Cross Country Newsletter (8/27/2012)

We have now completed our first week of official practice and I look forward to starting our season.   The next few weeks are going to get much busier, first as we get prepared for the start of school, and then when school starts and our lives get busy.  It is important that we work hard over the next few weeks, especially focusing on maintaining a good nutrition, getting enough sleep, and pushing ourselves on our runs.

This Saturday (Sept 1^st) is our time trials.  This is an important meet for several reasons.  First, it establishes our competitive level at the start of the season.  Second, it gives us an idea of who our top performers  might be for the season.   I want to encourage all the parents to come out and cheer the athletes on.   It will be exciting for the first year athletes to run a race and see where they are, and cheering always helps!

WEEKLY ANNOUNCEMENTS:

1)       Time Trials, 7am Saturday Sept 1^st, at Woodbridge High School.  First race at 7:45 am (girls) and the second race at 8:15 am (boys).  Breakfast will follow and a post –race meeting will take place between 9:00 and 9:20 am

2)      Uniform Pickup:  Wednesday 8/29 after practice.  To pick up the uniforms, you need to print out the forms (4 of them)  from the webpage (www.gvarvas.com or www.gowoodbridge.com) and sign.  They can be found on pages 3-5 of the Guide book.

3)      Registration:  If you did not register during the allotted time on Monday for athletes, please go to your registration after practice is over, even if your time is earlier in the day.  Administration has already approved your going to a later time.

4)      Racing Shoes:  If you would like to get a new pair of racing shoes, VS athletics is going to be there on Tuesday September 4^th, I have handed out fliers already, and have more if you would like to take a look.  They are offering some very nice shoes at discounted prices. (This was originally scheduled for 8/28, but they had to move the date).  For workout shoes and apparel, we will have a team night at the Road Runner Sports in Costa Mesa.  Announcements will be forth-coming

5)      Hydration and Eating Habits:  Be smart.  It is going to be hot over the next few weeks, and it is important to be drinking lots of water.

6)      Monday, September 3, 2012 will be a work out day for hill workout at 7:00 am.  It is mandatory for all.  Particulars will be given at the post-race meeting on Saturday.

7)      Tuesday, September 4, 2012 will be a morning workout at 7:00 am at WHS

8)      Wednesday, September 4, 2012 will be an after 5^th period workout day (as will be all the workouts from this point forward).

Good luck at time trials, and with the school year!

Coach Pacheco

Welcome to the 2012 Cross Country Team

Welcome to our 2012 Cross Country Team!!!!!!!!!!  I am looking forward to a fun and productive season.  I enjoy running and I hope that each and every one of you will adopt this activity as a life-long practice.  Please read the quick announcements below as well as all the other information that pertains to the conduct of our sport in the guidebook.  You need to be familiar with and follow all expectations we have of our athletes in order to be eligible to compete as a member of our team:

We have worked hard over the summer to build a strong base for the season.  We should be able to take advantage of this work as we start the next phase of our preparation (developing racing speed).  We are planning to continue our hard work through out the season in order to insure continuous improvement during the season.  Not all of us have that natural talent to run fast right from the start.  Most of us have to work at it.  We are so proud of so many of you for doing just that.  Hard work pays off.

Here is a brief outline of our schedule for the next month:

1. August 12 - August 19:  Mammoth high altitude and hill training camp.  Participating  athletes have been identified.  We expect the remaining athletes to continue with their running  individually or in groups.
2. August 20 to September 4:  (M-Sa):  Mandatory workouts at Woodbridge at 7:00 a.m.  Everyone that plans to participate in cross country for the 2012 season must attend each of the workouts.  The athletes that miss any of our mandatory workouts during the season will be jeopardizing participation in the scheduled meets.  This is a start-up date for all Fall Sports not just CC.  Jobs, Trips, Camps, etc. must not interfere with our start-up workouts.
3. August 20, 2012:  Clearance cards need to have been turned in already to the athletics secretary or brought in that day.  The office will be open at 7:00 a.m.  Every single athlete needs a new clearance card each year.  If you turned in a clearance card starting this June, then you are good for the entire year.  Visit your doctor or visit one of the many local Walk-In Clinics and CVS Pharmacy on Walnut and Culver in Irvine.  Forms can be downloaded from the school web page:  www.woodbridgehigh.org.  The clinics are open on Sat and Sundays.
4. Monday, August 20,  2012:  Mandatory Athlete/Parent meeting at 7:00 pm at the WHS Faculty Lounge.  We will cover all the expectations of our families for the season and review the season.
5. Saturday, September 1, 2012:  Team Time Trials at WHS.  All athletes must be present and participate in this activity (if healthy) in order to participate in the first meet of the season at Laguna Hills Invitational.
6. September 5 to the end of the season:  Meets are scheduled on most of Saturdays.  Please check the schedule on our web page (www.gvarvas.com) for location and other specifics.
7. Uniforms may be picked-up from the equipment room on Wednesday, August 29, 2012, after practice.  Pick-up authorization from the coach.
8. Team lockers will be given out on Tuesday, September 3, 2012 after our practice.  You need to have a school lock in order to be assigned a locker.  Bring in last year’s lock or go to the activities center and rent/buy a lock.  I believe the cost is still $ 5.00 and it must be done in the afternoon.  Bring the receipt.
9. Daily practices, commencing on Thursday, September6, 2012, will begin at 2:25sharp (every day regardless of the weather).  Athletes coming out after this time demonstrate little respect for the coaches and the other team members.

Let’s strive to be the finest and most responsible team member on any cross country team or any athletic team for that matter.  Please turn in all of the items necessary to compete for Woodbridge High School cross country and be the first individual to do so!

Good luck for the season!!!!  We will try our best to make it a fun one and one that will have you run the best you have in you!!!

Coach Pacheco