One of the funnest parts of being a coach is organizing the “just for fun” days for our athletes. Most of these guys and girls run hard through the season, and they need a break every once in a while. it’s nice to offer them one.

In this spirit, the coaches work together to stage a yearly “fun run”. We split the runners up into teams for a scavenger hunt. The scavenger hunt calls for things that can easily be acquired on a run around town: a Dunkin’ Donuts coffee cup, a WaWa stirrer, ice from the skatium, etc. At special stations, runners have to work as a team to complete the challenge.

The kids really got into this year’s fun run. They dressed up for the challenge with all the pageantry of mardi-gras celebrators; one team wrapped themselves in caution tape, another dressed up like ninjas (even the guys in black spandex), and so on. These teams, mostly comprised of people who wouldn’t associate with each other in class or sit together at lunch, were united in foolishness.

And it was great to see. Bonding exercises do wonders for a cross country team. Each athlete naturally associates with their speed group (after all, they spend so much time together), but we want to promote a team mentality. Things like the fun run work wonders to this end. After all, these aren’t college runners; we can’t count on them bonding over strong drink.

I had expected the fun run to be a bittersweet experience; it’s not too long ago that my teammates were painting my face while I pulled on knee-high red socks. But there was no nostalgia in me as I ran my bubble-blowing station. I found myself deeply pleased to watch the kids have so much fun. The spirit of the fun run lives on.