The Finish Line Looms: Confidence Is Key For Cross Country Runners

For most cross-country runners, the season’s window is beginning to close. Conference championships are on everyone’s mind, the thought of Regionals looms and for the lucky few, national-level races follow.

With the hype ever building for a grand crescendo of the season, there is still one aspect creeping into everyone’s mind: doubt. 

Confidence is the most vital tool in the arsenal for us runners.

Confidence is built up moment by moment. It is a strong feeling, however fragile.

Confidence can take years to put together but can topple over in a single moment.

As a runner, confidence is an essential characteristic to have. It can push you past what you thought was possible and help you achieve new heights.

Throughout my entire career as a runner, though, doubt has been my biggest enemy. I’ve had multiple races where I’ve caught myself saying, “I can’t do this.” Mid-race, I’ll be thinking of ways to stop hurting. 

“Maybe if I fall or trip, I won’t have to keep going.”

Though I’ve never gone through with my stumbling scheme, it distracted me from the real purpose of my race – to RACE. 

Losing is awful. No one wants to lose. 

Winning is awesome. Everyone wants to win. 

But only a few people are willing to do what it takes to win.

Hurt.

Telling yourself, “you can!” 

Pushing that extra mile. 

Not losing sight of the runner in front of you. 

This is how you push through that hurt. Get lost in the race, be present, and stay active.

Confidence can be built mid-race as well. Passing one extra person, throwing in a surge after a tough hill, digging deep for that last bit of energy. All it takes is one decision to let yourself hurt.

For some competitions, it’s a long bus ride home. Don’t let it be a sad one. When you travel for races, you can spend hours on the road. Give yourself something to be proud of while returning home to your practices and teammates. Don’t just hurt for yourself; Hurt for your teammates who want this just as bad as you do. 

But some races don’t always go our way. Unforeseen circumstances make their way into racing all the time. Maybe we don’t have our best performances. 

I’ve always been told, “You get 24 hours to be upset about a race. Once those 24 hours are up, it’s back to work. Put those thoughts and feelings behind you and put your ax to the grindstone.”

Only 31 teams and 255 individuals can make it to the start line of the NCAA DI Cross Country Championships on Saturday, November 18. I want to be one of those people. My team wants to be one of those teams. But it will take a group effort of all of us working together and hurting for one another. 

Build up your confidence, and the results will come.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Evan Hilbert is a senior communications major at the University at Buffalo. He is a member of the cross country and track & field teams at UB. Hilbert co-hosts a podcast called “Take Talks” with a fellow journalism friend.

You can also find Evan on Instagram: evan_hilbert.