Keep in mind, however, that the plan is tentative. Be ready to change it whenever you need to during the race. Finally, examine the finish area very carefully. I depend on my kick, and because I do, I need to become familiar not only with the run into the finish but with the approach as well. Often runners think they're farther or closer to the finish than they actually are.
Many courses wind around in the woods with just a quarter mile to go.
However, there s no excuse for not knowing how far you are from the finish line if you've arrived at the meet in time to scout out the course. Knowing these points will help you to judge your kick properly. Remember, cross-country running is a thinking person's sport. Successful runners not only out-train their opponents, they outthink them as well.