NIKE XC Newsletter, #TheJourneytoCompete, A cross-country newsletter, Issue 14, January 9, 2026

#TheJourneytoCompete: Your NIKE cross-country newsletter, Issue #14,

January 9, 2026, Special Edition: Welcome to Tallahassee 2026!

#TheJourneytoCompete is a celebration of all things cross-country and a collaboration between #NIKErunning and #RunBlogRun. We will publish #JourneytoCompete weekly, on Fridays, from October 10, 2025, to January 16, 2026! To subscribe, send an email with your email address to runblogrun@gmail.com. We will sign you up! We will post archived copies of the NIKE Newsletter at runblogrun.com and RunningNetwork.com.

Happy New Year from NIKE and RunBlogRun!

The World Cross Country Championships is Saturday, January 10, 2026. The entire series of races will be shown on #Peacock, the streaming service of #NBC.

Here is the World Cross Country Championships schedule,

Eastern Time Zone:

9:45 a.m.: Mixed relay

10:20 a.m.: U20 Women (6K)

10:55 a.m.: U 20 Men (8K)

11:35 a.m.: Senior Women (10K)

12:20 p.m.: Senior Men (10K)

1:00 p.m. World Championships Medal Ceremony

2:00 p.m. Worlds Fun Run (including youth, community and high school runs)

Watch for stories and social media at RunBlogRun.com, X @runblogrun, Instagram @runblogrun and Facebook.com/runblogrun!

Deep thoughts from Steve Prefontaine, Quote #14

Steve Prefontaine was an important ingredient of NIKE’s brand success. The late, great American distance runner (1951-1975) held American records from 2,000 meters, 3,000 meters, 5,000 meters, and 10,000 meters. He also had ARs at the English distances of 2 miles, 3 miles, and 6 miles.

In his only Olympic race, the 1972 Olympic 5,000 meters, Steve Prefontaine fought bravely but was caught by the hard-charging Ian Stewart (European champ, Commonwealth champ), finishing 4th to Stewart, Emiel Puttemans in silver, and Lasse Viren in gold.

Steve Prefontaine was devastated after his Olympic race. But, as all champions do, Steve dusted himself off after a night commiserating with Dave Bedford and ran fearlessly in 1973-1975.

Steve loved cross-country, winning 3 NCAA cross-country championships, leading his team, Oregon, to victory in 1973. Use that as inspiration as you race, cheer on, and view the US Club Championships (January 11) and World Cross Country (January 10).

And our quote from Steve Prefontaine for week 14:

"Success isn't how far you go, but the distance you travel from where you started." ~ Steve Prefontaine

Steve Prefontaine and Bill Dellinger, photo by NIKE communications

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW on The Tallahassee 2026 WORLD CROSS COUNTRY Championships (January 10, 2026)

Jacob Kiplimo, photo by World Athletics

Uganda's Jacob Kiplimo and Kenya's Mixed Relay team seek third consecutive titles in Tallahassee

This is Justin Lagat's preview of the 2026 World Cross Country Championships, to be held on January 10, 2026 in Tallahassee, Florida.

Marta Aleymo, photo by World Athletics

Kenya's Dynasty Faces a Challenge as Tallahassee Prepares to Crown a New Queen, by Deji Ogeyingbo

Jacob Kiplimo, photo by Clay Shaw for Race Results Weekly

Why the Men’s World Cross Country Race in Tallahassee Could Shape an Era, by Deji Ogeyingbo

This is Deji Ogeyingbo's feature on the Men's race coming to Tallahassee, Florida on January 10, 2026! This is the world cross country champs!

The World Cross Country is coming to Tallahassee! by Jeff Benjamin

Weini Kelati wins US Women’s 10k, photo by Track Town, USA

Weini Kelati and Parker Wolfe leads U.S. Cross Country Championships

Senior Men’s Preview, World Cross Country, by Jon Mulkeen for World Athletics

Jacob Kiplimo, photo by Dan Vernon for World Athletics

WXC Tallahassee 26 senior men's preview: History beckons as Kiplimo and Aregawi renew rivalry | News | Tallahassee 26 | World Athletics Cross Country Championships

The anticipated clash in the senior men's race could stand up as one of the most compelling distance races of the entire year.

Agnes Ngetich, photo by World Athletics

Senior Women’s Preview, World Cross Country, https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-cross-country-championships/tallahassee26/news/preview/world-cross-tallahassee-26-u20-womens-preview, by Jon Mulkeen for World Athletics

World Cross Country history lesson: World Champions from the US!

Doris Brown-Heritage won FIVE consecutive International Cross Country titles! 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, and 1971!

Here’s Two great stories on Doris Brown-Heritage:

1. Doris Brown Heritage Wins “The International” in 1967 (Her First Title), by Walt Murphy, photos by World Athletics

2. Doris Brown Heritage and roots of World Cross Country, by Deji Ogeyingbo, photos by Jeff Johnson, curated by Walt Chadwick

In celebration of the 2026 World Athletics Cross Country in Tallahassee, RunBlogRun is posting a story on the iconic Doris Brown-Heritage, who won 'the International", the title for the World Cross Country Champs prior to 1973, when the I.A.A.F. established their Championships.

Craig Virgin won World cross country titles in 1980 and 1981!

Here is his story on Craig Virgin’s World Cross Country wins!

