Cross country is the sport of guts

They say the hardest six minutes in sport is found on the wrestling mat. I can't argue that point. But I can argue that the next hardest 12 minutes can be found in the field and woods, often muddy, of the cross country course.

This I can say for sure, though my experience only lasted three days.

My friends ran. I ran because my friends ran. I remember trying to keep up with them and I will say that was the hardest thing I've ever tried. I watched their derrières disappear over hill after hill and at the end of it all I was still the one who was gasping for air and puking.

My running joke is I played football because I didn't like to puke from running cross country. Editor's note, I was 125 pounds, I wasn't that hot at football either.) I lasted through track season, but after three days of running my own derrière off I walked up to the coach and said "Coach, I hate throwing up, I'm just not cut out for this." He insisted it would get better but I didn't believe him in my fog of runner's high.

So when I see these kids, many of whom are brilliant scholars capable of doing math equations in their head that I can't even cypher with pencil and five erasers, lying on the ground gasping in pain, I am in awe. This is the hardest sport I know.... well I'm a terrible swimmer so maybe that is harder still?"

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Usually the top runners finish the race almost as if they were out for a stroll, but those middle runners.... those kids are the ones who help the team scores and push themselves beyond what they think are their limits. The idea of PR (personal record--I didn't know what that meant at first either) drives these runners as well as the team standing. Their motto is "how can I do better?"

I remember once running the two-mile race in track. I tried to fill in because a teammate was missing. I was a miler and ran ok, well under six but never under five minutes. But around lap six I was all "what the heck am I doing?"  I ran to the infield.

it was the only I time I ever quit anything. Running is hard. These kids deserve our respect.

At district meets the top runners are usually the ones who get their picture taken. They sort of ease across the finish line, often alone with the next runner several seconds behind. It is tough to be the cream that rises to the top, so only a few usually make it to those elite times. But usually around seventh or eighth place the race starts getting interesting. With whatever gas the runners have left, they use up in that last 100 yards.

​And it gets crowded around the finish line because often that spot where the clock records their final time, they are just plain done.

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I love photographing this area of the race the most. This is where you see that true athlete, that soul for PR and heart. (I won't mention the puke). I know some courses have iconic places for picturesque or points of action, but those usually require me to either hike or run to them and then I'd be there putting all my eggs in one basket for a race.

So I linger around wherever the finish line is, get the winners crossing the line and then look for the faces of focus and intent.

To do this I have to dodge the course workers helping exhausted runners away from the finish line who often get in the way. But it is their course and their job so I never get upset. Other photographers too can get in the way and I trust they also do not do it on purpose. I'm pretty laid back and just work it anyway.

It's fun to photograph the start of the race too, but when your concern is only for the local runners, they can be like picking a needle out of a haystack, especially if I didn't do a pre walk through to see where the locals were. Suddenly every red shirt might be the Franklin team. So click, nope, West Middlesex, Click, not McLane.... and so on.

And I don't mind photographing them too. I just hope someone shares the photos with them somehow. 

This past weekend I felt very lucky that for the races the rain pretty much held off. I was warm and dry. I've covered district championships many times where it wasn't the case. One time I was so cold and in pain that i had a tough time getting my hands in my pocket to get my keys out so I could get into my car and die....I mean warm up.

I could drone on and on about covering old races, but I've already blabbered on enough. Below are more photos from districts Saturday in Titusville.

If you missed our story from Saturday you can visit it here. It gives a rundown of the locals who will be competing this weekend in Hershey. 

Or keep scrolling to the bottom where a link to all of the photos can be found.

I did have a laugh, as I was writing this I looked up my Facebook memories and this popped up from last year. Sometimes we just write the same things because we realize that really is what the story is all about.

Se even more photos by visiting www.piaa.org/sports/championship_details.aspx?sport=crscountry