cross country | Dartmouth Folklore Archive

General Information about Item

Informant Data:

JN is a ‘24 on the Dartmouth Cross Country Team from Massachusetts. COVID has definitely impacted his time on the team, but he says he is very excited to learn more about the team’s traditions and culture.

Contextual Data:

Cultural Context: Much like in other sports, XC teams can arrive to the place of competition early and get some reps in. For XC, it is important to get a lay of the land as to avoid any surprises during the actual competition.
Social Context: This superstition is passed down from the older runners to the younger generation as they are warned about the bad luck that could befell them if they were to not abide by the rules of the superstition.

Item:

On the day before a race, while the team is running through it, they do not cross the finish line.

Associated Audio Recording:

Informant’s Comments:

You only want to cross the finish line once, because that makes it “count.” If you cross it any other time, it would lead to bad luck during the race.

Collector’s Comments:

I had a very similar superstition when I was in High School. I played football, and would avoid going onto the field the day before a game because I felt that I might “leave it on the field” too early and play bad the next day.

Collector’s Name:

Title: Setting Watches for Dartmouth

General Information about Item:

Informant Data:

SW is a 20-year-old male Dartmouth student in the class of 2023. He was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. Seth is a member of the Varsity Cross Country team at Dartmouth. Seth’s father also ran Division I cross country at Duke University before going on to complete three marathons in his 40s. Seth has also spent time on the Varsity Track & Field team at Dartmouth. Seth is a Religion major who hopes to pursue consulting after graduation.

Contextual Data:

Cultural Context: Cross Country races are 8km for men, and 5km for women. All runners start at the same starting line, lined up by team. Because of this, they have ample opportunity for team bonding, last second words of encouragement and strategy all the way up until the starting gun.
Social Context: This specific pre-race chant was the first thing Seth mentioned when talking about pre-race superstitions. Seth said this was a call and response chant – the captain would issue a call, to which the rest of the team would shout the response in unison for good luck into their race.

Item:

Associated file (a video, audio, or image file):

Transcript:

“Men of Dartmouth set a watch, lest the old traditions fail is the last thing we say to each other before the gun. This photo is taken moments after the call and response, right before we are taking off. I like the chant, it reminds me where I am, to be proud of what I have accomplished, and to go out and make the history of Dartmouth and former Dartmouth runners proud”

Informant’s Comments:

I love it. It reminds me that I am part of something much bigger than myself. This has been a Cross Country team staple for decades.

Collector’s Comments:

I found this pre-race chant to be very interesting, especially after my informant told me that it makes him feel special to be a part of something much larger than himself, and bringing him into hallowed history of Dartmouth athletics.

Collector’s Name:

Jack Cameron

Dartmouth College

Russ013 21F

Prof. Apresyan and Prof. Gronas

Dartmouth Folklore Archive