For me, cross country is a long wooded trail:

a trail full of dreams and possibilities;
a hilly trail- no easy feat,
but a worthwhile epic journey.
Cross country is sweat, blood, happiness, and pride.
It’s the time I laughed and talked for hours while running in the middle of a blizzard,
and the days where the sun felt like needles puncturing my skin,
but I kept going, thinking nothing of it.
Cross country is the one more rep; one more mile; one more race
of every day, week, month, and year.
It’s the sadness that follows the end of the season,
when you are not quite ready to let it go.
It’s seeing the smoke burst into the air, and my 'engine' starting at the start of a race,
all before I even hear the sound of the gun.
It’s when I plan group runs to celebrate holidays, end somewhere to eat,
or run in the dark,
and the endless hours of hard work before the sun comes up, and long after it sets.
Cross country is the team spirit, and close-knit family of a team.
It’s the training every day, all summer and fall, working for a distant goal ahead,
and of that goal, it’s the last steps over and through the finish line,
giving all that I have, to accomplish it.
Cross country is the passion and love of the sport:
always wanting to learn more, and improve.
And lastly, cross country is the fact that I work hard every day,
so I can close my eyes at night and see the small dream of a 10 year old,
morphing more and more
into reality.