March 28, 1981-Almost 45 Years After Craig Virgin’s 2nd Win at World Cross-Country! by Jeff Benjamin, photos by World Athletics

Lynn Jennings with Judi St. Hillaire, 10,000 meters, 1992 Barcelona, photo by USOPC

Lynn Jennings won the World Cross-Country in 1990, 1991, and 1992! Read MORE on her story!

art by NIKE (Weiden & Kennedy), photo by USOPC

"Become One with the Mud!": The Legacy of Lynn Jennings in Cross-Country! by Larry Eder

This is our homage to Lynn Jennings, three-time winner of World Athletics Cross Country Championships, plus Olympic bronze medalist at 10,000 meters and nine U.S. Cross Country Championships!

The 2025 NIKE Cross Nationals: All you need to know on that amazing day of cross-country!

Here’s our link for the photo galleries for the NXN Boys Champs, NXN Girls Champs, and our story, COMPETE! on what happened at NIKE Cross and what it means! Jackson Spencer and Natasza Dudek qualified for the World Cross Country Junior races!

Just prior to the Boys start, NXN 2025, December 6, 2025

photo by Brian Eder @CameraAthletica

The 2025 NIKE Cross Nationals, All You NEED to KNOW (results, photo galleries, stories, geek stuff) on the 20th NXN (December 6, 2025)!

This is the complete coverage by RunBlogRun on the 2025 NIKE Cross Nationals, which was held on December 6, 2025!

The BIG STORY: Janet Bristol, An American cross-country star

This is the amazing story of Janet Bristol, who ran in the 1970 World Cross Country Championships! An amazing story!

Janet Bristol, 1970 New England AAU Cross-Country, photo by Jeff Johnson, used with permission, curated by Walt Chadwick.

From the RunBlogRun ARCHIVES:

The Roads Not Taken: The Untold Story of Janet Bristol, one of America’s most promising distance runners, a story by Rich Englehart with photos by Jeff Johnson, used with permission; curated by Walt Chadwick.

Nike PLMs Patrick Richie and Natalie Kile, artwork by Mike Deering @TheShoeAddicts for RunBlogRun

For Shoe Geeks Only (Clip): A Look at the NIKE DragonFly XC 3, #JourneytoCompete - runblogrun

This is the clip on the NIKE DragonFly XC 3, featuring Patrick Ritchie and Melanie Kile, PLMs on Track & Field and Track & Field and Road Racing, respectively.

Want to see the new NIKE spikes offered for January 2026?

Want to know about the hottest track spikes from NIKE?

#ForShoeGeeksOnly, What Did the Elite Wear in Tokyo, and what are the special launches for November and January from NIKE? Check this out!

To learn about NIKE Pegasus, NIKE Vomero and NIKE Structure PLUS, plus other fine NIKE running shoes, please go to www.nikerunning.com.

Learning from NIKE athletes…

#TheJourneytoCompete: Ten Athletes Talk Cross-Country, Tips from the Nine athletes from the SWOOSH Track Club (Flagstaff) and their guest, Moh Ahmed! by Larry Eder

Parker Wolfe, photo by Track Town, USA

All ten of these interviews were done on November 22, 2025, in Mesa, Arizona with the Swoosh Track Club at the NIKE Cross Regional Southwest.

Moh Ahmed, photo by Kevin Morris for NIKE Pre Classic

Learning from NIKE Coaches…

Juli Benson, artwork by Mike Deering @theShoeAddicts for RunBlogRun

Three Big Tips from Coach Juli Benson

Juli Benson’s journey from a 400-meter runner to an Olympic 1,500-meter competitor was marked by many challenges, as with most athletes. During much of that time, Juli wanted to be a coach, a vocation which she pursued with vigor! Listen to her story and learn from her suggestions!

1. The Journey to Compete, NIKE NIL Coach Juli Benson, Clip #1, Discussing the Mistakes Often Made in the Mile Race by High Schoolers, https://www.runblogrun.com/2026/01/the-journey-to-compete-nike-nil-coach-juli-benson-clip-1-discussing-mistakes-often-made-in-the-mile-race-for-high-schoolers.html?swcfpc=1, by Larry Eder for RunBlogRun

2. The Journey to Compete, NIKE NIL Coach Juli Benson, Clip #2, Discussing the Best Way to Recover for a High School Athlete: Rest and Hydration, https://www.runblogrun.com/2026/01/the-journey-to-compete-nike-nil-coach-juli-benson-clip-2-discussing-the-best-way-to-recover-for-a-high-school-athlete-rest-and-hydration.html, by Larry Eder for RunBlogRun,

3. The Journey to Compete, NIKE NIL Coach Juli Benson, Clip #3, Discussing Her Approach to Tempo Runs for High School Athletes, https://www.runblogrun.com/2026/01/the-journey-to-compete-episode-1-nike-nil-coach-juli-benson-clip-3-discussing-her-approach-to-tempo-runs-for-high-school-athletes.html?swcfpc=1, by Larry Eder for RunBlogRun

The #JourneytoCompete is a newsletter celebrating cross-country for high school athletes and providing weekly updates on the NIKE Cross Nationals and NIKE running shoes.

#TheJourneytoCompete, a NIKE Cross-Country Newsletter, Back issues 1-13:

NIKE Structure Plus

artwork by Runnerspace/NIKE

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