Welcome to the world of cross country Lakota style!! Lakota has a rich cross country tradition. Many runners have gone before you to establish this tradition of excellence through dedication and hard work. The history section of this notebook explains that tradition by listing past accomplishments of teams and individuals. As you read through the list of names, I hope you will desire to see your name added to the list. These early runners were not supermen. They were just high school students much like you. They too had chores, homework, jobs, pressure from peers, boyfriends/girlfriends, hopes, dreams and goals. They had to face the daily challenges of school, practices and meets. Yet, they rose above their obstacles to set high standards for Lakota cross country. Now it's your turn to add your team's achievements to the list, your name to this history of excellence. It's your time to step up and take the challenge.

But there is more to cross country than just team and individual victories. Roger Bannister, the first person to break the four minute mile barrier, wrote about how the Greeks, who originated the Olympic Games, felt about sports. "The Greek ideal was that sport should be a preparation for life in general. Physical perfection was a worthy end, and the striving heightened rather than dulled perception of other things. The Greeks were stimulated by the idea of competition. They believed that competition, whether in music or drama, in art or poetry, brought out the best in man. It was for the victors at the Olympic Games that Pindar wrote many of his odes. The Greeks believed that men should take pleasure in toil and struggle. There was a certain magic in victory that transformed not only the victor but also the defeated." In our sport, many of life lessons are learned as you run the seemingly endless miles. Self-respect, a solid work ethic, honesty, responsibility, teamwork and poise under pressure are a few of those life lessons developed during the cross country season. It is our hope that all our athletes not only enjoy our sport and the competition, but also leave cross country a better person. An individual who, in some small way, is better equipped to face the coming struggles of life.

Still, for those who have never experienced the joy of cross country, many look with puzzled expressions and ask,"why do you do all that running." Bruits Hamilton, the 1960 head Olympic coach answers this question very well. He wrote: "People may wonder why young men like to run distance races. What fun is it? Why all that hard exhausting work? Where does it get you? Where's the good of it? It is one of the strangest ironies of this strange life, that those who work the hardest, who subject themselves to the strictest discipline, who give up certain pleasurable things in order to achieve a goal, are the happiest of men. When your 20 or 30 men line up for a distance race, don't pity them, don't feel sorry for them. Better envy them instead. They are completely and joyously happy in their simple tastes, their strong and well-conditioned bodies, and with the thrill of wholesome competition before them. These are the days of their youth, when they can run without weariness; these are their buoyant, golden days, and they are running because they love it. Their lives are fuller because of the competition and their memories will be far richer. That's why men love to run. That's why men do run, There is something clean and noble about it." Roger Bannister also addresses this question. He wrote, " For nearly ten years I have been running many times a week and my grasp of the reasons why I run continues to grow. Running through mud and rain is never boring. Like 100,000 cross-country runners, their number ever increasing, I find in running-win or lose-a deep satisfaction that I cannot express in any other way. However strenuous our work, sport brings more pleasure than some easier relaxation. It brings a joy, freedom and challenge which cannot be found elsewhere."

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