St. X Tiger Run / Labor Day 5&10k

Fantastic weekend for the TNHSXC family. Of the nine kids we took to Tiger Run, I couldn't be more happy with any one of their races.  Big firsts for many of the younger runners - picking up right where they left off for the returners. Jarrett's 16:34 put him in the top ten of the most competitive field assembled in the state that day (he would've won the RaiderTwilight be almost 30 seconds!). Beyond all, I'm just so grateful to coach such a wonderful group of young people. 

The Ndurance Labor Day road 5&10k's saw our leading boys brave their first 10k and lots of our TNHSXC family (moms and dads included) running great races. Nice work Jarrett - rocking 37 flat for 2nd in the 10k and huge kudos to Andrew for his 2nd place in the 5k. Way to represent!  

TNHSXC - 8/27/14

Good afternoon TNHSXC family.  Lots to cover - so please read carefully!

UNIFORMS AND SPIRIT WEAR - we are, for the first time, asking that students be responsible for purchasing their own uniforms.  These will belong to the kids, and as long as they have one, they never have to purchase another.  It will also serve as the uniform for Track & Field season.  We have scrambled to outfit our growing teams as too few uniforms get returned.  This way, if they want to compete, they have to buy their kit and keep up with it.  And, they are theirs to keep.  They lose them, they buy another.  

Attached is a PDF from The Apparel and Awards Factory.  On it you will find hoodies, 1/4 zips, t-shirts and long sleeve tech T's.  The gear is sweet, reasonably priced and our friends and families look great sporting it. The only thing that the kids have to purchase is the "training tank" and "short".  The total for those two is $23.  I can't imagine another sport where you can be outfitted for $23.   I have sent runners home with these papers beginning last Friday and have only received four back.  They've had the opportunity to try on samples to make sure they fit - if they don't know their size, the samples are in my office.  You can also send your orders straight to Bev at the Apparel and Awards Factory.   Orders must be turned in by Friday.  

ST. XAVIER TIGER RUN - Saturday 8/30 @ River Road Country Club (aka Champions Park), Louisville KY.  The St. X meet is a very competitive varsity field and we will only run seven boys and four or five girls.  I'm excited for our growth both in numbers and in competitiveness, but I'm also very realistic and honest with kids about how competitive we are.   There are a number of our runners unavailable due to the holiday weekend, and everyone who is available to run will have a chance to race at the NDurance 5k at NCHS on Monday.  Our roster for Tiger Run is as follows (?'s means I'm not sure of availability)

Jarrett

Tyler

Timmy

Jake 

Isaac

Justin 

Brandon

Sadie

Allison

Sierra

Samantha

Nada

Edena?

Hope?

Boys race at 9:30 and girls at 10:15.  We will caravan from TNHS at 7:30.  

NDurance 5k/10k - 9/1/14 - This is a great road race that is open to the public and I encourage every single TNHS runner to participate.  I will be running the 10k along with the boys that are racing at Tiger Run.  Girls have the option of the 5k or the 10k.  It's a lot of fun, it costs $20 the day of the race ($15 pre-registered) and the form is pasted below.  I still hold NCHS XC very near and dear to my heart and we need to show up in force to support them.  We also need to show up in force to hammer them at their own race!

Here's to a fantastic (and sweaty) Labor Day weekend.  

Matt

TNHSXC - 8/20/14

Good evening TNHSXC family.  The season feels real now that we've had our first HS scrimmage and hosted our first Popsicle Race.  I just wanted to send along HUGE KUDOS for our team.  

Last night, they braved the oppressive heat, crazy-hard course, and threw down some really strong efforts.  There a too many fantastic efforts to list but Jarrett and Tyler put on a clinic, new runners (like Allison, Sierra, Edena, Megan and all freshman boys) emerged and flexed their muscles, returners showed some serious grit like Hope and Darien braving that second lap.  Nada, Champayne, Samantha and Maggie all ran strong laps. Boys picked up right where they left off (the Brandon and Justin battles), Timmy and Justin killing it.  We are looking fantastic.  I would've posted those times tonight,  but I left them at school.  

I did however post the Popsicle Race times to popsicleraces.blogspot.com.  Our HS kids did a fantastic job hosting 60+ young runners.  People took notice of the leadership demonstrated by our kids and paid them all some very fine compliments about how the HS runners handled putting on tonight's event.  All the while, the future of our program was killing it.  Just a couple highlights were Sydney Newton blowing away the 1k field.  Clay Dones crushing the 3k, followed by Sierra Meza in 2nd (two races in two nights!), Ethan Vance, Lane Hoyes, Awstin Pentecost, and Edena Gass (also two races in as many days) all rocking the top ten in the 3k.  New little brothers and sisters too - Cruz Meza, Jackson Middleton and Kaylee Vance.  Hayley Pentecost too, running so strong.  I always miss someone in these rants - just know how proud I am of all of our kids. 

The future of this program looks really bright.  Let's keep it going by continuing to recruit - we have new kids joining daily.  

To our COURAGE and GROWTH MINDSET!

Matt

8-18 Update

​Good Monday TNHSXC family.  We're off to a fantastic start this school year and are excited for the season to begin in earnest.  This week is a busy one, so please read carefully and keep this email with the attachments and links in it so that you can access those resources.  

