So, did I hear that you made the State Cross Country Running Meet?
A note from coach for the boys <edited for parent reading>
Congratulations. Earning a spot on the boys’ varsity for Stillwater in the Minnesota State
Cross Country Meet is a tremendous accomplishment. You have no doubt spent years
training for this moment with many setbacks, heartbreaks, and breakthroughs along the
way. While you have earned the opportunity to compete, it is not a reward. It is a
chance for you to race and add to the historical lore of this program. We are not going
to the state meet just to participate, but to try to win it. It is not a celebration,
but an extremely grueling race with very high stakes.
Perspective: By now you have received numerous hugs from your mom and heard
several old yarns from your dad following your qualification to the state meet. Weird
Uncle Billy and sensible sister Sally have also weighed in to congratulate you. It is time
to put it to rest over the next week. Ask your parents to not talk about it all the time and
tell grandma enough is enough. Talk about the Republican debates, climate change,
Bernie Sanders, anything but the race. It will be mentioned hardly ever at practice. The
state meet is just another 5K to conquer, just another race we always run as part of this
program. We need not make special shirts, shave heads, grow beards, or act like you are
so very cool. It is just another race.
Our Team: Making our varsity for the state meet is a gauntlet of the expected and
unexpected. First there is beating 70 of your teammates. Then you must perform well at
the end of the year in our biggest meets. Then because of Minnesota State High
School League rules that make coaches select their varsity squad 18 days before the state
meet you have to be in the right place at the right time with your full body of work. This
rule is a coaches’ nightmare. In the end, I must follow one simple idea: which 7 guys give
us the greatest chance to win the state meet. This leaves many broken-hearts and looks of
confusion behind.
The Competition: There will be 16 schools competing in the state meet and a
large number of non-scoring individuals in the race that will cause confusion as to how the
teams are doing. It is crucial that you all realize that it may be that you are in like 36th place,
but you are really in about 15th in the team competition. Keep cool and realize where in this race
you really are. While there are 16 teams that are on the course, to be in a position to win,
we must be focused on two of the teams: Hopkins and Minneapolis Washburn.
We should respect these teams to the utmost, but we have no reason to fear them.
Our Goal: While our goal is to win the state meet it has to be more specific then that.
Our real goal is to win every position in the meet. Our #1 beats everybody else’s #1.
Our #2 beats everybody else’s #2 and so on through 7. If that was to happen we would
establish 7 career bests, beat Hopkins and Washburn at every position, and win the state
meet. If we can just win 4 of the 5 scoring spots we will win. Mission accomplished.
Our Uniform: We will be wearing our Nike championship mango orange top and aqua
blue shorts. Why do we do this, our school colors are red, white, and black? We do it for
the spectators; so Aunty Sherry and Cousin George who drove 150 miles to watch you
run and have never been to a cross country meet in their lives can see you, cheer for you,
and urge on the Stillwater team.
Our History: 12 times on the St Olaf stage for a Top 3 team trophy over the past 19
years, including 5 State Championships. Luke Watson and Wayde Hall individual state
champions.
The Race: 11:00 am start. Lane 4. This follows the girl’s race at 10:00 am. There are
significant course changes this year. There is now only one lap of the first wetland pond.
The distance is made up further into the race. Awards follow 30 minutes after our race
(noon) in the St Olaf gym.
The Day: Bus picks us up at 7:45 at SHS. Arrive at St Olaf at 9:15.
Extra team members put up our tent and we establish base camp.
Varsity goes to the field house with me for chips and numbers.
Warm-up from 9:45-11:00. After race: Leave St Olaf about 1:00 pm. Get to McDonalds
in Lakeville about 1:30. Home around 4:00 pm.
Checklist: Remember everything. There are no uniforms or shoes to borrow from the
junior varsity at this meet. DOUBLE CHECK YOUR GEAR BEFORE LEAVING
HOME. Remember your music. Temperature guidelines: 54 degrees Scientists say
this is optimum temperature in which to run. In the 40’s no problem, just extend the
warm-up. 35-40 consider a very light hat and very light gloves. Use junk. Things
you can throw off at any time in the race. <34 we will go to a white undershirt, light
and dri-fit along with the hats and gloves. No tights under any conditions.