The MIA cross country team trains six days a week to prepare for their races every Saturday. Most practices are built upon speed and mileage: Monday consists of a 5–6 mile run, Tuesdays and Thursdays are speed-focused, Wednesdays consist of 3–4 mile runs, and Fridays are a 3-mile cooldown run before competition day. Meets are held every Saturday, often requiring the team to wake up as early as 4 a.m. to commute 30 minutes to an hour away.

The team also competes in community events such as the March Kiwanis 5K, the Fall Festival 5K, and other local races. Regionals take place in Lakeland, Florida, where the team stays overnight in a hotel to celebrate with each other, no matter if it’s a win or a loss. Mackle Park is where practices are held every day, and the team gets to bond with each other through the highs and lows of running, including the tradition of getting free ice cream if you throw up while running.

Although many challenges come with running for the cross country team, many of the athletes on the team value the sport because it provides mental rewards as well as an increase in stamina and endurance. Senior runner Aubrey Guidry said, “I joined cross country because I wanted to run. And runner’s high is one of the most motivating parts of the whole sport.” Junior runner Ansley Carmignani added, “I’ve been doing it since middle school, and I like running. I also feel good after I run, and I can eat all the Dunkin’ I want afterwards.”

The XC team is made up of eight total runners, who not only share love for the sport, but who also train together and share a strong sense of community through competition, travel, and post-game traditions.