Most sports teams get to travel, but no team does it quite like cross country. Forget simple bus rides to the next town over, Verrado’s runners pack their bags for adventures that start before sunrise and end in unforgettable memories.

Sure, they’ve raced through the pines of Flagstaff and tested their legs on Gilbert’s rolling grass hills, but nothing compares to the biggest event of the year: the Woodbridge Cross Country Classic in California.

This isn’t just another Saturday meet. It’s a massive festival of running—15,000 athletes, 15,000 fans, and a park filled with food trucks, bounce houses, a carousel, even a hot air balloon. It’s the Super Bowl of high school cross country.

The trip starts early—4 a.m.—with the team loading onto a charter bus bound for California. By the time they arrive at their hotel that evening, there’s just enough time for Panera, some hotel exploring, and then a walk through Woodbridge Park, where they set up camp alongside 30,000 other runners and spectators.

“It was a very fun time,” said Jeremiah, a Verrado freshman. “Most of the team hit their PRs, which was so fun. There’s a lot of stuff to do, even after racing, and so many people, so it made it a lot [more fun]. Overall, it was just a good time.”

The races go on well into the night, with the last groups finishing under the glow of stadium lights. But when the running ends, the celebration keeps going. Runners mingle with teammates and competitors, swap stories, and dive into everything the event has to offer, from carnival rides to late-night food truck runs.

The fun doesn’t stop after the meet, either. The next day, Verrado’s squad heads to a museum, spends time swimming back at the hotel, and dresses up for a team dinner.

“I love the Woodbridge trip, it’s my favorite every year,” said Hannah, a junior. “It’s so fun. The team always gets so close.”

By the time the bus rolls back into Verrado early Sunday morning, the runners are exhausted, but with memories that make every mile worth it.