Game On – September 2023

    As the meadow fog lifts from above the reservoir and the warmth of the day hits the back of my neck, I sit amongst the field rabbits and watch the large, breakfast-seeking Sandhill Cranes scout the water’s edge. I wait in anticipation of the Miramonte Cross Country team (MCX) coming around the bend, returning from their one-hour morning King Canyon Loop training run.
    I sit just past some very large mountain lion warning signs, bulletins for snake awareness and why not to approach “aggressive livestock.” So, one: I’m pondering the clauses in coverage of my life insurance and two: I’m wondering what sort of people do this kind of sport. What young person wants to get up really early and run for an hour. Seriously.
    First is Head Coach Andrew Lewis, who leads by example. He is on the trail, running the hills with the team. His perspective on why he trains with them, “When I was the athlete, it was a morale booster to have a coach who could do the things they’re instructing you to do themselves.” Gauging by how the team follows him, I see the benefits.
    Then, he surrounds himself with other inspiring coaches with great track records, or should I say, off-track records? Assistant Coach Cassey Haskell still holds Miramonte team records for some of the cross-country courses we’ll run this season.
    This team is good-sized, and we’re holding out hope to outrun the dreaded Campolindo Cougars, the regional powerhouse in cross country almost every year.
    One of a few advantages we might have over them, according to Coach Lewis is, “They just graduated their top three boys, whereas we’ll be running most of an already experienced varsity team.” Another is, “Both our top boy and girl runners, Asher Patel and 

Grace Bell, are returning as rising seniors. They both finished top 10 in NCS and qualified to the state meet as individuals last year.” Fingers crossed. No doubt they will repeat those performances with these kinds of morning, mountain hill training regiments.
    In my day, the tough-guy sport was football. But this does not compare. At least not equally. These XC runners go full-tilt for miles at a time. Football? Just a few yards at a time. The pigskin pastime has take-a-knee water breaks and timeouts. No moment to rest while the defense comes in for a spell. Nope. XC runners literally push their bodies to their limits, no breaks, as the game plan. Whatever it takes to run the fastest time on the course and receive the fewest points.
    It’s not everyone who will take agony as a dance partner. So, if you’re one of those folks who think high school kids today are a little light in the fortitude department, I’d say you haven’t met the Miramonte cross country team.

Mark Bell can be reached at griffindoor.bell@gmail.com.