Please Click HERE For the 2018 Laker Loop Registration! 

SLXC 2017

“…But these people raised me
And I can't wait to go home.
I'm on my way,
I still remember these old country lanes
When we did not know the answers

And I miss the way you make me feel, and it's real,
We watched the sunset over the castle on the hill.”
                                 -Castle on the Hill, Ed Sheeran

As I walked our course today and as I looked over the SLXC Shoe Tree this song came over my phone. How profound it was to hear these lyrics as I studied the names scribbled on each of the shoes above. 

So many stories. 

So many memories. 

So many amazing kids, now adults, off to their new adventures. I laughed with them their under that tree. Thought about the tough times and how it made us stronger.

These people raised what means to be a part of SLXC and I am so proud.

To come home to SLXC.

_______

A new season. New stories. New memories.

New amazing kids ready to make their own chapter in this tradition.

The start of a new season can bring excitement, joy, happiness. It can also bring nervousness, tension, and can be a little scary. All of which is normal and if the names on these shoes could tell you, what it was like and what it meant to be a part of SLXC, only joyful anticipation would exist.

I am so proud to call SLXC my home.

I am so proud to be called your coach.

Let’s make SLXC 2017 the best yet.

2017 Laker Loop Challenge

-Please click HERE to sign up for the 2017 Laker Loop Challenge!

Welcome to SLXC 2016
It is an exciting time to be a SLXC runner and we look forward to you being a part of the family.

2016 Information Packet - Link
2016 Summer Training Guide - Link
2016 Welcome Video - Link

SLXC High/Middle School Team Day

  After a speed workout...

  We got to have some fun.

SLXC Scavenger Hunt

Team Name: "K"
Team Animal: Schwein
Team Color: Schwarz

 -Team Hugging largest tree

-A pet

 - Everyone reading books

- A coach 

-Team replicate a statue figure 

Team Name: Creamy Mac and Cheese
Team Animal: Tookie the Shetland Sheepdog
Team Color: Chartreuse

 -"I can't believe we fit in here!"

-Someone with a mustache 

-Team hugging a tree

-A person who is 4'11" or shorter
 

-A pet 

Team Name: The Left Hands
Team Animal: Narwhal
Team Color: Red and Grey

-Team hugging a tree 

-Team members on a slide 

-"I can't believe we all fit in here!" 

-Someone with a mustache 

 -Team replicate a statue figure 

Team Name: Tye Dye
Team Animal: The Phoenix
Team Color: Mac and Cheese Yellow

 -Make yourselves appear really small

-Everyone reading books 

-Team hugging a tree 

-Team members on a slide 

-"I can't believe we all fit in here!" 

Team Name: Fluffy Bananas
Team Animal: Chinchilla
Team Color: Blue

 -Team hugging a tree

-"I can't believe we all fit in here!" 

-Someone with a mustache 

-Team replicate a statue figure 

-Team members on a slide 

Team Name: Burger Hammocks 
Team Animal: Walrus
Team Color: Egg Shell White


-"I can't believe we all fit in here!" 

-Team members on a slide

-Someone with a mustache 

-A person who is 4'11" or shorter

-Team hugging a tree 

 -Doing exactly what a sign says. 

Hard to believe but we are only a week and a half away from the 2015 season. This should be a time of great excitement and continued work with summer training.

Training, continue with it!

I call these the "dog days" of training. This is when you mentally and physically can loose a little focus on your running for a variety of reasons. Just know that this is common and you will soon break away and get a "refresher" once the season has started. Please note, NEVER try making large margins of mileage up at this time. Follow your guide and do not force or make up for lost days. We are closing into the season and doing this could lead to injury. If you need to get started, you have this week to get into motion. It's not too late, get running!

Gearing Up for the Season

Shoes: The few days or so might be a good time to get your season shoes. If you have purchased shoes in the last few months you should be okay. Some of you have put this off until the season to begins. Its actually a good thing to buy them a few weeks before the season starts to break them in on your own. Remember, good socks are just as important!

Wrist Watch: Required and must be worn to practice every day. It is a valuable training tool and one you will feel comfortable using. It need not be expensive. I suggest a simple Timex with "chrono" mode. Be a student of the sport, use a watch!

Water bottle: A well hydrated runner is a smart runner and the easiest way to do this is to have your own water bottle. Please do not share water bottles with others to help prevent sickness throughout the season. START DRINKING WATER THIS WEEK AND NEXT, it can take up to 24 hours to fully hydrate runners.

Get iron in your diet:  Young women runners are especially susceptible to anemia, a condition characterized by low iron levels. Consult a doctor if supplementation is the preferred option.  Most iron supplements should be taken with orange juice to speed absorption. Here is a great supplement with Vitamin C (Rite Aid and others carry this).

Important Dates

Ice Cream Social: Saturday, August 8th 12pm-1pm. Please make this fun event, its a great way to meet the team, share any tips, answer any questions and it involves ice cream!!

Practice: The 2015 season begins on August 12, 8:00am at the middle school track.

SLXC Camp: August 19-22. Leelanau Outdoor Center. Explore their site here.

Last Minute Jitters
 

I haven't heard back from many of you. I am hoping this is simply due to jitters and not that you feel cross country is out. If you are feeling this way, contact me immediately! This is something that the majority of new runners have. Please understand that even if you haven't put all the mileage which you wished to put in you have a week and a half until practice starts to get back into motion. Do not overlook this!  

I have shared this in the past but it gives you an idea of what lies ahead for you at SLXC. She decided to finally come out for cross country as a junior...after two years of asking her to. Look it over and give it some thought. 

Dear Coach,

I've started this letter more times than I'd like to admit. There's so much to thank you for...I just don't know where to start. Thank you for persistently pestering me to join cross country. Without that extra little push, I may have never been part of this incredible close running family. Thank you for pushing me and making me work harder than I have ever have before. Over the season I began to look at our tough workouts differently - instead of a punishment, I viewed them as a challenge - and that helped me to excel farther than I'd hoped...you made running crazy workouts fun.

You made us a family....

-Anna

Be a part of this amazing family.