6/6 Newsletter

Course Cleanup

The trees flanking the back loop of our course sustained significant damage during the ice and other storms earlier this year.  That has left a number larger tree limbs down on the course.  If anyone has access to a chainsaw or other equipment and would be willing to assist with cleanup next week, please contact Mr. McLain.

Running Shoes

Just a reminder that you'll want a good pair of running shoes when training starts next week.  The commonly cited shoe lifespan of 300-500 miles is at best an untested average, with a lot depending on the runner, the shoe, and the running surface.  Individuals I trust say that by 200-250 miles it might be a time for a different primary shoe.  For some runners that could mean 2-3 months of regular running, so even a pair bought at the start of track season is likely on borrowed time. 

As shoes accumulate miles, the foam in the midsole breaks down, leading to decreased support and cushioning. This will lead to increased forces on the legs and more work for the body, heightening risk of injury and poor performance.  Sometimes the foam in one part of the shoe will compress faster than the other, creating an unbalanced shoe that can impact a runner's mechanics and put them at risk of injury.  A worn out rubber outsole on the bottom of the shoe can decrease traction, impairing performance and increasing risks of falls, while tears in the mesh upper on the top of a shoe leaves the foot less secure and more prone to chafing and blisters.

Ultimately feel is the best indicator of a shoe's age.  If you notice random aches and pains while running in it, or it doesn't feel as comfortable as before, these are warning signs that shouldn't go ignored.  

If you need new shoes, please refer to this page for more details.

Training Groups/Levels

Each of our athletes is given three different starting assignments for summer training.  You can find a fuller explanation of all of this here, but in summary:

-Training Color:  This is based on running experience, injury history, and consistency in training and regulates the progression of work, especially strength and other ancillary items.  This would only change if an athlete is inconsistent in summer training.
-Training Level:  This is based on recent training volume and regulates the volume of work.  Athletes will level up throughout the summer with consistent training.  
-Training Pace:  This is based on recent performance.  This will likely remain fairly stable during the summer but might change during the season.

Runners will receive their assignments on Google Classroom next week.  

Team Breakfasts

We are still in need of families to help with the team breakfasts after our long runs.  If we can't find hosts, we will pivot to doing the breakfasts at local restaurants.  The following Fridays are our scheduled team breakfasts.

6/20
7/11
7/18 (Boys only)
8/1

If you would be interested in hosting/helping provide food for one of these, please contact Mr. McLain

Team Camp Spots Still Available

Spots are still available for both our boys and girls team camps.  The goal of these camps is to immerse runners in what our team culture stands for, to bring our runners together and build team unity, and to equip athletes with the skills to be healthier and happier runners and human beings. 

You can find more info about the boys camp here, and the girls camp here, but if you have additional questions feel free to reach out to Mr. McLain.  If you haven't signed up but would like to attend, please contact Mr. McLain.  Sign-ups for the camps will close June 30 (or earlier if capacity is reached).