Country Life Blog

What Cross Country Teaches Our Students

A Middle School Coach's Perspective on Building Character Through Running

As a coach who's spent years working with middle school cross country teams, I've watched something remarkable happen season after season. The same lessons we spend all day teaching in the classroom suddenly come alive on the trails and at the finish line in ways that truly stick.

The Discipline Factor: It's Like a Classroom, But Different

We talk about discipline in school all the time. Sit still. Raise your hand. Turn in your homework. But cross country? It demands a different kind of discipline:
  • Showing up when it's cold, hot, or rainy
  • Pushing through when your body says "stop"
  • Supporting teammates even when you're exhausted
  • Following the training plan even when you'd rather be doing literally anything else
The beautiful part? They choose it. Unlike math class, they're there because they want to be. And that makes all the difference in how deeply these lessons sink in.

Empathy in Motion

Here's what I teach from day one: At the finish line, we're all about encouraging—no matter where you are in the pack.
In the classroom, we say "be kind to each other" and "listen to each other" constantly. We teach it, we model it, we remind them daily. But on the cross country course? They have to live it. They have to support and encourage each other when:
  • They're tired themselves
  • They're competing for positions
  • No adult is watching
  • It would be easier to stay silent
I've seen the transformation happen. That same kid who shouts "You're not going to make it!" in September learns to call out "You've got this!" or "You're almost there!" by October.

Why? Because they've been on the receiving end. They know what it feels like to need those words. They've experienced the power of a teammate's encouragement when their legs are burning and the finish line feels impossibly far away.

The Coed Advantage

Middle school can be awkward—especially when it comes to boys and girls interacting. But on a coed cross country team, something shifts. They're not "boys vs. girls." They're teammates. They're:
  • Cheering for each other at meets
  • Celebrating PRs together regardless of gender
  • Learning that encouragement isn't gendered—it's human

Not Being Empathetic? It Doesn't Work Here

I've seen teams where empathy was lacking. The atmosphere was toxic, performances suffered, and kids stopped coming to practice. Because here's the truth: you can't succeed in cross country without your team.
Even though it's an individual sport in many ways, you need:
  • Training partners to push you
  • Teammates to encourage you during races
  • A support system that believes in you when you doubt yourself
When empathy is missing, all of that crumbles. But when it's present? I've seen average teams become extraordinary—not because they're faster, but because they've learned to lift each other up.

Bringing It to the Field (and Taking It Back to Life)

The goal isn't just to make them better runners. It's to take everything we teach in the classroom—discipline, empathy, resilience, kindness—and give them a space where those values become real and necessary.
And then? They bring it back. To the classroom. To their friendships. To their families. I've had parents tell me their child became more encouraging to siblings, more disciplined with homework, more willing to support classmates who are struggling.
That's the real finish line.

A Team Approach to Coaching Character

At The Country School, our cross country program is fortunate to have a coaching team that embodies this whole-child approach. Adriana Castillo (Middle School Spanish Teacher), Will McDonough (Middle School Director), and John Fixx (Head of School) bring their unique perspectives and expertise to the trails, demonstrating that character development is a school-wide priority—from the classroom to the course.
When your Head of School is out there coaching alongside teachers, it sends a powerful message to students: these values matter at every level. This isn't just about running; it's about who we are as a community.

Keep encouraging from the sidelines, parents. Your "You've got this!" matters more than you know.
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341 Opening Hill Road, Madison, CT 06443
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Founded in 1955, The Country School is a coeducational, independent school serving students in PreSchool-Grade 8. The Country School is committed to active, hands-on learning and a vigorous curriculum that engages the whole child.

The Country School is a community where diversity is celebrated and people of Color are welcomed, valued and supported. 
 
We do not discriminate - nor do we tolerate discrimination - based upon age, gender, race, color, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, genetic predisposition, ancestry, social and economic status, or other categories protected by Connecticut or federal law.
 
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