Running is easier for some people and harder for others, but most Blue Valley Cross Country runners join the team because running long distances is something they genuinely enjoy. “It isn’t too hard for me to run long distances,” Junior Kelsey Crawford said. “As long as I’ve got someone by my side or music to listen to, I can do it pretty easily.” Crawford said weather is another factor in the runners’ durability. “The hotter days are exhausting, but the cooler days make it so much easier,” junior Lexi Gahagan said. “The heat just takes so much energy from you.” Gahagan said running becomes a big part of the team’s lives during the season. “We have practice every day after school, and I usually run on Saturdays, too,” Crawford said. “Sundays are my day off.” The team’s individual goals vary from person to person. As a whole, the team supports each other; but everyone has their own personal goal for the season. “My goal is to get my time up,” Crawford said. “I think being able to run well takes a lot of time and energy, but I know it will be worth it when I can run as fast as I’d like to.” Races take place on Saturdays and normally take up most of the day. “We run 2.5 to 3 miles every race and compete against 60-plus people,” Gahagan said. “It can be pretty intimidating at times, but it’s never as bad as I make it out to be in my head.” Some runners suffer from injuries during the season after running too hard or tripping over a rough spot on the course. “A lot of people get shin splints,” Crawford said. “Sometimes those will turn into fractures. I’ve had some knee problems.” Both girls are confident that the team will continue to work hard until the end of the season in October, hoping to set as many records as possible and improve their running abilities. “We have some pretty good runners this year,” Gahagan said. “I think there is always a possibility for the success we want to see.”