Picture this: West Campus at night –it’s dark, fans are everywhere, food trucks line the parking lot, and cross-country teams are running all around. Exactly what happened on October 8, when the cross-country team held its annual night race at West Campus.
The night race is something the cross-country team always looks forward to. Whether it is the large crowd cheering them on or competing at West Campus under the lights.
Lake Forest proudly hosts the night race every year, with this year being the 5th, and cross-country runners were so thrilled about it. It is 2 miles under the lights, held at Lake Forest’s West Campus, and around 15 teams in the area competed in this race.
For most runners, this event is the highlight of their season. Senior Jocelyn Lam competed for the last time and explained why it stands out for many of the team members.
“Everyone is super hype, and you tend to run much faster because of all the cheering,” Lam said.
There are friends, family members, and supporters cheering the race on, which brings a new type of energy for the team to run with.
Many people love to watch the race, but it is also so popular because of the food trucks and the atmosphere around. Some of this year’s food trucks included Cluckers and Icees.
This will be the seniors’ last time running the night race. Senior Lila McBean reflects on how meaningful it has been in her past four years.
“The bitter-sweetness is there,” McBean said, “It’s an amazing way to end your senior season.”
Another exciting aspect of the race is that the runners can dress up.
What makes this race stand out for the runners is the playful energy. With most dressed up, whether in face paint or a costume, it feels more like a celebration than a competition.
Senior Holden Lersch explains how he enjoys this aspect of the night race.
“My favorite part of the race is dressing up and getting to wear goofy outfits,” said Lersch.
It’s truly a race like no other, and many celebrate another year of this fun LFHS tradition, and most runners are gearing up for next year’s race.
