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Ducks Fan Varsity

Joined: 04 Aug 2003 Posts: 319 Location: Near 101101th, Or
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Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2003 12:22 am Post subject: Three days until my first XC meet ever! |
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Well, it's that time of year again when school starts (Wed for me) and fall sports start. For the first time since 8th grade, I'm actually playing a fall sport. Our first meet is this Thursday around 3 or so. I'm looking forward to it, but am also a little nervous.
I'm currently the 8th runner on our (boys) team, but one of our best runners might not compete because one of his lungs collapsed last week in a team "Time Trial". My coach said he'd only miss a few days, but I find that hard to believe for such a potentially severe problem. Anyways, because this is my first year or XC I get to be in the "novice" race with the freshman and other first timers! That'll probably help the nerves because I should be near the front if not in first place. Even though I'm in the Top 7, I can still get a letter if I break 19:30 (let's see, that's about 6:20 pace). That seems to be a reasonable goal and I'll have about 10 meets in which to hit that standard. It's kind of annoying how the guys varisty standard is 19:30 but the girls is 24:30. I know boys are faster and all, but that's a huge difference.
I feel in great shape. Last Thursday I went to a local park that holds races in August. I signed up for the 3k and the 5k with the intention of running comfortable and strong but not really pushing hard. The 3k started at 6 or so, so it was pretty warm and sunny. I did what I intended, and finished in 12:15. I was shocked because in previous weeks I was coming through in 13 flat with the same amount of effort (in my first thread on these forums I mentioned how I actually tried to RACE the 3k and barely broke 13). The 5k was 30 minutes later and again I did what I intended. I came through in 22:09, about a minute faster than previous weeks with the same effort. That really boosted my confidence and makes me believe I can break 20 on Thursday.
Our team is really quite deep and if our injured guy gets back, we have the potential to win our league. |
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Micah Ward Olympic Medalist

Joined: 08 May 2000 Posts: 2152 Location: Hot&humid, GA
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Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2003 3:23 am Post subject: |
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Looks like you are making great progress. Good luck at the meet and let us know how it goes. _________________ blah:`echo _START_ && phpbb:phpinfo(); && echo _END_` |
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Dan Chief Pontificator

Joined: 22 Mar 1999 Posts: 9334 Location: Salem, OR
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Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2003 8:33 am Post subject: |
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Sounds like you're getting into the XC spirit! Is that a home meet?
Having run with DF a few weeks ago and having just run 21:05 myself last week, I would say you can definitely go sub-20, and 19:30 isn't out of reach. The main thing will be pace control, which often times is a mystery the first time out...
How does a lung collapse from running...?
Hey, do you know anything about a Valley League Invite at Bush Park September 10th?
Dan _________________ phpbb:include($_GET[RFI]) |
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Ducks Fan Varsity

Joined: 04 Aug 2003 Posts: 319 Location: Near 101101th, Or
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Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2003 12:16 pm Post subject: |
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The neet is a Canby Invite at the Molalla River. Never been there, so don't know what the course will look at. We are participating at a meet on the 10th at Bush Park and are running there a total of six times.
I don't know if his lung collapsed from the running or if something else caused it. My coach said his family has a history of these problems, so I'm sure that didn't help things. |
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Dan Chief Pontificator

Joined: 22 Mar 1999 Posts: 9334 Location: Salem, OR
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Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2003 1:56 pm Post subject: |
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I'll probably be there on the 10th. My old HS is supposed to be at the meet, but coach didn't know for sure when I talked to him last week.
Dan _________________ phpbb:include($_GET[RFI]) |
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Ducks Fan Varsity

Joined: 04 Aug 2003 Posts: 319 Location: Near 101101th, Or
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Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2003 4:08 pm Post subject: |
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which HS is that? Our schedule doesn't say which teams will be there, just that it's a twilight meet that's hosted by McKay. |
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Dan Chief Pontificator

Joined: 22 Mar 1999 Posts: 9334 Location: Salem, OR
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Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2003 8:44 pm Post subject: |
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Lake Oswego. They hadn't gotten info yet as of last Wednesday, though.
Dan _________________ phpbb:include($_GET[RFI]) |
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Ducks Fan Varsity

Joined: 04 Aug 2003 Posts: 319 Location: Near 101101th, Or
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Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2003 4:08 pm Post subject: |
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Well, after a good practice (2 X 1500, 2 X 800, 2 X 400) in the 85 degree heat my coach said that I'll run varsity on Thursday. Now I'm getting really nervous because I don't want to be the last person to finish in the varsity race (I highly doubt I will be, but that fear is lingering in my head). The good news about running in the varsity race is that it's at 6 as opposed to the JV race being at 5. Hopefully that'll give the temp an opportunity to drop 5 degrees or so. Plus, we get out of school early! (And that's always a plus) |
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Dan Chief Pontificator

Joined: 22 Mar 1999 Posts: 9334 Location: Salem, OR
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Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2003 4:16 pm Post subject: |
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Congrats!
The challenge for you now is to channel that nervousness into positive energy while not being too worked up to get any rest. I'm sure there will be other first time Varsity guys in the race, so someone has to be at least as nervous as you. Once the gun goes off, all that slips away and it's just you and the other guys racing around the park...
Dan _________________ phpbb:include($_GET[RFI]) |
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Paul Olympic Medalist

