Meets & Trails!

This Week's Schedule:
09/27 - FCA meet at Southeast Christian Church

09/28 - practice at Beckley - creekside parking lot for trail running (see 9/19 blog post for directions)

10/01 - Capitol View meet in Frankfort

What a great afternoon for racing yesterday!  The weather was perfect.  Many hustled to the course immediately from school and the last race finished just as the sun set!  Congratulations to all the runners for once again giving it your all on the course AND keeping up with your studies.  Last night many runners of all ages were at the meet from 3:40-8:00pm.  Wow, you are fast AND smart.  Incase, no one has told you lately, you are amazing and your families are amazing for  helping you grow in to such a well-rounded person.  You are such great role models for other HLS students, your siblings, and parents.

Clothes:
Fall weather means faster times, but not cool enough to add layers.  Don't overdress your runner just because you are feeling a little cool standing sideline.  Runners will warm up as soon as they start moving.  Have your runner layer up before and after the race, but only uniforms are appropriate for races this time of year.

Fuel:
Don't forget to stay hydrated on race and non-race days!  If you need a pre-race snack idea try a combo of two of these: grapes with pretzels, goldfish with apple slices, peanut butter on celery and whole wheat crackers, trail mix & dried fruit or clementines.  Save the protein bars and power drinks for after the race.

Trail Run!

This Thursday's practice will be trail running at Beckley!  Oh yeah!  Therefore, let's meet at our creekside parking lot spot ... like last year.  For new families, that's the first RIGHT after you enter the Shelbyville Road park entrance at Beckley Creek Parkway across from Valhalla Golf Course.

The parking lot cannot be seen from Beckley Creek Parkway.  Here's what you are looking for as you enter the park ...

1.  You will see a parking lot and bathroom facilities on your left
2.  Then, you will see a large pond on your left
3.  Just past the pond is a very small parking lot on your left with a trailhead
4.  DIRECTLY across from this area is a road on your RIGHT that takes you down a hill.  TURN RIGHT HERE ... this will lead you to a large parking lot and where everyone will be waiting for you.

Tip ... there is only a porta potty a this parking lot, therefore if your runner has to use the restroom, use one before you come into the park or use the facilities that you will pass upon entering Beckley.

Mom's & Dad's - we will need trail angels to stand along the path to encourage our runners and to insure safety while in the woods.   This is very very easy & you can even take your little ones to watch.  All you have to do is stand along the path and count the kids as they go by.  If you are willing to help out, please contact Coach Wigginton directly via e-mail (twigginton@thelatinschool.org) or at Tuesday's practice.  Thanks to you we may offer these super fun and shaded practice courses to our runners!

Safety Reminder: Parents of 2nd graders or younger, it is your responsibility to watch your child at ALL TIMES during practice.  So that we may continue offering the program to such a large range of runners, we need for parents to continue to be involved and constantly watching your little ones.  We are only about a month away from State, therefore the coaching staff needs to concentrate on the workouts for our team and keep the pace moving.  Thank you so much for your understanding and support.

Team Picture - Tuesday!

Jennifer Bowen will be taking Cross Country team pictures at the beginning of practice this Tuesday (9/20) at 4:20pm.  Meeting place - same as always in Seneca Park.  Runners are to wear their HLS XC uniform for pictures, then practice in them.  No long-sleeved or short-sleeved t-shirts under your uniform tank top.

Luck of the Irish be with You!

Next up ... Trinity Shamrocks & Sacred Heart Valkyries host our meet this Friday at Tom Sawyer

One change from last year ... ADMISSION

$5 a person (children 8 and under are free). On Friday night only, we offer a family package of $10 a family.

SO very proud of your runners this evening at Hite.  That course is lots of fun, but the gradual hill is not.  Every runner faced the course with determination.  Couldn't be more proud to be a Highlander at the meet no matter what place they ended up in.  Our runners are awesome!  We really tested their endurance with some of those race distances tonight, but it proved to be the right decision for many.  Way to stick with it kiddos.  Your times are improving every single meet.  Be proud of yourself!

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Double Time It

Yes, it's our double meet week for some XC runners!  The 2nd-5th runners will be competing in the Hite Invitational on Wednesday.  Then, ALL runners will be competing on Friday at the Trinity/Valkyrie Invitation.  Very different races ... Hite is a very compact course with a bunch of runners and shorter distances.  Trinity Invite is a large course with tons of competitors.

Yes, there is still practice this week.  This is a good time for a shake down and get loose run.  Should you have any specific meet questions for coach, this is a great time to ask them.  REMEMBER water at practice today to drink & pour over the runner's heads ... supposed to be HOT!!  That goes for every day this week ... hydrate hydrate, hydrate .... it will help with their times and comfort when racing!

HITE Updates: Parents there are many "slight changes" that were sent to coaches over the last 24 hours.  Check out the meet information on the right of blog.  Most important ... this meet is based on rolling starts, therefore each race does not have an exact start time.

TRINITY: More details on right side of blog under 'Trinity'.

Ready to Rumble!

Next race - this Saturday - Rumble through the Jungle.
Show & Race times are posted on the right side of the blog.  Once I receive the meet roster, I will add the runner's names to the meet information on the right.

Looks to be great weather again this weekend!
Admission - NEW THIS YEAR - $5 per person (5 & under free)

Course maps for Saturday's race -
3000m - 7th & 8th graders
2000m - 6th & under
3rd map - overview of all the courses (includes high school run in the AM before our children). 

Notice where spectators may and may not view the race.  Only coaches are allowed back in to the woods.  Besides runners, there are sufficient meet volunteers and coaches back in the woods to monitor the races.  It will not be that your runners will be alone by any means.  Plus, the fun part about this race is MUSIC to get the runners excited and pumped up as they run along.

2nd Meet - This Saturday

What wonderful weather we have in store for us tomorrow at the Shelby Co. Invitational XC meet!  Check out the race logistics and directions on the right side of the blog.  Remember that "show time" means what time you show up at the team tent to prepare for the race.  Then, there is a "race time".  This time is actually when your child races.

Don't forget to wear your team uniform and bring your water bottles to stay hydrated.  No sleeved shirts under your uniform.  They all have to match, so don't forget your sunscreen.  You are welcome to wear anything over your uniform before and after the race.  It's just during the race that all have to match.  

Good luck runners!

Following are the course maps for you to review, print out to discuss with your runner, and know where to position yourself to cheer on the team!  The first is the 3000m (3K) course & the second is the 1600m (1 mile) course.  To determine which course your child will be running, look at the meet logistics on the right & it specifies how far each age group will race.