The alarm blares at 5 a.m., marking the start of the day for Texas High’s early-rising cross-country runners. She laces her running shoes and prepares for another long, taxing practice. Freshman Gracie Gibbs starts on the trail with her team, only thinking of bettering herself and her team.

“Gracie Gibbs is a great kid,” cross country coach Danielle Aubrey said. “She never complains, she always works hard. She is exactly what you would want as an athlete.”

Coming into high school as a freshman, people struggle to find a place they can call home. For Gracie, she found a home swiftly, continuing into cross country from her middle school and childhood years. 

“I run cross country because I’ve always enjoyed running since I was little,” Gibbs said. “I started running cross country in middle school, and it was always just fun for me.”

With the team spending so much time together, the dynamic between teammates grows past more than just an athletic program but a family.

“My favorite part about cross country is probably the people and practices,” Gibbs said. “We all talk to each other while we run, it’s like we are all suffering together. It sort of takes some of the pain away.”

With most practices beginning at 6 a.m., going in with a happy mindset is difficult. The team focuses on making their good energy. 

“We make our practices very upbeat,” Gibbs said. “Everyone encourages everyone, there’s never any negative energy. No one judges anyone. Whether you’re slow or fast, someone will be right there cheering you on.”

With any sport that has pros, of course, come the cons. For Gracie, meets stir up emotions that are difficult to settle.

“My least favorite part about running cross country is the nerves I get for meets,” Gibbs said. “They don’t go away until the race is over and I cross the finish line.”

Any sport is mentally taxing. Running, though, pushes your body to different levels, and there are no timeouts to clear your head if you get in a bind. It’s just you, your mind, and the trail until the race ends. 

“I try to stay mentally tough through races by just thinking about the fact that everyone is going through the same thing. It’s not just me,” Gibbs said. I try to focus on how I can get better compared to everyone else. It’s like I make it a competition in my own head.”

Cross country is more than just running, it’s heavy on the mental aspect of life. 

“Running cross country helps me in more than just athletics, but in life in general. Running is so hard because you always want to stop,” Gibbs said. “In cross country, you have to just tell yourself why you’re running and remind yourself who you’re doing it for. That’s helpful in life to keep pushing yourself even when you’re down or tired.”