If you are BRAND NEW to the Vista XC summer program, WELCOME! Here are some helpful things to know, parent to parent:
Practices take place at the MVHS track unless otherwise noted on the schedule, which is posted weekly on the blog. Here's the link to Daniel's Park East-West Trailhead: https://goo.gl/maps/84i4Pdg1oeC2. Other locations are easy to find.
Runners should bring water and any necessary medications. Asthmatics need their inhalers! Many kids bring a lightweight string backpack to carry their belongings. All runners should also wear a simple digital watch to track their minutes. They can upgrade to fancier watches later, if necessary.
It's important that your runner be fitted for a good shoe right away! Your runners will go through lots of shoes, and there might be some trial and error involved at first, which can be frustrating. But, it's really the only expense for this sport. BEING IN THE RIGHT SHOE PREVENTS INJURY AND IS WORTH THE EXPENSE IN THE LONG RUN. Runners Roost and Boulder Running Company both offer discounts to MVHS runners. Their employees are committed to getting their customers in the right shoe. Once you know what shoes work for your athlete, you can start ordering online or shopping sales. Do NOT let your runner convince you to buy a certain shoe because their teammates have them or because they look cool. Those are expensive (and often physically painful) mistakes. There is no team shoe.
Along those lines, if your runner starts complaining about a nagging ache or pain, he/she should talk to a coach before too much time goes by, to get some clues about what is going on (there's a decent chance it's the shoes). Your runner will undoubtedly resist doing this, but there are several coaches to choose from. Surely one of them will seem approachable. This is necessary.
Getting your younger runner from off-campus practice to a breakfast venue can be tricky, especially in the beginning. You might not know other parents to carpool with, you don't know/trust the student drivers yet and your new kid is probably not going to help you figure this out. If your kids want to go to breakfast, they will call when practice is winding down, you will transport them from point A to point B, then they will call you when they need a ride home. That doesn't work for everyone's situation. It is helpful to get to know other families in your runner's grade/running group/social group. These people might be your tribe for the next several years. Have their names and numbers in your phone before you need them. Carpooling is very helpful to the freshman and sophomore parents, all year round. Off campus practices continue in the fall.
If you have a high school runner, be sure to order the lime green Vista Nation shirts at the beginning of the fall season. Order extras for runners and all family members. Not only does it show our support and presence at meets, but as parents it makes it easy to identify each other. Cross country families are generally a friendly, approachable bunch, although it can be hard to mingle at meets because we scatter about.
Please encourage your freshman or new high school runner to participate in the TEAM goal setting and any other social events. It's hard being a freshman, but they should buddy up and attend together. The more people they meet during the summer, the easier the transition in the fall.
SOME "SEASONED" PARENTS ARE PLANNING A MEET AND GREET ON JUNE 21ST AT 6:30 P.M.. PLEASE CONSIDER ATTENDING. STAY TUNED FOR DETAILS. Until then, if you have any questions at all, please reach out: Teresa (720-840-6335) and Kelly (720-670-6032).
Practices take place at the MVHS track unless otherwise noted on the schedule, which is posted weekly on the blog. Here's the link to Daniel's Park East-West Trailhead: https://goo.gl/maps/84i4Pdg1oeC2. Other locations are easy to find.
Runners should bring water and any necessary medications. Asthmatics need their inhalers! Many kids bring a lightweight string backpack to carry their belongings. All runners should also wear a simple digital watch to track their minutes. They can upgrade to fancier watches later, if necessary.
It's important that your runner be fitted for a good shoe right away! Your runners will go through lots of shoes, and there might be some trial and error involved at first, which can be frustrating. But, it's really the only expense for this sport. BEING IN THE RIGHT SHOE PREVENTS INJURY AND IS WORTH THE EXPENSE IN THE LONG RUN. Runners Roost and Boulder Running Company both offer discounts to MVHS runners. Their employees are committed to getting their customers in the right shoe. Once you know what shoes work for your athlete, you can start ordering online or shopping sales. Do NOT let your runner convince you to buy a certain shoe because their teammates have them or because they look cool. Those are expensive (and often physically painful) mistakes. There is no team shoe.
Along those lines, if your runner starts complaining about a nagging ache or pain, he/she should talk to a coach before too much time goes by, to get some clues about what is going on (there's a decent chance it's the shoes). Your runner will undoubtedly resist doing this, but there are several coaches to choose from. Surely one of them will seem approachable. This is necessary.
Getting your younger runner from off-campus practice to a breakfast venue can be tricky, especially in the beginning. You might not know other parents to carpool with, you don't know/trust the student drivers yet and your new kid is probably not going to help you figure this out. If your kids want to go to breakfast, they will call when practice is winding down, you will transport them from point A to point B, then they will call you when they need a ride home. That doesn't work for everyone's situation. It is helpful to get to know other families in your runner's grade/running group/social group. These people might be your tribe for the next several years. Have their names and numbers in your phone before you need them. Carpooling is very helpful to the freshman and sophomore parents, all year round. Off campus practices continue in the fall.
If you have a high school runner, be sure to order the lime green Vista Nation shirts at the beginning of the fall season. Order extras for runners and all family members. Not only does it show our support and presence at meets, but as parents it makes it easy to identify each other. Cross country families are generally a friendly, approachable bunch, although it can be hard to mingle at meets because we scatter about.
Please encourage your freshman or new high school runner to participate in the TEAM goal setting and any other social events. It's hard being a freshman, but they should buddy up and attend together. The more people they meet during the summer, the easier the transition in the fall.
SOME "SEASONED" PARENTS ARE PLANNING A MEET AND GREET ON JUNE 21ST AT 6:30 P.M.. PLEASE CONSIDER ATTENDING. STAY TUNED FOR DETAILS. Until then, if you have any questions at all, please reach out: Teresa (720-840-6335) and Kelly (720-670-6032).
RSS Feed
