With track season just right around the corner this spring, the cross country team is working hard to stay in shape and keep up their endurance. As winter finally sets in, the runners persevere through the cold and strengthen friendships with their fellow teammates.

Soon after the cross country season ended, winter running began, the offseason just before track to help begin training.

“Whenever I’m training in the offseason, I know by track season I’ll be in better shape than coming in without having practice because for the events I do, I already have to have speed and endurance built up,” Lauren Spakowski said,  a junior on varsity for the 1,600 meter race.

Each day after school, the team meets to go out and run around the campus as well as in the neighborhood just next to Liberty, Countryshire. However, these distance runs aren’t all that the team does.

For those in attendance, there are two weekly workout days as well as two days in the weightroom after a distance run.

“Running in the offseason helps me maintain what I’ve been building up,” freshman Dylan Carlson said, a varsity runner on cross country. “We do weightlifting which helps build up upper body strength.”

Not only is winter running preparing the athletes for the upcoming track season this spring, but also forming closer bonds between the team.

“You can get closer to your teammates compared to the normal season because everyone is so focused on the actual season itself,” Spakowski said.

Through the cold and snow, rain and wind, the cross country team is still running strong.