The Westtown Cross Country coaching philosophy puts the health and development of our athletes' physical, mental, and spiritual well-being before all else. We also prioritize fun, teamwork, sportsmanship, and integrity in every practice and race. This focus leads not only to a joy in running that can be lifelong but also has led the team to consistent success over the years. We believe competition is only one part of what inspires our runners to spend the effort in training necessary to achieve excellence. Equally important are the intrinsic values of building fitness, discovering the world outdoors, and the support, camaraderie, and mentorship teammates provide each other. Throughout Westtown’s three-season distance running program, we strive to create a nurturing environment that empowers our student-athletes to become well-rounded individuals who positively contribute to their teams and communities.

How We Train
A typical day with the cross country team begins under our cool shade tree, where we may briefly share personal records and scores from the recent meet. Then, the captains take the team on a warmup run and follow it with dynamic stretches. After that, we often do a long aerobic run on campus or in nearby neighborhoods; other days, the runners are challenged with speed work on the track, hills, or fields. With two full 5K courses on campus, there is no shortage of trails available for distance runs. Varsity and JV runners might cover 4-6 miles on a typical day at various paces while developing athletes are encouraged to build up their volume gradually to discourage injuries. Occasionally, the team can be found playing an aerobically challenging game with a ball or Frisbee. At the close of practice, the team gathers for debriefing, static stretches, and core work before dismissing with a team cheer.

Player-Focused Philosophy
Health and fitness are our priorities. We understand that distance running is a long game and that many athletes will encounter injury at some time in their careers. Running is also a mentally difficult activity to learn to enjoy. For new runners, the priority is building up the aerobic and mental strength to engage in the full workouts gradually; often, new runners see a dramatic improvement in competition as their fitness rapidly grows. For varsity runners, the focus is on finding the right mixture of distance, speed, and rest to increase speed throughout the season and run their best at culminating championship meets. We also cultivate a team focus by running in “packs” during practice and meets and relying on teammates for pacing, drafting, and encouragement. Captains and other student team leaders are crucial in developing team culture, identifying individuals needing mentorship and navigating routes. An important aspect of the team is recognizing personal achievements—every athlete who earns a “PR” (personal record) in a meet is celebrated vocally as the group—and the accomplishments earned by the Varsity and JV teams.