Ever dream of reliving the cross country glory days or wished you had the chance to experience it? Nows your moment to shine! The Southern Tier Cross Country Series is your ticket to fun, camaraderie, and the thrill of racing in the Greater Binghamton, NY area. Round up your squad of 5 to 20, sign up, and dive headfirst into a world of team scoring, dirt, and pure adrenaline! You dont have to be the fastestjust ready to have a blast!

Presented by Confluence Running Events, the Southern Tier Cross Country Series brings the spirit of cross country running to the community like never before. This is your chance to compete, connect, and create unforgettable memories, no matter your age. Dont miss out on the pulse-pounding excitement of real cross country racing!

NOT A SPEED DEMON? NO WORRIES! We reward both elite finishers and those who simply love being part of the action. Every team memberwhether you're fast or steadyearns points, making sure everyone gets in on the fun!

What's the Hare you keep hearing about? An actual rabbit (man-rabbit, it you will) that takes off ahead of the field and hides on the course. Come up with your strategy for catching him, because he can be awfully mischievous. Catch yourself a carrot from the Hare, and you gain yourself a position point in the standings for your team. Watch for other fun ways to earn yourself a pie (yes, literally) and a point.

THE JOE REYNOLDS POSITIVE VIBES AWARD We lost our friend and long time STXC runner, Joe Reynolds in 2021. Joe brought a lot to each cross country race, season after season, and we can't let his impact on all of us go unrecognized.Each week, a headband will be awarded to a participant who has positively impacted and put out good vibes to the race as a whole. The following week, you'll be asked to wear it proudly as you have the honor to carry Joe's spirit with you that week.

THE CINDY BILSKY LOYALTY AND FAITHFULNESS AWARD - TBA - Cindy Bilsky was a beloved regular, not just at our cross country series, but in our running community for the past decade. Cindy was always at (almost) every event, whether running or volunteering you'd see her cheerful face and hear her wry humor. Tragically Cindy was lost to us in 2024. In her honor we present to you the Cindy Bilsky Loyalty and Faithfulness Award. Details of the award will be announced soon.

YOUR REGISTRATION INCLUDES:

* every race in the series
* post-race refreshments including coffee, bagels, water, and more
* the chance to win pie (duh)
* exclusive shirt
* A race bib that you use again and again through the entire series
* exclusive team-based running fun to keep you going into the fall!

2026 RACE DATES. (ALL RACES HAVE A 9:00 AM START TIME) - WE WILL POST THEM AS WE GET THEM!

Race 1 - September 27th Owego Free Academy Course.
Race 2 - October 3th (SATURDAY) Dave Panella (Lion's Club Park, Greene)
Race 3 - October 18th - Marathon Invitational (TBC)
Race 4 - October 25th - Hickories Park (TBC)
Race 5 - November 8th - STXC Championships - Chenango Valley State Park

"WHAT IS CROSS COUNTRY, EXACTLY?" YOU ASK?

Cross Country, or "XC" as lots of people like to call it, is a dynamic and challenging sport that combines endurance running with the natural terrain of the great outdoors. Unlike track or road running, cross country races take place on varied landscapes, including grass, dirt trails, mud, hills, and sometimes even through wooded areas on single track trail. Our courses are usually between 3 and 4 miles long

In cross country, athletes race against both the clock and their fellow competitors, often in unpredictable weather conditions that add to the sport's intensity and fun. Our races are team-based, with team scoring playing a crucial role. In team competitions, the finishing positions of the top five runners from each team are added together, with the lowest cumulative score winning. This format encourages camaraderie and teamwork, as every runner's performance contributes to the team's overall success. This means you're getting a much more unique experience than your typical road 5k!

Cross country is a sport that emphasizes grit, determination, and a love for running in its purest form. It's not just about speedit's about how well a runner can navigate the ups and downs of the terrain, push through physical and mental barriers, and work together with teammates to achieve a common goal. Whether you're a seasoned runner or just starting, cross country offers a unique and exhilarating experience that connects you with nature and the thrill of competition.

WHAT IS CROSS COUNTRY SCORING?

For an answer to this, we're going to refer you to this blog which gives you an easy to understand description of typical scoring:

click here [https://www.confluencerunning.com/blogs/running-tips/how-cross-country-scoring-works?fbclid=IwY2xjawTUnBVleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFzRzhhZ05nc2RLWGdzQllSc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHnE497OhaUQQT3V09EQvhVp1cAJgQ8LH5EnOPMknHDlqDWY6obVkKWE9MOhu_aem_xTCWelEGKiTS6hvtqR73dA]

That's not the whole story for us, however! We split the points out for a men's and women's division as well as a mixed division. We have other awards (like pie), but our team scoring is based on typical cross country scoring, within each meet. That said, our Seasonal Scores are based on those as well as pie points, and some points based on place of your team per each race and your team attendance per race! Literally every team member matters toward your Season Score and the opportunity to win for the season!