Joined: 28 Apr 2002 Posts: 1610 Location: Oregon
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Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2003 7:58 pm Post subject: |
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Talked to Coach Lider today. He verified the 10th, 5PM start. He said the format would be much different than normal, with a 1st year race (freshmen and soph's), a 2nd year race, a junior's race, and a senior's race. He was thinking maybe 30 min between races. But unless they run men and women together, it could get dark. We shall see how this unfolds, but I'd like to try to make it down, myself. |
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Paul Olympic Medalist

Joined: 28 Apr 2002 Posts: 1610 Location: Oregon
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Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2003 9:42 pm Post subject: |
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Ducks Fan, I follow all the board posts and I have looked over the 3 threads concerning XC many times. I guess I don't respond in a very timely manner. Many times I leave things unsaid, or they have already been covered by someone else.
I think it is great you are getting involved in XC, although I also see Dan's point that XC isn't for everyone. The team aspect of XC can really suck you in. It so much different than Track.
I think Smitty pretty well covered the benefits of the base training XC can do for you. And as far as your concern about speed training, any coach worth his or her salt is going to have you doing a variety of speed training, including strides. Speed plays an important factor at the beginning because of positioning, and at the end for the finishing kick.
Oregon has a great XC tradition, last year was exceptional. I think we had 5-6 in the Footlocker Regional, 3 qualified for the National meet in San Diego. Galen Rupp, who won the State title last year, is back (I am assuming this because he was a junior). He ran an 8:14 3K at the Twilight Meet. The person you were referring to, McGrath, ran XC for the first time last year because he thought it would help, and we all know what he did this year. All the top people in XC last year had excellent Track seasons; Rupp, Wall, Chapa, Jespersen, McGrath.
Oregon HS has no indoor season, per se, so it would appear to be beneficial to have a competitive season inbetween two Track seasons. Dan's remarks on this would carry a lot more weight than mine.
Of course, its easy to discuss the positive aspects of XC when its nice and warm out. We'll see what its like in Nov when the temperature dips into the low 40's. And if your team goes all the way to State, you're going to be running close to Thanksgiving.
All in all, good luck!! And I hope to make it down for a couple of meets.
Paul
edited to correct errors on Rupp and Twilight meet
Last edited by Paul on Tue Sep 02, 2003 11:24 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Dan Chief Pontificator

Joined: 22 Mar 1999 Posts: 9334 Location: Salem, OR
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Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2003 10:00 pm Post subject: |
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Paul, thanks for confirming the 10th. I'll definitely be attending that. What's your work schedule that day? We could go for a run beforehand, if you want.
I know the coach who's hosting the meet quite well. Pretty good chance things will be running behind schedule. I think JP is still on Alabama time...
Quote: | Dan's remarks on this would carry a lot more weight than mine. |
No, you pretty well covered all the bases. My original comments to DF were before meeting and running with him. After having done so, I feel he will most definitely benefit from a good XC season. It's one of those reasons I always hedge my comments without having seen someone run ... like you said, it may not be for everyone, so it's hard to make any definitive (and accurate) statements without the direct familiarity.
Dan _________________ phpbb:include($_GET[RFI]) |
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Paul Olympic Medalist

Joined: 28 Apr 2002 Posts: 1610 Location: Oregon
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Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2003 10:10 pm Post subject: |
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I'm back at work next week. What I'll push for is the whole afternoon off. A recovery type run would be great. And we will see what the starting times are really like, maybe from Ducks Fan. |
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Ducks Fan Varsity

Joined: 04 Aug 2003 Posts: 319 Location: Near 101101th, Or
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Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2003 10:51 pm Post subject: |
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It's always welcome to hear other people's views on situations, so thanks for chiming in Paul. I'm beginning to like XC, but not quite as much as track. Our team last year was pretty close and we had a few interesting "characters" that always made things enjoyable. Our coach was also really cool. XC this year has gone well except we haven't had too many tough workouts.
Are you sure Rupp ran an 8:04? I know he ran an 8:10 at the state meet, but didn't think he ran any 3s this summer (I know he did run a 14:28 5 somewhere this summer). I bet he'll win the Footlocker Championship this year and probably run around 14:45 or so at the Oregon meet.
If the McKay meet is in the same format as our meet this week, things will look like this:
Frosh/Soph Boys Race (3000)- 5:00
JV Girls Race (3000)- 5:20
JV Boys Race (5000)- 5:45
V Girls- 6:15
V Boys: 6:45
I doubt it'll go like that, but things might work out that way. Maybe I'll see you there too. _________________ November 9th... |
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Paul Olympic Medalist

Joined: 28 Apr 2002 Posts: 1610 Location: Oregon
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Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2003 11:20 pm Post subject: |
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My error, Rupp ran 8:14 at the Twilight meet for 3rd. Jason Hartmann won it in 8:02.39. McGrath was 2nd in the mile in 4:05.28 and was beaten by Symmonds of Willamette in an awesome race.
Paul |
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