ABOUT

North Idaho Distance Project

A Legacy of Success

North Idaho Distance Project, formerly known as North Idaho Cross Country (NIXC), is a club designed for the encouragement and development of our local youth running community.  Throughout the 18 years this club has been in operation, we have focused on creating an environment that not only enhances running ability but instills ownership, responsibility, and commitment in our athletes. It also creates bonds between our youth runners that can only be found amongst endurance athletes. With that in mind, those same principles have also helped us find enormous success during our competitive season on the national stage, with our athletes achieving 75 All-American Honors, four individual National Championships, four Team National Championships, and four National Top-Three team finishes. Most recently winning two team titles and 5 All-American Honors at the National Championships in 2022 held at College Station, Texas.

Timeline

• North Idaho XC (NIXC) was founded in Coeur d’Alene, ID in 2005 by Mark Curtis.

• Coach Erin Lydon Hart assumed the role of Head Coach of NIXC in 2015.

• Coach Emry Carr, with assistance from Dave & Tom Dance, assumed the role of Head Coach in 2021.

• North Idaho Cross Country becomes North Idaho Distance Project in 2022.

National Headlines

• Youth Runner 2021Youth Runner : TRIUMPH IN A SEASON OF UNCERTAINTY (2021)

• Youth Runner : INSIDE THE NORTH IDAHO XC TEAM (2019)

Our Approach

As our club has evolved, we’ve expanded our program to include a summer session open to competitive runners as well as kids 7-14 who want to explore running.  In 2022, we had over 110 local youth register for our summer program and we will continue to focus on building that program's success. 

Since our inception, the goals of the program have not fundamentally changed:

•  Provide opportunities for youth in North Idaho to improve their running and fitness levels beyond the limited school seasons.

• Prepare committed youth for competitive racing season, specifically on USATF Junior Olympics, ensuring local talented runners have an opportunity to compete at regional and national levels.

• Nurture mental, emotional, and social benefits of running through a positive individual and team approach, with life skills that extend beyond the running program.

Programs

Summer Program (Ages 8-14)

North Idaho Distance Project has two phases to its annual program.  The first is a summer program that is inclusive and accessible to youth runners in the area who seek to improve their fitness, refine their running technique, and are willing to be challenged and supported by a USATF-level 1 coach. This program includes a variety of workouts (3x/week) focused on endurance, speed, agility, and strategy, with team-building activities. 

North Idaho Distance Project Team (Ages 8-14)

The second phase of the program, the competitive racing season, follows the schools’ cross country season and is specifically designed to prepare the youth runners for local, regional, and national USATF races. For youth runners, USATF association, regional, and national cross country races are primary pathway to run competitively in their age groups, and can ultimately lead them to a national stage for college recruiters. Runners in the summer program who demonstrate interest, commitment, coachability, and running fitness are invited to join the racing season, led by a volunteer USATF-level 1 coach.

High School Program (Ages 15-18)

Starting in the 2022 Season, North Idaho Distance Project will be adding a 15-18 year old program. This program will be focused on competing in the Nike Cross Nationals competition. Nike Cross Nationals is an invitational cross country meet that serves as the unofficial team national championship of United States high school cross country. Sponsored by Nike, It was designed to heighten competition between high school cross country teams nationwide. NXN was formerly a part of the Nike Nationals Series, which included national events for indoor and outdoor track before New Balance became the sole national championship events for track and field. This program will be offered for all local athletes (ages 15-18 years of age) who are interested in competing at the national level. Teams will be 100% determined by coaches based on times, work ethic, potential and desire. If you are interested in participating, please contact us to inquire about practice times, eligibility, and cost.