Attached are the meet schedules.  I have updated the HS schedule with start times.  We will establish arrival times as a team prior to the race dates, but this should give you a better idea of what the next month looks like.  

Tomorrow 8/19 - NCHS Hokum Karem - all HS runners need to attend.  Race begins at 5:00.  Athletes should be at NCHS warming up no later than 4:15.  It is a two-person relay format, each runner does a 2.5k course two separate times,​ and our pairings are as follows:

Jarrett / Tyler

Timmy /  Austin

Jake / Andrew

Isaac / Justin

Sadie / Allison

Samantha / Sierra

Maggie / Megan

Champayne / Nada

Hope / Edena 

Probably missing a couple of folks, and some will change, but this is a start.  I need to know if you or your runner is not attending!  This is a low-key, no scores, minimalist event.  Kids can wear whatever they want, TNHSXC gear if you got it, but otherwise it doesn't matter.  4:15 - NCHS Band field behind the soccer stadium, which is behind the school.  You'll have to walk back past the greenhouses.  

Wednesday, 8-20 - Popsicle Races #1 at TNHS - I started this series 5 years ago when I was at NCHS.  We will have kids from all of the local districts and they are ton of fun.  Sign-ups start at 5:30, 1k at 6:00, 2k at 6:20 and 3k at 6:40.  Our HS runners need to stay after practice and help put these events on.  Anyone grades k-8 are welcome to run.  Representing TNHS MS will be - Awtin P., Zander J., Ethan V., Lane H. (maybe Sierra and Edena) and any other little brothers and sisters that you can think of.  I'm surely expecting Andrew's little sister, Darien's little sister, Caroline Janes, maybe even the debut of Jackson Middleton or the return of Clay Dones?!  These races are a blast, they bring running to the community and we will see 100+ kids racing their hearts out.  Go topopsicleraces.blogspot.com​

Lastly, your runners will be getting paper order forms for TNHSXC spiritwear.  On the bottom of that for is a space for us to order uniforms.  The reality is that uniforms are very hard to replace and many kids don't want to bring theirs back.  These will be our uniform for all ages and the same for XC and Track.  Once you have one, assuming you don't lose it, you won't have to buy another.  Look for those forms later in the week.  

Hope to see you all out in support Tuesday and Wednesday!

Also go to tnhsxc.blogspot.com - many resources to be found there.  

Matt

TNHS ​Speed Week 2014

Each day we will meet at 6 p.m. and will be finished by 9 p.m.   

Locations and activities will vary so please follow the schedule closely -  

Monday, July 21 - TNHS - fartlek and "Ultimate Frisbee"

Tuesday, July 22 - Dean Watts - intervals and "Craters and Volcanoes"

Wednesday, July 23 - Bernheim (Garden Pavillion, first right) - trail run and "Garbage Ball"

Thursday, July 24 - TNHS - Collegiate Coach, Kevin Alessandro speaking, 2 mile time trial, "Shark and Octopus Tag" and "Smuggler"

Friday, July 25 - Hoyes's house (1056 Lutheran Church) - hike, Slip 'n Slide and cookout

Saturday, July 26 - Louisville Bats baseball game

​We will also have a couple of guest speakers but will keep it short.  What I've learned about camps is that I want them training, kids want to play games and don't like to listen to the speakers regardless how valuable their message might be.  So the week will be all about fun.

For Friday's cookout, please bring a side and your own drinks (please don't bring anything with peanuts or any kind of tree nut).  And, families are welcome to stick around.  We'll take a short hike on the ridge and mostly just enjoy not running.

Saturday's Bats game is free.  I have a great friend (the head groundsman and running buddy, Tom) who has gotten us 30 tickets.  Last year we had a blast.  We will need a couple of our seniors and parents to drive.  We will need to know numbers of those attending and driving, so please get back to me with that info.  

Thanks, and I hope to see ALL of the XC family next week.

Matt

Looking Forward To Region

Just the line-up sheet for tomorrow. And...some notes =)

Notice that some our athletes are decreasing in the number of events they compete in, while increasing in the specificity of their events.  An area where I differ from some of my fellow coaches, is that I don't feel it is necessary to spread a team out to fill all events.  I want kids to find something they like and to get good at it.

For example, Evelyn Tichenor is fast enough to run on any relay and in any open event 400m and under.  She is high jumping.  She likes it and she's good at it.  

As the season winds down, the event focus increases. 

Here are just some of the bright spots in the quest for State qualifications out of the current Region 2 Class 2A rankings - 

Mackenzie - 4th 300h

Caroline - 11th 300h

Evelyn - tied for 2nd in HJ

Alexis and Marley - top 20 100m

Maggie - top 20 200m

Sadie - 13th 3200

Allison - top 20 in 800m

Jarrett - 5th 1600m, 2nd 3200m

Nathan - 11th  1600m

Isaiah - 13th 100m

Ethan - 14th 300h

And many more - we have a lot to be excited for as the post-season rapidly approaches.  Personal records (PR's) are a top priority, only second to kids being healthy and having fun.  Everyone sing "rain, rain, go away" and let's have another great meet tomorrow. 

Matt

ENTHUSIASM

The first "E" in our LEADER Values exemplified here (they get better, or just more loopy as they go).  And, I thought I was the only person on the planet that got excited about watching the 2-mile run -