Fan of the Sport!

There are times when I hear our athletes say, "Nobody appreciates (or recognizes) cross country (even when we have won 2 state championships, 2 city championships and numerous regions and sectional championships"). Well so what!

Especially when I meet with the few of my team members showing up for practices this past week.

And what's so special about this week (and last)? Well... IT'S THE OLYMPIC TRIALS!!!

I come to practice to discuss the results, but no one has a clue (Galen Rupp beat Lagat after losing to him 12 times previously, and running a 52 second lap in the process!!!). No one at NPA has ever run a 52 second lap... alone!

The best story so far was Julia Lucas's 4th place finish in the women's 5K (or should I have said, "sad story?").

Never mind that Lomong qualified... who on the team noticed?

My point. BE A FAN!

It's a truly wonderful sport!!! If you can't. I'm sorry and my coaching is somewhat lost on you.

If you want to glance at why our sport is the greatest, check this out:

http://www.letsrun.com/

Schedule for June 28th — July 5th

All practice times are from 9 AM to 10:30, unless otherwise noted.


Thursday, 6/28
Meet @ Buffalo Park
Stanfords

Friday
Ft. Tuthill
We meet at the Ramada just north of the tennis courts.

Saturday
Meet at Wheeler Park

Sunday
On your own (please run, as Wednesday is our normal built-in day off)

Monday
Sunset Trail
We'll drive there (Schulz Tank located @ Schulz Pass) in the school van.
Those living on the east side of town meet at NPA, and those on the west side meet at Late for the Train on Ft. Valley Rd (Hwy. 180).

Pick up at 11:30

Tuesday
This will be a very easy run.
Let's talk about were to hold this...

Wednesday
4th of July
We typically do the "Four on the Fourth" Run, which begins at Thrope Park.
Race starts at 7 AM.
Details to follow.

Thursday
Off (since we ran on Wednesday)

Practice 6/21 to 6/26

Thursday, June 21st

9:00 AM

Buffalo Park

Pick up at 10:15

Friday, June 22nd

Campbell Mesa

Same times as above

Saturday & Sunday -- On your own

Monday, June 25th

Meet at the "Y" (intersection of Schultz Pass and Elden Lookout roads

Same times as above

Tuesday, June 26th

Meet at NPA

Same times as above

First Week on Unofficial Practice; Beginning May 29th

We'll begin our "unofficial practices" on Tuesday, 5/29th, and we'll go Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday (maybe) of this first week.

After school practices run from 3:30 (meet in the fitness room), and will end at 5 PM (parents, please pick up you son at that time).

Questions? Email me!

WELCOME!

NPA Cross Country Team

The last time the boy’s team won the 1A State Cross Country Championship and again in 2005 (after having won the championship the year before as well). Two seasons ago the boys team failed to qualify for the state championship, but last year finished as State Runner’s up. Ideally, the team’s goal should be to do better, or realistically do no worse. To do either, we’ll need to be dedicated.

Here are some thoughts:

• Having a success fall depends on what you do this summer;
• You cannot be successful if you do not put the miles in over the summer;
• Championships are won during the summer – NOT in the fall!

To prepare for summer training you should:

• Run at least six times a week. I can meet with you three or four times a week. I will put the times of the practices (starting at 9:00 AM) and places we will meet on the NPA Cross Country Web Site: http://npatrack.blogspot.com/

• The first day of “unofficial” practice will be Tuesday, May 29th;

• Keep a “running log” of all your runs.  They should record the total time of the run, the approximate mileage, how you felt, and the total miles for a seven-day week – use Monday to Sunday.  You should see a 5% to 10% increase in your running “mileage” from week to week.

• Buy two pairs of training shoes (alternating pairs) and a watch with a chronograph (stop watch – the Timex Ironman is one of the best and cheapest and can be purchased at Walmart or Target);

• Plan on running the Hospice Downtown 10K on the June 26th if you are in town;

• Camp in Blue?

When the official first day of practice begins (the first Monday of August) have the follow:

• An up-to-date physical on file with the office;
• Pay Ms. Sommers your athletic dues;
• Come to practice every day – once the season becomes “official”.  Please tell your family to go on family vacation before this time – the season has started!

Thank you for your interest.

M. Elder

email:  melder@northlandprep.org

cell:  380-6287

Practice Schedule for the week of 4/16 - 4/20

Monday
Hard track workout
2x 600 (hard 200, cruise 200, hard 200);
2x 1000 (hard 400, cruise 200, hard 400);
600 (cruise 200, hard 200, cruise 200)
1000 (cruise 400, hard 200, cruise 400)
2 miles cool down

All pick-ups @ 5:30, except where noted.

Tuesday
Recovery Day -- Medium distance, drill, Stanfords

Wednesday
Off -- for all that ran both Saturday and Sunday... suggest that Nick and Jon run.

Thursday
Medium distance followed by 5x200s

Friday
Big Warm-up
Pick-up at 5:00

Saturday
Glendale Invite

Here's who's running what:

800
Andrew
Nick
Dom
Grace

3200
Cullen
Rachel
Andrea
Chelsea

Running events start at 1 PM, and that's all the schedule states. I've sent an email to the meet director to ask if he knows approximately what time the 800 might begin (so we don't have to be there for hours and hours before the start of our event). I have a feeling that it's going to be very hot down there).

Sedona Results

Note: Four Pr's out of seven is better than average.

800 meters
Keven 2:30.61 (2nd place)
Andrea 2:40.47 (4th place)

Andrew 2:09.02 (4th place)
Jon 2:13.38 (7th place)

1600
Grace 6:19.43 (9th place)
Chelsea 6:51.91 (15th place)

Cullen 4:44.84 (3rd place)

To check standings in Division 4 go to:

http://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/Division/Top.aspx?DivID=32791

In the top right, see, "Report Filters & Help" click on that button and then under "Filters" scroll down to desired number.

As of this posting:

For the boys (top 25):

Andrew Jacobs is ranked,
9th in the 800 meters (2:09)
19th in the 1600 (4:51)
9th in the 3200 (10.28)

Dom
6th in the 1600 (4:41)
5th in the 3200 (10:14)

Jon
25th in the 800 (2:13)
11th in the 1600 (4:43)

Cullen
14th in the 1600 (4:44)
14th in the 3200 (10:39)

For the girls:

Keven
4th in the 800 (2:30)
2nd in the 1600 (5:29)
1st in the 3200 (11:59)

Andrea
12th in the 800 (2:40)
9th in the 1600 (5:53)

Grace
19th in the 1600 (6:16)