Blind Spots: locations on a cross country course where trailing runners cannot see those ahead. Trees, bushes or hills often create blind spots.

Cool-Down: jogging and stretching done after a practice or competition to gradually allow muscles to purge themselves of waste products which have accumulated during exercise.

Dual Meet: a meet between two teams.

False Start: leaving the starting line before the gun sounds.

Fartlek: (Taken from the Swedish words for “speed play.”) The workout consists of easy running with the addition of hills or short fast bursts, followed by a return to easy running.

Finish Chute: a rope bordered funnel past the finish line that moves runners into a single file order of finish.

Invitational Meet: a multi-team meet.

Lactic Acid: the by-product of anaerobic exercise. Lactic acid is toxic to the cells and can only be tolerated in small amounts. It contributes to fatigue.

Kick: a burst of speed at the finish of the race.

Pace average: your running speed over the course.

Pack: a group of runners in close proximity, whose goal to is to aid each other.

PR: best-ever performance on a course, referred to simply as a “PR.”

Racing Flats: special, lightweight shoes designed for racing, rather than daily training.

Splits: recording a runner’s time as he or she pass a predetermined mark on the course in order to check the runner’s pace. Usually splits are taken at the mile mark(s) or at the 1000 meter mark(s).

Starting Box: area to which a team is assigned on the starting line.

Surge: a tactical increase in the pace during competition.

Tri Meet: a meet between three teams.

Top 7: the varsity members of a cross country team.

Training Flats: running shoes designed for long wear in daily training.

Warm-up: easy running or other aerobic activity done prior to practice or competition to gradually warm up the body for more intense training or racing.

Workout: a daily training session.