I’ve been running cross-country for four years now, but this is the first year I’ve exerpeince lower back pain. What can I do to avoid this? One of my teammates said it could be posture, but now says my posture shouldn’t be triggering lower back pain. What could be causing this, and what can I do to avoid this?

Try putting some padded insoles (Dr. Scholl’s or something similar) in your shoes. A lot of back pain can be traced back to your feet and how they are landing. You probably will benefit running in shoes that are specifically designated as "cushioned." Go to www.roadrunnersport.com for information on which shoes are well cushioned.