School budget woes have caused some transportation policy changes in Webster. We can no longer take buses to meets outside of Section V, and we had three such meets scheduled this year: the State Meet preview race at VVS, the East Aurora Invitational and the Bulldog Invitational at Alden.
I won't go into the strangeness of allowing a 2 hour trip to Addison in Section V, but not allowing a 70 minute trip to Alden.
However, it looks like the restriction on coaches and parents taking athletes to meets will be lifted. So, we will be looking to see if a "car pool" approach may work, to keep some of these meets on our schedule.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
No End In Sight
It looks like, while the extreme heat from last week has subsided, the hot weather will stick with us for a while. And, as an added "bonus", we may actually see some rain (which is good) in the form of thunderstorms (which is bad). These facts provide a great opportunity for a couple of reminders.
First, stay hydrated - all day, every day. The "camel strategy" does not work very well for runners!
Second, our running camp follows the national federation of high school sports guidelines, so activities will be halted for a minimum of 30 minutes if we have lightning or thunder during camp. We are fortunate in that Webster Park has a number of shelters to ride out a storm, if necessary. Do avoid the open fields and tall trees.
First, stay hydrated - all day, every day. The "camel strategy" does not work very well for runners!
Second, our running camp follows the national federation of high school sports guidelines, so activities will be halted for a minimum of 30 minutes if we have lightning or thunder during camp. We are fortunate in that Webster Park has a number of shelters to ride out a storm, if necessary. Do avoid the open fields and tall trees.
Friday, July 22, 2011
It's So Hot...
...that I discovered our hot water heater is actually cooling the water!
Well, maybe that's an exaggeration, but those brave souls that attended XC Camp yesterday found that the plentiful water pumps at Webster Park can really come in handy. With the temperature north of 95 degrees, caution was the order of the day. The runners were reminded that in conditions like this, which can even occur during the early part of XC season (as opposed to the low 30s that can be experienced at the end of the year!), hydration is something to think about all day long.
With the heat expected to remain high (but not back above 95) for the next few days, running early in the morning is the best option, followed by re-hydrating all day long. Also make sure that any runs of over 30 minutes include a place to stop for water.
Stay cool, y'all!
Well, maybe that's an exaggeration, but those brave souls that attended XC Camp yesterday found that the plentiful water pumps at Webster Park can really come in handy. With the temperature north of 95 degrees, caution was the order of the day. The runners were reminded that in conditions like this, which can even occur during the early part of XC season (as opposed to the low 30s that can be experienced at the end of the year!), hydration is something to think about all day long.
With the heat expected to remain high (but not back above 95) for the next few days, running early in the morning is the best option, followed by re-hydrating all day long. Also make sure that any runs of over 30 minutes include a place to stop for water.
Stay cool, y'all!
Thursday, July 21, 2011
1, 2, 3, 4, 6
Webster Schroeder XC alumni swept the top 4 spots in the 19 & under category at last night's Dirt Cheap Trail race at Mendon Ponds Park. Geoff Kelly, Nate Lyons, John Wiseman and Joe Makowski led the youngest age group in the challenging run. And current runner, Zach Lyons grabbed 6th.
Geoff and Nate actually finished 2-3 overall in the race, which featured a "time trial" or staggered start, to allow the runners to safely start the race heading down the stairs towards the Devil's Bathtub. Nate was the very last starter, of the 239 finishers, and spent the whole race passing people as each runner had started 5 seconds apart.
Complete results are available here.
Geoff and Nate actually finished 2-3 overall in the race, which featured a "time trial" or staggered start, to allow the runners to safely start the race heading down the stairs towards the Devil's Bathtub. Nate was the very last starter, of the 239 finishers, and spent the whole race passing people as each runner had started 5 seconds apart.
Complete results are available here.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Excuses, Excuses
Man, you go away on vacation for a week and it means that you have to work extra hard the week before and the week after, just to avoid falling way behind. On top of that, you come back to work and have to deliver a release in two weeks, on a newly assigned project. No wonder I haven't had time to breathe, let alone post here!
Well, anyway, XC Camp got underway last week, with two productive sessions. It looks like there were a lot of vacations going on, as more than one-third of the registered campers were no-shows. That was the bad news. The good news is that attendance at the Captain's practices has been extraordinary! Mondays at Ellison Wetlands seems to be the run that everyone loves to hate: bugs and hills. Wednesdays have been at North Ponds (does the world get much flatter than that area?), while Saturdays have been the longer runs in good old Webster Park.
Five more weeks of camp will take us right to the start of the season, when things will really happen quickly.
Oh - and one reminder: tomorrow night is the next edition of the Dirt Cheap Trail Series, this one at Mendon Ponds Park. The past two years this has been conducted via an "interval start", 5 seconds apart, as the course starts off down the stairs into the Devil's Bathtub. It is rumored that Nate Lyons, just back from Poland and Finland, will be making an appearance.
