Before the stampede of tweens rounded the track, Coach Matthew Moore explained the goals of Monday’s practice. The idea, he said, was to get used to running two miles continuously, something that was new to many of the middle-schoolers on the cross-country team.
But, as with many activities for 12- and 13-year-olds, some of the kids’ reason for circling the track was hanging out with friends as much as running.
Source : thewashingtonpost