. I will have taken 8 AP classes and part of the Gifted Program. I'm a member of the National Honor Society. I attended Boys State and am President of a community service club. I also tutor people.

I will be taking the Sept ACT and Oct SAT. I have never taken the ACT and my SAT scores are: 600V and 700M.

I can use the rest of the summer to improve my SAT scores, finish my summer reading, finish USAFA application, finish nomination applications. XC will slightly limit my involvement in my club which I plan to be very revolutionary in.

I honestly do not want to do XC and feel I see more reasons not to, but am I just making excuses to escape a challenge?
 
This is a very simple question and answer. Just ask yourself:

"Is Cross-Country something I WANT to do"?

If the answer is yes, then do it. If the answer is No, and/or you're only doing it because you think it's helping to fill a square on your academy application, then you shouldn't be doing it. You've got varsity sports on your resume, so ask yourself: "If I wasn't applying to the academy, would I be even considering this"?

You don't need Cross-Country to help you prepare better physically for the academy and/or CFA. You can run, even long distance, any time you want to. Running is probably the cheapest physical fitness activity on the planet. You don't even need shoes if you don't want them. Best of luck.... Mike......
 
This is a very simple question and answer. Just ask yourself:

"Is Cross-Country something I WANT to do"?

If the answer is yes, then do it. If the answer is No, and/or you're only doing it because you think it's helping to fill a square on your academy application, then you shouldn't be doing it. You've got varsity sports on your resume, so ask yourself: "If I wasn't applying to the academy, would I be even considering this"?

You don't need Cross-Country to help you prepare better physically for the academy and/or CFA. You can run, even long distance, any time you want to. Running is probably the cheapest physical fitness activity on the planet. You don't even need shoes if you don't want them. Best of luck.... Mike......
EXCELLENT advice! :thumb:

I couldn't and wouldn't say it any better.

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
 
DS is dealing with this now. Same issue, not likely to make varsity, etc. He's running, for several reasons:

- He had indicated he planned to run XC on his applications
- It will keep him in shape
- It will show he's fit, even if not a super competitive varsity runner
- It demonstrates commitment, seeing things through

All that said, he has to balance that with having all AP classes, internship, etc. And ongoing involvement in scouts, church, etc. If grades suffer, then XC is where he'd have to cut back.

If you look at it from a time management perspective & given your stats, my suggestion would be to focus on SAT's and only stop if you get reading & math over 700 each, and rock the CFA. Much more important from what we've seen & heard from admissions than adding another sport. If you trained for the CFA like you would for XC, there is no reason not to have a killer score.
 
"Is Cross-Country something I WANT to do"

lol, how do you Want to keep in shape? I'm sure you want to be in shape. As being on cross country, it is actually quite fun- meeting new people and friends - despite running in the hellish summer humidity of east central coast of Florida!

It's just One way to potentially rock the CFA. And I agree with Hawk - if your main concern is CFA and SAT stuff, there are other ways to rock the CFA while keeping your time --- if you don't Really Want (lol, but Christcorp's answer makes me smile - excuse me) to do XC.
 
Actually, I know some individuals who really WANT and LOVE cross-country running. They get the thrill of competition, without the direct team interaction of relying on other team mates. This is not a dis on any applicant who is doing or likes Cross-Country. But you mentioned "wanting to stay in shape". Most people in the teen-age years, if they're involved with any physical activities seriously, do not even think about staying in shape.

Me personally, as well as my son 30 years later, were 100% soccer and football. That's what I/he loved. We loved the direct team atmosphere and the physical contact; as well as the immediate gratification of "Scoring" points. Some people WANT similar things from cross-country, track, or maybe to go to the olympics some day and medal in "Curling". LOL!!!!

Point is; each person is different. If he WANTS to do cross-country, and wants to do it even if the academy wasn't a factor, then he should do it. If he's only doing because he's trying to fill a square for the academy application, then he shouldn't. That time can be better spent on SAT, AP/IB classes, leadership positions in a club/activity he likes, volunteering, etc.... And still plenty of time to go run 3 miles a day to "Stay in Shape".
 
I won't run XC. I am already almost booked with things to do. I have been running on my own and did so to prepare for SS.
Another reason why I considered XC was to improve my mile time, about 6:50, but I can do so on my own before I take the CFA in late Sept.
 
Only do XC if you want to do it. You can run and train for the CFA on your own, but XC practice and meets will take up time after school and on weekends that could be used on other EC's you have a higher affinity for.
 
DS is dealing with this now. Same issue, not likely to make varsity, etc. He's running, for several reasons:

- He had indicated he planned to run XC on his applications
- It will keep him in shape
- It will show he's fit, even if not a super competitive varsity runner
- It demonstrates commitment, seeing things through

Pretty much exactly the reasons my son is doing it. He's also run track regularly, but not XC before because he'd always done the Fall Play each year at the HS. So for him it's not a matter of time difference (they'd both take up a similar amount of after school time), but which would be better preparation for an academy, and he decided XC was a sure winner in that category. No, he probably won't get a letter, and won't have a leadership role, but will help him stay in shape (although his mile on his CFA at NASS was a 5:38 so that's not his concern).

But he likes the people (same coach as track and obviously a lot of the same kids), likes having a scheduled time to work out, and figures another year of being in a play wouldn't add anything to his resume or help him get in shape. So he's already started. But guess you have to decide what's right for you!
 
I would definitely run CC. I did it for three years in high school and it was probably the best thing I did to prepare for the Academy. I was never a good long distance runner, but it definitely helped my CFA and my AFT and PFT here. I now max the sit ups and long jump on the PFT and run a decent AFT. It is definitely worth the hard work you put in. Also, the camaraderie is amazing on a CC team. If for no other reason, it is a great way to meet people and get in good shape. Good luck!
 
OP: If you want to run the CC to improve conditioning (and make points with your track coach) go ahead. If you were asking me, I would spend that time practicing for the verbal section of the SAT.
 
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