Well, anyway, XC Camp got underway last week, with two productive sessions. It looks like there were a lot of vacations going on, as more than one-third of the registered campers were no-shows. That was the bad news. The good news is that attendance at the Captain's practices has been extraordinary! Mondays at Ellison Wetlands seems to be the run that everyone loves to hate: bugs and hills. Wednesdays have been at North Ponds (does the world get much flatter than that area?), while Saturdays have been the longer runs in good old Webster Park.
Five more weeks of camp will take us right to the start of the season, when things will really happen quickly.
Oh - and one reminder: tomorrow night is the next edition of the Dirt Cheap Trail Series, this one at Mendon Ponds Park. The past two years this has been conducted via an "interval start", 5 seconds apart, as the course starts off down the stairs into the Devil's Bathtub. It is rumored that Nate Lyons, just back from Poland and Finland, will be making an appearance.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Captain's Practices
The captains of next year's XC team met last night, and decided on days, times and locations for Captains' practices. They will not all be at Webster Park! They will start on Monday (June 27th), so expect an announcement very soon.
And I know you will all be disappointed, but it looks like the weight room hours will be cut out this summer. But have no fear, we will add extra strengthening exercises during XC camp!
Speaking of camp, get out there and register at the Webster Parks and Rec department. It can even be done online at this site. The cost is only $30, not the higher amount listed in the program guide. The camp is on Tuesdays and Thursdays from July 12th thru August 18th (then practice starts on the 19th).
And I know you will all be disappointed, but it looks like the weight room hours will be cut out this summer. But have no fear, we will add extra strengthening exercises during XC camp!
Speaking of camp, get out there and register at the Webster Parks and Rec department. It can even be done online at this site. The cost is only $30, not the higher amount listed in the program guide. The camp is on Tuesdays and Thursdays from July 12th thru August 18th (then practice starts on the 19th).
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
First Day of Summer
For those of you that have been "resting" since track ended, what better day to start Summer Running than the first day of summer? Today is June 21st; the first day of practice is August 19th. That means there are 59 days until practice starts. Make a goal today! Here are some suggestions:
1) A good, old-fashioned mileage goal. For a brand-new high school runner, that may be 175 miles or 200 miles. For a more experienced runner, that may be 350 miles (I would recommend the top goal would be 400 miles).
2) A goal to run a particular number of days: 50 is not only a nice, round number, but it happens to allow one day off per week between now and the first practice. I think all returning runners could have that as a goal. New runners may want to shoot for 40 (allowing a second day off per week).
2a) Your goal could be to complete a set number of runs, rather than days. This is useful for those of you that may want to do an occasional double (a future topic that will be covered). 59 runs in 59 days is achievable for returning runners.
3) A goal to have a particular weekly mileage by the end of the summer. New runners could aim for a 30-mile week; veterans could shoot for 50 (even 60, if you are prepared). Note that you cannot make a big jump to hit the final total - my recommendation is to increase mileage by no more than 10% per week, and to increase no more than 3 weeks in a row (2 for beginners) before backing off for one week.
4) A goal to increase your long run until it is a certain distance (6 or 7 miles for rookies, up to 12 or 13 miles for older kids). Again, this needs to be done gradually - rarely should you add more than a mile to your longest run, and don't increase your long run more than 3 weeks in a row.
These are just some examples. There are limitless possibilities - figure out what motivates you to get out the door in the summer, and set a goal that will promote that motivation.
1) A good, old-fashioned mileage goal. For a brand-new high school runner, that may be 175 miles or 200 miles. For a more experienced runner, that may be 350 miles (I would recommend the top goal would be 400 miles).
2) A goal to run a particular number of days: 50 is not only a nice, round number, but it happens to allow one day off per week between now and the first practice. I think all returning runners could have that as a goal. New runners may want to shoot for 40 (allowing a second day off per week).
2a) Your goal could be to complete a set number of runs, rather than days. This is useful for those of you that may want to do an occasional double (a future topic that will be covered). 59 runs in 59 days is achievable for returning runners.
3) A goal to have a particular weekly mileage by the end of the summer. New runners could aim for a 30-mile week; veterans could shoot for 50 (even 60, if you are prepared). Note that you cannot make a big jump to hit the final total - my recommendation is to increase mileage by no more than 10% per week, and to increase no more than 3 weeks in a row (2 for beginners) before backing off for one week.
4) A goal to increase your long run until it is a certain distance (6 or 7 miles for rookies, up to 12 or 13 miles for older kids). Again, this needs to be done gradually - rarely should you add more than a mile to your longest run, and don't increase your long run more than 3 weeks in a row.
These are just some examples. There are limitless possibilities - figure out what motivates you to get out the door in the summer, and set a goal that will promote that motivation.
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