By Gavin Kentch
Last weekend, Kendall Kramer competed in a collegiate xc (running) race for the final time. In advance of NCAA D-II Cross-Country Championships in Sacramento, the University of Alaska Fairbanks senior posted to Instagram, “Cross country is just magic. Such simple yet incomparable joy it’s brought to my life, along with many best friends. Best decision I ever made was to pick this up. One last run this Saturday at 10:15am AK time.”
Twenty minutes later, Kramer crossed an xc finish line in a team suit for perhaps the final time. The Fairbanks native has always been a prodigious runner; she claimed the Alaska state xc title her final three years of high school, finishing “only” second her freshman year. On the track, she took the 1600m/3200m double at state track and field championships three times as well. She runs with grace, with joy, and with ferocity.
You can of course run for your entire life. And I guess that Masters Club XC, or some such, is technically a thing. But, as Kramer frankly notes, “Absolutely nothing can recreate XC, as it’s really a young person’s sport, mostly practiced in high school and college.”
I want to turn the floor over to Kramer here. I had asked her for comment on what this last race meant to her. Her response is a love letter to the sport that imho should be read by anyone who appreciates the line from Once a Runner, “You can remember it, he told himself, but you cannot experience it again like this. You have to be satisfied with the shadows.”
Here’s Kendall:
“Cross country has been a definitive experience of my life and it makes up a lot of who I am as a person and what I value. I was a runner first and got into skiing and I feel XC culture defines me as an athlete and I carry it into skiing, as opposed to the other way around. I think Rosie [Fordham] feels the same way. I know a lot of readers of the blog maybe don’t have a concept of running as a sport, or don’t care haha, but I do have a lot of relevant contrasts that make the combination of both so special in my life and make it so i can’t imagine doing one without the other.
“I have always appreciated the simplicity of running, and especially with my participation in skiing, the simplicity comes as a breath of fresh air. You can bring a duffel bag with (maybe) two pairs of shoes, a few shorts, some tank tops, and that’s all you need. Half of skiing is your equipment and that is part of the job, but I don’t enjoy how it un-simplifies things. Running makes you feel so free and unleashed, like anything can be explored without confines.
“XC is so time-efficient too (intervals done within an hour as opposed to 2+ in skiing) which leaves more time for academics, chores, recovery, team bonding, relationship maintenance, etc… This is also a refreshing component I am craving come fall time when life is a whirlwind of due dates and responsibilities.
“I also obviously feel it makes you just as fit as skiing can, but I know others might [object] to that statement…
“All this being said, and my point, is that a lack of XC racing will leave a hole in my heart, and I will have to adapt training and mindset to the lack of contrast in proceeding years, after always being a dual athlete. But I hope to fill the gap with professional ski racing or perhaps trail and mountain races. Absolutely nothing can recreate XC, as it’s really a young person’s sport, mostly practiced in high school and college. Beyond that is only track or road racing which is much more serious. The culture is full of genuine friendships, trying to be as goofy and get into as much (well intentioned) mischief as possible, being miserable constantly alongside a great group of people, experiencing much-desired runners high that bonds you with those people, and being well-rounded individuals.
“I am so proud of the growth of the XC team at UAF, as it’s a standalone program now, separate from the ski team, while also fostering top-tier dual athletes (Tabby [Williams], Rosie and I as examples) and it was a ton of work to get it to that point. Anyone in Fairbanks can attest to the amazing progression these last few years. I’d like to recognize Coach Conrad’s unwavering faith in us and strength to get over all the obstacles Fairbanks throws one’s way.
“So, on the start line, I was so so happy to be participating in it and soaking it all up one last time. Its absence will be missed, to understate it, but I hope to carry on and recreate everything that makes it so special and heartwarming in other activities in my life, and skiing :)”
