As we wind down our summer camp, I would like to clarify a few issues that have come up.
First, athletes are able to register between 7-8AM or after practice, so practice will begin at 8AM on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday to accomodate early registration. Athletes also may register after practice, as there is no benefit to going early. Athletes who miss practice will not run in our first meet at Laguna Hills, as practices are now mandatory for athletes who want to comptete in the first few invitationals. For instance, athletes who miss camp will have to practice for three weeks before they can be entered into a meet, so it is essential that athletes attend ALL practices.
Second, on Wednesday there is a 3 mile time trial for all athletes. Athletes who run slower than 22:00(boys) or 25:00(girls) will be moved to PE or to another class and may need to return to registration on Friday to confirm their new schedule. These times are slower than nearly 90% of the kids who ran our first league race last September, so the expectation that an athlete meet these times after 6 weeks of summer camp is very reasonable, and because we are only provided with three total coaches I will not put athletes at risk by having them run unsupervised, literally miles behind the lead groups. There will be a second time trial on Sept 4th for kids who did not attend camp; athletes are welcome to attend that one also, although it will be run in the heat of the day, at 2:15PM, as practice switches to that time on that day. Next Friday will be our last morning practice.
Third, we will also be going to Disneyland on Wednesday, August 29. Students can arrive or depart whenever they choose and need to organize their transportaion etc. with parents. We will meet at 12-Noon at the main entrance for a group photo and will meet later in the day to check-in, but I cannot keep 30+ high school kids together all day, so they will be responsible for their behavior (a note was sent home with their tickets). Students attending Link Crew etc. are welcome to arrive after that event concludes. If possible, they should try to do the time trial on Wednesday morning, but they can also do the make-up time trial on Sept 4th. I will have to drop borderline athletes (ones who are likely to miss the cut) if they miss the Aug 29th time trial, but they can be added back if they meet the time on Sept. 4th.
Thanks for your support this summer! We have some solid runners with the potential to have a very special season. If you would like to help coordinate supplies for the meets etc. please let me know, as no one has stepped forward to help with that job, and we have our first meet two weeks from today, Sept 8th at Laguna Hills HS (7:30AM start time).
Thanks Again,
Coach Gates
