About East Community Cross Country

Amy Purevsuren and Geoff Wright started ECXC in 2026. School teams cover the racing seasons, cross-country running in the fall and skiing in the winter, and the summer in between is the athlete's problem. Anchorage's two big clubs, APU Nordic and Alaska Winter Stars†, train right through it, five or more days a week, and that coaching is worth every penny for the families who can manage it. Many can't. So we organized a free summer program. Volunteers coach three mornings a week, post workouts for the days between, and run a camp in July.

Group practice is Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings, June 1 to August 19. We run and do strength work most days, and some days the mountain bikes or roller skis come out. Monday is at East High; the other days we meet at Hillside, Kincaid, Bartlett, or out on the Chugach front range.

In late July the whole team goes to a lake near Talkeetna for four days of camp. The training page has the times, the gear list, and sign-up.

Anyone entering 9th through 12th grade, plus graduates home from college for the summer. You don't have to be a skier; runners and athletes from other sports train right alongside. Some kids here are chasing Junior Nationals or Arctic Winter Games† spots, and some have never followed a training plan. The groups are sorted by pace, with an adult to run or ride with each one, so nobody is left chasing the fast kids.

Training and camp are free, and money never decides who joins. Families who want to give can; donations buy gas, campground nights, and shared gear, and outfit athletes who need skis or a ride. If cost is in the way of anything, tell a coach. We won't ask about your finances.

Adults make this work, drivers most of all, since practice moves between trailheads. The Volunteers page has this summer's coaches and the jobs we need filled. You don't need a coaching certificate or a ski background.