Before:

Majority of the time, cross country and track are considered to be the same thing. People just
categorize them together and don't realize the major differences they have.

Cross country is solely a distance sport. There is only one event (or race) and it is a 5K (3.12
miles.) The training that goes into this sport is extensive and it is a full time commitment. It is
also considered more of a team sport rather than an individual sport. You run for yourself, but
the points count towards your team. You are considered a unit and are working together
towards a similar goal. I have never been closer to people than when you run cross country
together. It is a bond you create that is unlike any other. You have to be in a certain mindset and
can not let your doubts get in the way of your performance. It is such a difficult race that you
have to be in the perfect conditions.

Track is a completely different sport from cross country. There are many different events that
are different lengths. There are also the field events that include jumping, discus, and shotput.
Not only are the events different, but it also draws in a different crowd. It is more of a broad
sport and more people want to do it. As a sprinter myself, track and cross country are two
different worlds for me. I have to transfer from a distance runner to a sprinter in 14 days. It is
also more of an individual sport rather than a team sport. There are relays, but you are more
focused on your personal performance rather than the teams. You want everyone to do well, but
you are more focused on yourself. It is also quicker, so the mindset is completely different.

After:
Majority of the time, cross country and track are considered to be the same sport. People just
categorize them together and don't realize the major differences that they have.

Cross country is solely a distance sport. There is only one event (or race) and it is a 5K (3.12
miles). The training that goes into this sport is extensive and it is a full time commitment. It is
hard work and the training differs greatly from track. It is also considered more of a team sport
rather than an individual sport. You run for yourself, but the points count towards your team.
You are considered a unit and are working together towards a similar goal. I have never been
closer to people than when you run cross country together. It is a bond you create that is unlike
any other. You have to be in a certain mindset and can not let your doubts get in the way of your
performance. It is such a difficult race that you have to be in the perfect condition for. Everything
you do affects how well you run.

Track is a completely different sport from cross country. There are many different events that
are different lengths. There are also the field events that include jumping, discus, and shotput.
Not only are the events different, but it also draws in a different crowd. It is more of a broad
sport and more people want to do it. As a sprinter myself, track and cross country are two
different worlds for me. The workouts are very different and they are two different beasts to
tackle. I have to transfer from a distance runner to a sprinter in 14 days, and it is a difficult
transfer. It is also more of an individual sport rather than a team sport. There are relays, but you
are more focused on your personal performance rather than the teams. You have to meet a
certain time to qualify and work on your personal gain. You want everyone to do well, but you
are more focused on yourself. It is also quicker, so the mindset is completely different. You have
to focus on different paces and preparations.