As the sun set into the horizon at Rim Rock Farm on Sept. 6, life at the farm was at its high as coach Steve Heffernan and his cross country team held their annual overnight campout — a tradition that blends season preparation with team bonding. 

The campout helps Heffernan get the Rim Rock course ready for college and high school competitions whilst also giving the opportunity for his cross country runners a chance to team bond.  

“[The camp] was so much fun. I think we’re all really happy, and it was cool that we got to see each other in that setting,” senior varsity runner Elle Cormaney said. “It’s really fun to be able to see your teammates in all different moods and settings of that sort … It brings a lot of joy to everyone.”

After arriving at the farm and setting up their campsite, the team ran around the course as their practice. Afterwards, Cross Country members pitched in to rake leaves, hang banners and put up flags, ensuring the course was race ready. 

Cormaney appreciated the break from the pressures of racing and tiresome practices, viewing the campout as a unique chance to connect with her teammates on a personal level. 

“It’s the biggest team bonding [event] that we could possibly do … Instead of seeing our teammates in a climate where we’re in a lot of anxiety surrounding races and in practices where people are tired or just trying to get through it, the campout is entirely for fun,” Cormaney said. “Having that environment is key to team bonding and to bring us closer together, and it also mixes up the groups more and separates us from our usual cliques within the team.”

Team bonding activities at the campout were plentiful. Runners got to participate in a scavenger hunt where they were tasked with taking pictures around the farm to eventually craft a story from the pictures they took. The team then held their traditional spaghetti dinner to end the night.

After a night under the stars, the team woke at 6 a.m. for the camp’s most anticipated event: a challenging 10-mile run back to town, where a well-earned team breakfast would be waiting. 

According to senior varsity runner Dylan Mackie, the opportunity for the team to have an annual camp-out at a prestigious cross country course is truly a unique experience that no other high school cross country program in the country has ever done. Additionaly for Mackie, the run back to town was the highlight of the camp. 

For Mackie, this campout held extra significance, marking his final year with the cross country team. He said that he will miss the culture that he has seen fostered during his time on the team. 

“With it being my senior year, the whole experience felt more sentimental,” Mackie said. 

For Heffernan and these runners, the campout is more than just an annual tradition; it is a shared experience that strengthens the bonds between the runners, setting the tone for the races ahead and creating cherished memories for long after the season ends.