STATE MEET CREW

We are less than a week out from the state meet. We'll do some maintenance work between now and the state meet, but there's nothing we can do in training to get better in 6 days. We could do things that make us worse (and some teams will), but the "hay is in the barn" as far as fitness goes.

Now, there's actually a lot you can do outside of training to help the team. That's what this post entails.

Our boys have finished 5th or better and our girls 6th or better at the state meet every single year since 2012; that's 13 years in a row of making the podium. Our boys have been Top 3 in the state for the last 7 years.

We have history, which is cool. Most schools never make podium and we never miss it.

Here is what you need to think about or know to keep this tradition alive.

1. We are prepared.

   1. Whoever toes the line at the state meet has had 20+ weeks of continuous training periodized to run your best in late October/November.

2. We care only what we can control...which is you/us.

   1. Sleep....this helps performance

      1. 8+ hrs per night this week- we're not practicing in the AM this week to help with this. Get in the sleep this week in case sleep is hard to come by Friday night.

   2. Nutrition and Hydration...this helps performance

      1. Eat well

      2. Hydrate regularly this week

   3. Mindset / Attitude...this helps performance

      1. Positive

         1. Believe in yourself, your teammates and your coaches

      2. We're not going to tell you anything you can't do this week

         1. We'll very likely give you instructions or a plan on something we're 100% positive you can accomplish. Believe in it.

3. We're low stress (and normal) the week of the meet

   1. Don't make this bigger than it is: it's a 5k against your peers, just like every other meet. It's going to hurt like every other meet (actually... hopefully it hurts more)

      1. Hyped-up teams underperform.

      2. Teams with composure do well.

         1. Composure starts now.

4. It's not about you. It's about the team.

   1. Everything you do effects the team.

      1. (Sleep, hydration, mindset, attitude, etc.)

   2. Our Team 1st philosophy is also very "freeing" as on race day as no one person has to do anything superhuman...just your job.

      1. In fact, "good" is actually excellent at championship meets since no team will be perfect.

   3. With Cross Country scoring, everyone matters equally.

      1. Every person you pass is one fewer point on our team score

      2. You never know what's happening in front of you, so you can never let off the gas.

Last thing, tell us what you're thinking about the meet/race. This will help us plan our week and give us some tools to help you.

Let us know your plan