When you spend most of your time analyzing charts, writing code, or building pitch decks, your physical endurance can easily take a backseat. That’s exactly why I signed up for the Cross Country run. I knew I needed an Activity experience that would force me away from my screens and push my physical limits.
Interestingly, they called it a single “Cross Country” event, but it was actually structured as a grueling, multi-stage marathon series: a 5 km run, followed by a 3 km run, and capped off with a final 3 km run. Running 11 kilometers total is one thing, but breaking it up into three distinct stages completely changes the mental and physical game.
Stage 1: The 5 km Reality Check
The first 5 km was all about pacing. It’s easy to let the adrenaline take over at the starting line and sprint out of the gate, but I had to constantly remind myself that this was only part one. This stage tested my ability to self-regulate. I had to find a steady rhythm, monitor my breathing, and make sure I wasn’t burning out my legs too early. It was a strong lesson in identifying my own physical strengths and recognizing my threshold for endurance.
Stages 2 & 3: The 3 km mental battles
If the first run was physical, the next two were entirely mental. Finishing a 5 km run gives you a sense of accomplishment, but knowing you have to step right back up to the starting line for another 3 km—and then another 3 km after that—requires serious perseverance.
During the second and third runs, fatigue really started to set in. My muscles were heavy, and the initial excitement had completely worn off. This is where the IB Learner Profile attribute of being Balanced really hit home. I had to rely on sheer willpower and discipline to keep my legs moving when every instinct was telling me to stop.
LO 2: Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills in the process.
- Explanation: My usual pursuits are highly cognitive and screen-based, making this physical endurance event a significant personal challenge. I had to develop new skills in physical pacing, breath regulation, and energy management to survive the segmented race structure.
LO 4: Show commitment to and perseverance in CAS experiences.
- Explanation: Completing a 5 km run is difficult, but having to immediately restart for a 3 km stage, and then a final 3 km stage, tested my absolute limits. Pushing through the heavy muscle fatigue and mental exhaustion during those final kilometers demonstrated strict perseverance and willpower.
Final Thoughts: Commitment and Growth
Completing this multi-stage marathon was one of the most physically demanding challenges I’ve undertaken recently. Through the lens of CAS, it perfectly demonstrated commitment and perseverance. It’s one thing to start a race; it’s another to restart it twice when you are already exhausted.
This Cross Country series was a stark reminder that growth doesn’t just happen in the classroom or in a robotics lab—it happens out on the track when you decide to push through the discomfort and finish what you started.