Off Season Base

 Hopefully you've seen the blank spreadsheet for winter mileage and are ready to start filling it up.  

After a LOT of thought about where the season went sideways for us, I've come to the conclusion that we went too hard, too early, with too little volume.  This left us aerobically weak when we needed to be strong.  It's my goal to get you guys to: 1) continue to develop as runners and 2) get ready for a good track season.

Please check the attached template for winter training.  Before you jump right in, let me summarize.

For the month of December

• Build to your peak mileage of your previous peak +5mpw at the very least, try to reach that for the last week of December.  If you can comfortably do it for the last two weeks, even better.
• Run ONLY 1 HARD WORKOUT PER WEEK.  This could be a tempo, or small dose of CV intervals.  Don't let the hard effort be the enemy of building your volume backup.
• Build back up to a 90 minute long run.  You might need to start back at 60-70 min or you might be OK to jump back in at 90 right away, if you keep the pace relaxed
• Run sprints once per week and strides one or two more times on top of that.  
• Keep all of the running at a VERY comfortable level.

For the month of January and February

• The emphasis remains on keeping the volume high
• We'll bring in a second "workout" per week
• Workouts will be kept UNDER CONTROL.  No more racing in races that aren't races!
• We'll try to hit 2 x 3 week blocks of peak volume.  The intensity will need to be kept very reasonable in order to do this 

First race is at the end of February.  I would hope that you come into that race a little better than you were at our 6 minute test last August

End of the Year Award Ceremony

 Dear Cross Country Parents

It has been my privilage and honor to coach your kids this year.  I'd like to celebrate our accomplishments this season with our year end awards night at HHS.  This year, things continue to be different than normal. Once again, we will not be able to meet with all of the other sports in the theater for our all sports awards.  Instead, each team will do their own thing.  

Our thing will be to meet under the covered picnic area at 6:00 PM on Thursday, November 18th.  I'd still like to do a potluck, so that we can enjoy some food as well as fellowship with each other one last time for the year.  Please see the list below for dish assignments

If your last name begins with:

A-G: Bring a main dish (enough for 6-8 people)

H-O: Side dish (pasta salad, green salad, etc...) (enough for 6-8 people)

P-R: Dessert (enough for 12-15 people)

S-Z: Drinks (enough for 12-15 people)

Dear Cross Country Athletes

I've had so much fun coaching you guys this year.  Your energy and enthusiasm is one of the things that makes me look forward to coming to work each day.  Good luck in your winter sports, if you're doing them.  If you're not doing a winter sport, enjoy some time off.  I intend to start more formalized training after Thanksgiving break.  

You must return your uniform, all 6 items, at the awards banquet.  Please do not make me come to your house to drop you for push-ups ;)

Coach B

Sign Ups Needed, Playoff Snack Bar

 Hi Team.

I know a few of you have indicated that you will be able to help in the snack bar for the football playoff game on 11/12.  Please put your names down on the sign up genius list.  

Supercross Volunteer Sign Ups

 Hi Team.

Our main fundraiser of the year is the Hughson Supercross Invitational.  We are in the 15th year of the meet, and it's grown every year thanks to the efforts of scores of volunteers.  This year we have 43 schools signed up to attend and we cannot make this meet happen without your help!

Please see the sign up genius below and slot yourself in where your talents best fit.  If you want to help, but don't know what to help with, don't worry, we've got a spot for that too!

Homecoming Snack Bar Sign Ups

 Hi Team.  It took me a while, but I've figured out how to set up a "sign up genius" account.  Please click the link below to sign up for the snack bar at the homecoming football game on October 8th.  

You can choose to sign up for the first shift (4:30-7:00 PM)  or the second shift (7:00 - 9:30 PM)  or both.  We are looking for 10-12 people for each shift and your help will be greatly appreciated!

Fun Stuff from the Week That Was

 After almost 2 years away, we finally got back to a somewhat normal cross country situation.  We had our league opener on Wednesday 9/1.  Varsity Boys won handily and Varsity girls were second behind defending section champion, Ripon.

We didnt' run at the site of 30+ years of TVL competition, Legion Park.  We instead had decided to move to River Bluff Park, in Ceres, but a fire on the flooplain rendered the park unsuable, so we made a quick move to Hilmar High School

Results

Photo Album

Saturday morning, our varsity crew got together for a 70 minute hard run.  The amount of progress these kids have made over the past 2 years, has been really fun to be a part of and one of the few bright spots during these crazy times.  It's hard work, like you can see in the video below, that has allowed the improvement.  

Picture Day Coming Up (9/15)

Hi Team.  Team picture day is comnig up, Wednesday September 15th.  We will probably end up taking photos around 3:00, but be ready to take them earlier if the opportunity arises.  

This year, we will have the option to Order Tickets Online.  If you would like to save time and stress on picture day, I highly recommend you take this option.