Race day at a cross country meet is one of the most exciting experiences a young runner can have. For a lot of Memphis families, that race day happens at the Shelby Farms cross country course, where Memphis Youth Athletics holds its fall meets. Whether your student-athlete is lacing up for their first elementary race or chasing a personal best in the 5K, this guide will help you show up prepared, confident and ready to go the distance.
Where Is the Shelby Farms Cross Country Course?
The Shelby Farms cross country course sits inside Shelby Farms Park. It’s the home course for our fall cross country series, so if your kid races with Memphis Youth Athletics, this is where you’ll spend your fall meet days.
The venue rewards smart pacing, pack running and the mentality to keep moving when the race gets tough. It gives student-athletes an honest look at what they can do, and for many of them it’s where their biggest races of the year happen.
Course Distances at MYA Meets
Each age group runs its own course, and every course has marked spectator areas:
- Elementary runners: a 1 mile course (elementary school cross country)
- Middle school runners: a 2 mile course (middle school cross country)
- High school runners: the 5K course, which is 3.1 miles (high school cross country)
Terrain and footing matter more than distance on any cross country course. A dry morning and a wet one can feel like two different races, so finishing times aren’t always comparable from meet to meet.
Parking at Shelby Farms on Meet Day
Parking is the first thing to plan. MYA’s meet day site map shows free parking in two lots, one with about 300 spaces and a larger one with about 1,400 spaces, plus separate coach parking and premium parking. Some areas near the course are marked no parking, so follow the signs and the parking staff.
If you want a spot closer to the action, a premium parking pass is available through RunSignup. Either way, plan to arrive 60 to 90 minutes before your runner’s race so you’re not rushing from the car to the start line.
How Race Day Works
Here’s the short version: arrive early, warm up smart, listen for your race and run it. The first meet feels chaotic. The second one feels familiar. Here’s the flow:
- Set up camp. Teams claim a tent spot, check in and pin on bib numbers. Team coaches often handle bibs, so check with your coach first.
- Walk the course. Coaches walk runners through the turns, hills and finish chute before the race.
- Warm up. An easy jog, dynamic drills and strides about 20 to 30 minutes before the start.
- Line up by division. Races are staged by age group. Listen for your race call and head to the starting box your coach assigned.
- Race. Everyone starts at once, the first few hundred meters are fast and crowded and then the field settles out. Course markings and flags show the route, so stay inside them.
- Finish through the chute. Keep walking through the finish chute, grab water and start an easy cool-down. Then cheer on teammates.
- Awards. Individual medals and team recognition usually follow shortly after the last finisher.
Fluids and cups are set out at MYA meets, and portable toilets are on site. Bring your own water bottle too, since warm-ups start well before the gun.
Where to Watch Your Runner
Each course has marked spectator areas, so stick to those and stay off the running lanes. The start and finish are the busiest spots. If you scout two or three viewing points ahead of time, you can usually see your runner more than once before they hit the chute.
When they pass, cheer effort, not place. “Great arms!” and “Stay relaxed!” land better than “Catch her!” And after a rough race, the best move is usually to hand your kid a snack and change the subject.
What to Pack for Race Day
- Racing shoes, extra socks and a change of clothes
- Warm-up layers and a light jacket or blanket for cool fall mornings
- Water and snacks like bananas, granola bars or pretzels
- A towel, sunscreen and bug spray
- A folding chair, because meets run long
- Your bib and safety pins, if your coach hasn’t handed them out
After the Race
Results from MYA meets are published on MileSplit, so you can look up times and places once you’re home, and race photos land in our SmugMug galleries. Distance runners who want to keep racing after the regular season can look at Team 901, our postseason cross country program.
New to Cross Country?
If your student-athlete is new to the sport, don’t let nerves hold them back. Early in the season, we let performance take a back seat to participation. The goal is simple: give kids a reason to come back, a reason to try again and a reason to keep showing up for fun, fitness and finish lines. For more on what the season looks like, read our guide to middle school cross country for parents.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the cross country course at Shelby Farms?
At MYA meets, elementary runners race a 1 mile course, middle schoolers race 2 miles and high schoolers race the 5K course, which is 3.1 miles. Each course has its own marked spectator areas.
Where do families park for meets at Shelby Farms?
MYA’s meet day site map shows two free lots, one with about 300 spaces and a larger one with about 1,400 spaces, plus coach parking and premium parking. A premium parking pass is available through RunSignup. Arrive 60 to 90 minutes before your runner’s race.
Where can spectators watch the race?
Each course has marked spectator areas. The start and finish are the busiest, and scouting two or three viewing points ahead of time usually lets you see your runner more than once.
Are there restrooms and water at MYA meets?
Yes. Portable toilets are set up on site, and fluids and cups are provided at MYA meets. Bring your own water bottle for warm-ups and after the cool-down.
What should runners bring on race day?
Pack racing shoes, extra socks, warm-up layers, a change of clothes, water, snacks, a towel, sunscreen and bug spray. A folding chair helps on long meet days, and don’t forget your bib and safety pins if your coach hasn’t handed them out.