1. Begin a conscious effort to hydrate. You don't hydrate properly if you wake up next Thursday and drink a bottle of water before practice. Hydration starts today and continues every day during the season. I can't stress the importance of this as we begin training.
2. Check those running shoes. When I was running I would rotate several pairs of shoes and discard them after 200-300 miles. If your shoes are worn, torn, have holes in the sole or the insole it may be time for a new pair. Don't be surprised if you go through two-three pairs during the season. Two if you use them exclusively in practice and meets. Three if you wear them outside of XC. My experience is that worn shoes and the resultant bad alignment cause the most injuries in our sport.
3. Plan what to wear. It's all about comfort. Over the years I know I've lost a few pints of blood because I wore shorts that chafed my thighs or have worn cotton shirts on humid or warm days. Today there are many more options that will keep you cool and comfortable.
4. Do you have a stop watch? I just checked Amazon and there are no fewer than 10 watches that will do the trick for less than $15.00. Watches are not mandatory but they are extremely useful. Just ask one of your more experienced teammates.
5. Last but not least . . . take the time to listen to Admiral McRaven's speech which I've been referencing the past several weeks (landlubbers will understand it too.) You can find it on youtube . Its 19 minutes long. I know how busy you are keeping up with snapchat and Instagram but it is worth your while. Point 8 of 10 - the Admiral speaks about the SEALs night time, under water, 2 mile swim in which the object is to swim to an anchored ship and reach its keel (the lowest point and centerline of a ship's hull.) It is extremely difficult at its conclusion because the ship itself will block all light from reaching the swimmer and he must navigate that portion of the swim in total darkness. This, as you might imagine, causes confusion and for some panic. It is imperative the swimmer maintain his/her composure and summon every ounce of inner strength available while performing this task. The point McRaven says is that in order to change the world you must be your best "in the darkest moments." Often times a task may seem impossible, but with a little faith in yourself and with your best effort you can persist through the hardest of times. For those of you who are not fully prepared for practice, you will want to stop along the way. Push through that temptation. Try to continue to run, or simply jog, until the next scheduled stop. You may be amazed at what you can do . . .
No more core at four. The Wednesday youth series has ended. It has been a terrific summer and I've enjoyed being at every core session and every Wednesday kids meet. I look forward to being at every practice this fall. I am sincerely hoping we have numerous commitment awards to hand out at year end (to those who have perfect practice and scheduled meet attendance.) I hope you're ready!
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