Phoenix,
Last week at the region championships did not go the way that we hoped. While we were disappointed together as a team, there were a lot of good things that happened too.
Many had their best race of the year. Many raced boldly, and put themselves in position to have a great day, and finished on empty, or beyond empty, in some cases, where some serious attention was needed afterwards. It was clear that everyone gave their absolute best.
So many of you are committed and give your absolute all to the team. You embody what it means to be all-in, controlling what you can, and having a team mentality. You come prepared day after day, with a positive attitude, committed to being the best you can. You make friends with everyone, not just your core group. You build relationships with everyone on the team, and find joy in their success. You support them on the course and in workouts. You encourage your teammates to be where they are supposed to be, and lead by example. The majority of our team does all or most of these things, but none of us are perfect, and in many ways, we have a long ways to go.
As a team we did not perform where we wanted to, relative to the field, and we could dive into all the reasons as to why that is, but the bottom line is, as a TEAM, we have not done enough to be where we want to be - and that can be traced back to summer. As coaches, it is our responsibility to put you in position to be your best, and as athletes, it is your responsibility to give your best day in and day out. Together, as coaches and athletes, we are committed to doing better, starting right now.
Gone are the days where you can miss practice willy nilly without consequences. Habitual practice missing hurts the team and your teammates. We need you. All of you. We are better together. Therefore, state goers - meaning the top 7 from Region last week, will be replaced if there are absences that unaccounted for (today I know of two kids who will miss due to illness, and another due to a test retake, which are rare occurrences and understood). Missing practice then telling us after the fact is no longer going to cut it. If you're on the team, be where the team is. I imagined this went without saying, but it no longer does, so I'm saying it. Those who are already living this way wish everyone would, so we're going to be better at holding that line.
We will continue to emphasize tried and true principles of team mentality, controlling what you can control, being all in. We will also communicate the purpose of our training and progression to better help everyone buy into the training.
The goal is that when we are all on the same page and understand the expectations, we'll be better for it.
With that said, let's be better at all of those things starting today than we were during the summer. Even back in summer it was clear many among us weren't taking our base building seriously, and the coaches hoped that it was simply a lack of strava usage (and therefore poor reporting) but rather too many were just shirking the training, and using summer as an excuse. Thinking that people are on summer vacation is a short-sighted and limiting mindset, and we must be better. So, let's finish strong.
Be better, starting today, at being at practices. At being all-in, at being a contributor to the team - not necessarily in points, but in attitude and demeanor. We will continue to train as usual through the state championship, and then there may be some modifications through November, but those are to be determined.
Parents - Help and Breakfast
Parents, we as coaches thank you for your continued support of your athletes and the team.
We coaches sacrifice time from our families to coach these kids, so we appreciate all that support. I often here thanks from you when we meet, and that is very appreciated. We hope your kids are having a positive experience that they will cherish forever - that's why we sacrifice that time, because we want them to have that.
If you know your son or daughter is not as committed as they should be, please help set that expectation. Being where you are supposed to be is one of our biggest pitfalls at the moment, so your help will be appreciated.
Second, I cannot thank you enough for the team breakfasts you have provided. It spoils the kids a bit, but also allows them to have the fuel they need to recover and improve.
We have some open spaces between now and the end of term two (they are all open, because I didn't create them initially), so if you haven't volunteered yet, and if you're able, please check out the sign up genius. We have about 45 kids in the class now - Farmington XC: Summer Breakfasts and Dinners
One of our issues with the class, is we have too many kids not taking that easy run seriously enough, and making it a double run in the afternoon. Many even think the morning run alone is sufficient, and that couldn't be further from the truth. It's the compliment of the double run that will move the needle, not the morning run alone. When that gets corrected, things will improve as well.
State Championship
The state championship is on 10/29 at Sugarhouse park. The 7 runners representing our teams will be announced in the coming days, but it's pretty clearly those who finished in the top 7 of our team at region, with rare, but possibly some, exception. We will also have two alternates ready to go in case of injury or illness.
JV State
There is a JV state championship race on 11/1 that I am happy to sign anyone up for who is interested. I encourage everyone not racing at state to sign up for this race. Because it is after state, it is not an official UHSAA race, and we cannot provide a bus.
2025 JV State Championship and Mid/Jr. High State Championship - SportTrax
Howl-oween Half
This Saturday we are helping at the Howloween half marathon beginning at ending at the Regional Park. This is a fundraiser for the team, specifically for the footlocker trip lead by a few of our parents. If you are going to footlocker, I cannot emphasize enough how important it is that you attend this race and help. Everyone on the team is expected to come help at the race. This is one opportunity to give back to the racing community, and it's going to be a lot of fun.
On the groupme, Hailey shared a photo of each of the three aid-station "teams". Find your name, and that is the group you will be a part of. I need a few people to defect from those teams and help at a few turns, to direct the runners, then help at the finish line to hand out medals. If you'd like that job, please let me know ASAP.
