XC Traditions: Over the years, traditions celebrated by the cross-country teams have become just as important as the sport itself

Cross-country runners know exactly what to expect when the season begins: stretching calves before a five-mile run, elevating their legs above their head after running to reduce inflammation — and Milk Mondays. Creative traditions are integral to the training methods of cross country head coach Tricia Beaham.

One of the first traditions she started was “The Button Run” —  a roughly six mile course around Prairie Village where Beaham distributes buttons across streets for runners to pick up once a year. She forms two paths in opposite directions for the different running levels so everyone has an opportunity to get buttons. The runner who collects the most buttons gets a gift card.

Weekly traditions like Milk Mondays and Popsicle Wednesdays are also rewards for runners after long runs. On Milk Mondays, Beaham gives runners chocolate milk as a source of quick energy after 10-mile-runs. Parents donate popsicles on Wednesdays for the same reason.

But it’s the Friday night carbo-load dinners that are the fan favorite among runners, according to senior Scarlett Pearlman. To store energy before Saturday meets, each grade level brings foods like pasta and bread to feast at a senior runner’s house. After eating, the team plays a game of football, basketball or whatever they’re in the mood for. 

The dinner isn’t just to fill up on calories — it’s to bond with teammates in different grades. According to senior Blair Ptacek, it works.

“There are people [on the team] that I wouldn’t normally hang around,” Ptacek said. “But the carbo-loads and other cross country events have helped me interact with new people and become really good friends with them.”

Boy and girl runners have separate pre-meet traditions on Friday afternoon runs. Girls sprint down to the boar sculpture in the Village where they touch the nose for good luck. Then they all huddle up and the seniors give a pep talk to the underclassman with tips about the races.

“Having that pre-meet run is good because we’ve got people who have quite a bit of experience and then also some kids that are just running for the first time,” Pearlman said. “So it definitely helps for them to have the opportunity to figure out what’s going on and get any advice they need.”

The boys’ pre-meet ritual is kept secret from the rest of the team and coaches due to its “sacredness,” according to Ptacek. It had existed for years as a rite of passage for new runners.

“It’s been around for so long and what makes it special is we have it to ourselves,” Ptacek said. 

Pearlman and Ptacek agree that experiencing these traditions as seniors has changed because now they’re the ones who are giving advice and helping runners instead of asking the questions.

“As seniors, it gives us the chance to give all of our knowledge about courses and advice to the other runners,” Ptacek said. “I’ve answered questions that they have like what to eat before meets or what types of shoes they need.”

These traditions have impacted the runners and team as a whole on a personal level because of the amount of time spent together at practices and outside events. 

“I feel like the traditions help the whole attitude of the team,” Ptacek said. “I know for sure everybody on the guys’ side are all super close friends, so if somebody has a bad race or something, we’re not going to hold it against them. Or if somebody that’s typically slower than you comes up and beats you, there’s not going to be a fight because we are all just close friends outside of running because of team dinners and bonding.” 

Pearlman commented on the fact that it’s good to have all these outside events with the team because then everyone can be around others who are experiencing the same things. 

“Sometimes it can be a little bit stressful having to run a lot and sometimes it’s not that great,” Pearlman said. “So it’s fun to have carbo loads [and spend time] together.”