Monday I flew down to the USTFCCCA meeting. On the flight I had some thoughts about planning, taking and arriving at final destinations as related to being a team member.
I would like to share some thoughts on this as a coach, team member, or recruit and how Mary Baldwin can prepare to be a Championship team in 2014.
Today I will blog on wanting or needing to take a trip.
We are all a long ways from the fall season, but as a coach, returning runner or a recruit we need to make the decision to be a part of the team and start to prepare.
As a coach I am at my annual coaches meeting hearing from other coaches on training practices for distance running. I also have time to chat with coaches across the country and across divisions on how their season went and how recruiting and preparation for next season is going. It helps that I am in beautiful and warm Florida to energize.
As a returning runner, one must make the commitment to run another year now. As a program without track Fighting Squirrels need to train on their own until we begin our non traditional season. You too get the opportunity to talk about your season with family, friends and former coaches over the break. I hope that in your quest to always run faster you take some time to evaluate the season and plan now for a great 2014.
For recruits now is the time to think seriously about where you will spend your college years. I hope that you have found out all you need about Mary Baldwin and our team. Some of you have visited and others will visit in January. The next step after a visit is making a decision and putting down a deposit. To all recruits that I have reached out to I know you could help our cross country program. I also believe that you can get a great education at Mary Baldwin! This is the time for you to get your ticket to college. It is always great to have a ticket bought and start planning for your trip. College is an exciting and important part of your life. I hope that you will soon commit and we can plan together for your academic and running career.
Next Blog - Packing for the trip!
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Monday, December 2, 2013
The DREY report!
Squirrels prepare for winter by hoarding nuts and creating a nest called a drey. They use the good weather to prepare for winter, not knowing if it will be a good winter or a bad winter - but they will be prepared!
Looking back over the 2013 season, I wanted to take a few minutes to store up the good things that happened.
1. All runners on the team were faster at the end of the season than they were at the beginning of the season.
2. We had great weather this season with it staying warm and dry all but 3 or 4 days.
3. We had two all conference runners - Wendy Deptula was named to the 2nd team All Conference and Amanda Fadden was named to the 3rd team All Conference!
4. We moved one step closer to becoming a better team in the NCAA South/Southeast Region.
5. All of the runners on the team will be back in 2014! Sophia Stone will also return for her senior season.
So those are definitely things I will store in the MBC Cross Country Drey!
I also think it is important to put 2014 Planning in the Drey - Whether the winter is harsh or not, coaches have a lot of time to consider how the season went and plan for the next season.
So here is what I am putting in the Drey
1. I am meeting with all runners to give them winter program ideas
2. We will begin our non traditional season Mar 17th
3. We hope to compete in the Bridgewater Track meet on March 29th and run the Park to Park 1/2 marathon April 26th
4. We need to look closely at the Fall 2014 Course Offerings List and consider when we would like to have practices. This year we were never able to have all athletes together at practice and T,W,Th there were two practice times. I would like to see us practice mainly in the afternoon and spend more time training with a championship in mind.
5. In order to be champions, we need to practice together and bond together - this is difficult when we all don't see each other at the same time each day.
6. Recruiting, recruiting - I will continue to work on getting quality runners to add to the squad. We need student athletes dedicated to running and wanting to improve and be great team members!
Looking back over the 2013 season, I wanted to take a few minutes to store up the good things that happened.
1. All runners on the team were faster at the end of the season than they were at the beginning of the season.
2. We had great weather this season with it staying warm and dry all but 3 or 4 days.
3. We had two all conference runners - Wendy Deptula was named to the 2nd team All Conference and Amanda Fadden was named to the 3rd team All Conference!
4. We moved one step closer to becoming a better team in the NCAA South/Southeast Region.
5. All of the runners on the team will be back in 2014! Sophia Stone will also return for her senior season.
So those are definitely things I will store in the MBC Cross Country Drey!
I also think it is important to put 2014 Planning in the Drey - Whether the winter is harsh or not, coaches have a lot of time to consider how the season went and plan for the next season.
So here is what I am putting in the Drey
1. I am meeting with all runners to give them winter program ideas
2. We will begin our non traditional season Mar 17th
3. We hope to compete in the Bridgewater Track meet on March 29th and run the Park to Park 1/2 marathon April 26th
4. We need to look closely at the Fall 2014 Course Offerings List and consider when we would like to have practices. This year we were never able to have all athletes together at practice and T,W,Th there were two practice times. I would like to see us practice mainly in the afternoon and spend more time training with a championship in mind.
5. In order to be champions, we need to practice together and bond together - this is difficult when we all don't see each other at the same time each day.
6. Recruiting, recruiting - I will continue to work on getting quality runners to add to the squad. We need student athletes dedicated to running and wanting to improve and be great team members!
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