Could Be Wet

Since the weather forecast looks a bit iffy for this afternoon, it's probably a good time to talk about being prepared for practice. Here are a few things to bring, to be ready for practice:

1) Water! We have repeatedly pointed out that everyone should have a water bottle at practice. We have found that we can't count on water supplies being available at Webster Park, or even at the high school!

2) Watch! I still don't know how some of you know how to do a 10-minute warm-up without a watch. Based on the +/-50% arrival times after a warm-up, it could be that people run around counting 1-Mississippi, 2-Mississippi or something. Many of our runs could be done free of a watch. For example, yesterday's workout involved a fixed route, and there was a great deal of leeway regarding pace, so no watch could work (although, personally, I like to know my pace, since, coupled with how I feel, I can learn a lot about how my body is recovering from workouts).

3) Wearables! Extra stuff is often needed. Today, that could mean something dry to wear after getting rained upon (perhaps the storm will miss us). In the not-too-distant future, we will have our first chilly day and several runners will be unprepared and freeze during stretching. So, extra stuff should soon include sweats, perhaps including a wind/rain-resistant top.

4) Willingness! Make sure your mind is ready for the workout each day. A positive attitude can make the workout go much easier. We are off to an excellent start, so even the newcomers should find things much easier over the next couple of weeks, as we continue our build-up to racing season efforts.

5) Wit! Have fun out there. OK, perhaps the coaches occasionally scold disruptive behavior at inappropriate times, but Cross Country should be fun. Most of our running is of a social nature - in groups, at a comfortable enough pace that you can chat. Sure, we do toss in some work that makes it difficult to breathe, let alone talk, but most of the miles are much easier than that.