Maybe more like, "stress fracture." But yeah, there's stress.

Becoming a successful cross-country athlete means that you have to be extremely disciplined, both physically and mentally. Not everyone is cut out for this kind of stuff. (That's why we write for Shmoop.)

Seriously, cross-country runners face constant pressure to keep getting faster. Additionally, running is a seriously time-consuming activity; it's often difficult to fit enough trail time into an already-busy school schedule to really cut it. Cross-country running is not for the faint of heart.

Literally and figuratively.