The Final Weeks of Summer

Hard to believe but we are only a few weeks away from the 2014 season. This should be a time of great excitement and continued work with summer training.

Training, continue with it!
If you began in June you currently should be in week seven of your training. 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.

Gearing Up for the Season
Shoes: The next week 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.


Important Dates
Parent's Meeting: We will have a parents meeting in my high school room 605 on Wednesday, July 30th at 7pm. This should be seen as a priority where we will cover a lot of information. If your parent's have any questions or conflicts please contact me. This would be a great time to have your parent's bring camp checks of $180.

Ice Cream Social: Saturday, August 9th at noon. 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 2014 season begins on August 13, 8:00am at the middle school track.

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 three weeks until practice starts to get back into motion. Do not overlook this!  

I just read the following letter (for the first time) today from a graduating senior who 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 Huizenga

Be a part of this amazing family.