Those not into the sport look at cross country vs track as one and the same. Both involve running.
For passionate runners, though, these two are very different from one another.
A lot of people don’t have an idea about the difference between cross country and track. Hence, the ton of confusion and misconceptions about these two running sports.
So, what is the difference between track and cross country? That is what we will talk about today.
Cross Country vs Track
Track vs country: which is more challenging between these two? To know the answer, let’s first define each one of these athletic sports.
Cross Country Running
Cross-country running is one of the disciplines under the athletic sports category where participants run on natural grass or dirt terrain.
Competitors in cross country running are also called harriers. They can participate as individual contenders or part of a team of six to seven people.
The cross country running season usually happens during autumn and winter, but most athletes train the whole year-round.
Track or Distance Running
Track or distance running includes short distance sprints, middle distance runs, marathons or long-distance runs, hurdles, and relay races.
Most track runners also participate in different field contests consisting of competitions like jumping and throwing events.
Difference Between Cross Country and Track
The only common thing about these two sports is running. All other aspects differ entirely from the other.
We keep on mentioning that there’s a difference between track vs cross country, so here are where you’ll find the disparities:
1. Events
The first difference is the kind of events these two sports have.
Cross Country
There are two different types of cross country races. The first one is the smaller competitions between teams competing for the state or conference championships.
Collegiate men compete for eight- or 10-kilometer races, while their female counterparts run for five or six kilometers.
High school runners usually participate in five-kilometer races, and middle-school competitors typically run 2.4- or 3.2-kilometer courses.
Then, there’s the more massive invitational event, an open competition for any team or individual participant who does not belong to any group.
Senior competitors for the international category run for a 10-kilometer course for both men and women.
It’s an eight-kilometer race for the men’s junior division, while women runners compete for a six-kilometer course.
Track
Track or distance running events have more options where various athletes can specialize and participate in.
- Sprint
Sprint running is a short-distance race where runners need to run at their fastest speed throughout the required distance.
Runners should run anywhere from 100 to 400 meters to win the competition.
- Middle Distance
Middle-distance running is also part of track running events but with different lengths from sprint.
The usual race lengths for this category are 800 and 1,500 meters.
- Long Distance
Long-distance running, also called endurance running, has a running distance of 3,000 meters.
Another part of long-distance running is a sport called steeplechase.
Athletes participating in this competition need to conquer the racecourse, usually with a distance of 3,000 and 10,000 meters and obstacles here and there.
Marathons are also under long-distance running.
Runners competing in this category need to conquer a 42.2-kilometer long course usually done on city roads.
- Hurdles
Hurdling is a track sport that combines running and jumping over barriers while maintaining your running speed.
The typical hurdle race length differs between men and women, which are 110 and 100 meters long, respectively.
A 400-meter hurdle is also open for both genders.
- Relays
Relay running is part of track running, too, and is where participants compete as a team.
Two of the most popular relay races are the 100 and 400 meters played by four athletes.
An essential feature of the relay race is the baton, as it is passed on from the first player to the next after completing their part.
2. Race Venue
Races for these two sports are done in entirely different settings, as well.
Cross Country
The event organizers for cross country races design their racecourses in open areas. The natural terrain is usually covered in dirt and grass.
The additional excitement of not knowing what to expect from the racecourse is part of what makes this sport interesting.
There’s variety in every race, as it is held in different outdoor locations.
Track
Track running is more straightforward. Runners will always compete on a flat, red-colored race track wherever the location is.
It may be an indoor or outdoor event, but it will always be on a uniformed racetrack.
3. Number of Participants
There is a big difference between the number of competitors for each sport type.
Cross Country
A lot of runners compete in a single race at the same time in cross country events.
Members from each team assemble at the starting line. A race official will give the signal, and all the participants will run at the same time.
Track
In track running, runners typically compete against eight or nine contestants at the same time.
This limited number is because race tracks only have a limited number of lanes that players can occupy.
4. Race Duration
The time spent on each sports event also differs immensely.
Cross Country
Runners in cross country races only compete for a single race per category. Hence, there’s a shorter competition, no matter the distance.
Track
Track running events, on the other hand, takes longer since there are various events that players participate in.
5. Training
Both cross country and track require intensive training so that the runners can handle the actual race challenges and succeed.
The mental strength of all the runners is essential for both sports. However, they each have different training strategies.
Cross Country
In cross country training, all runners follow the same workouts, primarily because they will run on the same racecourse.
They usually train in natural surroundings similar to the racecourse where they will compete.
Cross country runners train their minds as much as their bodies so that they can conquer the uneven racecourse while maintaining a steady running pace.
Track
In track training, runners keep their focus on reaching their time goals and enhancing their specialties.
Track runners train to build their endurance to conquer different race distances.
FAQs
1. Which is better cross country or track?
This question will get a mixture of answers as runners will prefer one from the other.
In the end, it would really depend on the athlete’s preference.
For cross country athletes, leg speed is not as important as a strategy while handling all the racecourse obstacles.
As athletes admit, it’s hard to master cross country running since racecourses differ in every competition.
Track runners, on the other hand, specialize in a particular category and do specific training to master it.
If an athlete wants to excel in a particular sport, they will consider track better than cross country.
It would also mean that they only compete with players that are as skilled as they are.
2. Is cross country harder than track?
The simple answer to this question is yes.
As we have been mentioning, cross country racecourses differ in every event, thus making it harder to maneuver and complete.
3. Why cross country is the hardest sport?
In cross country races, athletes compete as a team. However, every member needs to exert individual efforts to complete the race.
Never knowing what to expect as you start the race adds to this sport’s challenge and excitement.
Track vs Cross Country
So, what is the difference between track and cross country? A lot. We have discussed different aspects of each sport, proving that running is their only similarity.
Whichever sport you choose between cross country vs track, we all know that they all require endurance and speed.
Now that you know how they differ, perhaps you’re interested in learning which is better between trail running vs road running?