Parent Meeting Recap

Parent Meeting Recap

For those of you who were unable to attend the parent meeting, please read the following summary of the most pertinent information covered.

Program philosophy:

Our program is designed to be simultaneously developmental and competitive. Runners are grouped by age, experience, and ability. It is important to leave room for growth (both physically and as athletically). Running volume increases incrementally over the first three years. In a nutshell, Freshmen are not expected or allowed to train like juniors and seniors.

Athletic Clearance:

Athletic Clearance is a two-step process - Step one is to complete a Sports Screening on your own prior to June 6. Step two is to create an account on Athleticclearance.com and upload your sports screening. Make sure to check the selection box for any sport you intend to try out for in the 2025-26 school year. The full AC process must be completed before practice begins.

Tryouts:

The tryout is June 21 at 8:00 AM on the Track at THHS. Participants should arrive by 7:45 to register and get a participant number. The coaches will take the participants through a full warm up before having them run a 1.5 mile Time Trial on the Track. We will film the time trial to help speed evaluation.

A final roster will be posted on TrabucoXC.com by June 22.

Summer Registration:

Registration is done through the THHS Webstore. Select “Boys Cross Country” from the menu options.  Summer practice is broken into two sessions. Please register for both sessions. The expectation is for all runners to participate in both sessions. The money is used to pay the coaches. Any leftover funds are added to the team’s general fund.

THHS WEBSTORE

Idyllwild:

The week-long camp at Idyllwild is an excellent team-building experience for the boys. We camp at Idyllwild County Park from Sunday to Friday. The cost for camp includes food and the campsite reservation fees. Boys will share tents and will need sleeping bags and pads. The camp includes a day at the movies and trips into the village where they have access to the library and cell service. No transportation is provided to or from camp. More information will be sent as we get closer to the date.

Fundraising:

We need to raise funds to keep the program running. The district does not fund sports, so we are responsible for raising 100% of the money required to purchase uniforms, pay assistant coaches, register for races, purchase easy-ups and other equipment, pay for the team website and XC Stats, and a litany of other expenses. Our annual budget runs into the ballpark of $20,000 and all of that must be fundraised. Our two main means of fundraising are the Spirit Pack and FLEX. The Spirit Pack is a suggested donation of $225 from each family. FLEX is an online campaign that is designed to broaden the pool of donors. Each runner’s immediate family should not contribute funds to the FLEX campaign. FLEX is meant to request donations from extended family, friends, and fans of the program. We are still setting up this year’s campaign and more info will follow later this summer. We may also do a few dine-outs and smaller fundraisers throughout the season, but those typically only bring in less than $1,000 each.

Uniforms:

Each runner will be issued a race uniform (top and bottom) and a T-Shirt. These items are yours to keep. Replacement uniform pieces can be purchased for: (Varsity: $65/Jersey, $30/Short, $65/T-Shirt) (JV & FS: $55/Jersey, $28/Short, $65/T-Shirt). Other items will be available for purchase through our online store. Additional items include sweats, hats, long-sleeve shirts, jackets, and more. Please use the link to complete the sizing request ASAP.

UNIFORM SIZING FORM

Season Schedule:

Racing is important for young runners. Running a lot of races is the best way to learn what works and what does not. Practice is critically important, but it can never truly replicate the intensity of a race.For more experienced runners, racing is much more intense and harder on the body. Therefore, it should be limited more than with younger athletes. Our season schedule is set up to provide ample racing opportunities for the lower levels and just enough of a preseason for the Varsity. The season is fairly short for non-varsity, ending with SCL Finals on Nov-5. The Varsity season does not end until the State Finals or hopefully, NXN.

School Practice:

Cross Country will be your 6th Period class and does satisfy PE credit for Freshmen and Sophomores. Practice starts at 2:50 PM every day and will end between 4:30 and 5:30 PM depending on the group and the workout for the day. A detailed practice schedule will be provided at the start of each week to help with planning for carpools and appointments. Missing practice for things like doctor’s appointments or other obligations is strongly discouraged. If a runner misses a practice during the week, they will not be allowed to race that week unless they have cleared the absence with Coach Clemons ahead of time. All practices, including Saturdays, are mandatory once school begins.

Tools of the Trade:

There is not a lot of required equipment for Cross Country. Good shoes, however, are a must. Please get fitted for shoes at a running shop. A Snail’s Pace and Road Runner Sports are the best options. Shoes range in price from $150-250 and need to be replaced about every three months. Racing flats are light-weight shoes used for racing in Cross Country. They are similar to spikes for Track. They are a must for Cross Country runners. Young runners do not need to shell out the $250 for carbon-plated racing shoes. Although, you will see a lot of runners with them at races. Other suggested equipment includes: GPS watch and a handheld water bottle..

Diet and Lifestyle Recommendations:

I will not try to suggest one specific diet that is better than others. I simply suggest that runners try to eat as “clean” as possible. That just means to avoid fast food and sugary things as best they can while they are training at a high intensity. You can think of it like fuel for a race car. You would not want to use the same fuel for your F-1 car as you use for your lawnmower. Also, you can never go wrong with eating more plants. Hydration is also of vital importance. When the weather is hot, a good general guideline is to drink about a gallon of water a day. Adding electrolytes to 20-40 oz of that intake, post-run, is also beneficial to recovery. Try to stay away from sugary electrolyte drinks like Gatorade and Powerade. SLEEP at least 8 hours a night and keep your sleep schedule consistent. Our bodies thrive off of routines and a consistent sleep schedule is the most important routine of all to get right. We don’t recover, grow, or improve without adequate and consistent sleep.