Final Week!!!!

Wow! This week marks the end of a fantastic XC season! We can't believe how fast it went. Looking back we have had some memorable moments; PRs, fast finishes, fun bus rides, challenging workouts, games, and of course lots of running. Look below for the weeks happenings!

Practice this Week

• Monday 3-4:30
• Tuesday 3-4:30

Meets this Week

 HCMS Invitational- Wednesday October 11 at HCMS

• Kids will stay after school like a normal practice day. Meet schedule as follows: 
• 4:15pm JV Girls 
• 4:40pm JV Boys
• 5:05pm Varsity Girls
• 5:30pm Varsity Boys

• Look for an email with your runners race assignment

Team Parties

• At HCMS on Thursday, October 12 during lunch break (11:20am)

• At ZC possibly on Friday, October 13 during lunch break (11:45am) in the middle school commons area 

Week 7

Meets this Week

Wednesday, October 4 @ East Rockford Middle School  

• ERMS will not be running in the meet, but North Rockford holds meets at their school.

• Leave HCMS at 2:30, pick up at Zeeland park and ride (near McDonalds) at 2:45

• Girls race at 4:15, boys at 4:45ish

Sat. October 7 Portage Invite (7145 Moorsbridge Rd Portage, MI)

• The bus will leave HCMS at 9:20am. Everyone please meet at HCMS, no Zeeland pick-up.

• Girls race at 12pm, Boys at 12:20pm. 

• Shirts available for purchase $15-30 depending on type.

• Course map and more race day info coming later this week. 

Week Six

Reminders

I am sure you have heard there was a problem with the shirt order. The good news is, everyone who ordered a shirt got a short sleeve in addition to the long sleeve one we will hopefully receive ASAP. If you have questions, please let me know!

Meets this Week

Monday, September 25 4:15pm @ Mona Shores Middle School 

• Address: 1700 Woodside RD, Norton Shores, MI 49441

• Students will be let out at 2:15 to change and get on the bus.

• Bus will leave HCMS at 2:30 SHARP, and do a brief stop at 2:40/2:45 for ZC kids in the parking lot behind Arbys off James street in Holland.

• Bus will return to HCMS after the meet (No ZC drop off on the way home, please meet at HCMS)

• If you desire to take your runner home after the meet, that is great! Please remember to sign them out.

Thursday, September 28 4:15pm @ Northview Crossroads Middle School "COLOR FUN RUN"

• Address: 4400 Ambrose, Grand Rapids Mi

• Bus will leave HCMS at 2:15, and do a brief stop at 2:30 for ZC kids in the Zeeland park and ride near McDonalds. The bus WILL do a return stop at the same park and ride after the meet and then return to HCMS.

• This untimed, just for fun run comes as a welcome mini-break in our meet schedule. 

• As kids run the 2-mile course they will be sprayed with colors along the way! They will be wet but not soaked. If you want to bring a fresh shirt, you are welcome too. 

• Please wear old clothes, old shoes and a white tee, no HC jersey for this race :)

Week Five

Another exiting week behind us! The team ran with guts and heart this weekend, we are so proud. We witnessed some memorable finishes, great racing and wonderful examples of good sportsmanship! Please read below for important notes on this upcoming week.

Reminders

• Watch with stopwatch function will be helpful for the remainder of the season.
• Shirts should be in this week, payment must be submitted if not already done. If you have questions on this please let me know. Thanks!

Nutrition

• Please help us by encouraging and helping your runner replenish nutrients lost during running. As the season gets rolling, it is crucial to replenish and keep our bodies strong. Strong bodies that eat enough are injured less, and have resources to give during hard efforts. 

Meets this Week

Monday, September 18 4pm @ HCMS vs Hamilton & Holland

• Athletes will need to bring all meet equipment (shoes, jersey, shorts, etc) TO SCHOOL ON MONDAY. We will meet after school like normal to eat a snack together, and warm up.

• Girls run first at 4pm, boys after.

• Course map send via email.

Saturday, September 23 Cougar Falcon Invite @ Gainey Field 

• Coach-driven vans will be leaving HCMS at 6:30am SHARP, and making a brief stop at the Zeeland park and ride (near McDonalds) for a 6:45am pick up. 

• If you will be spectating the meet, you are welcome to let you runner ride with you. Simply notify me via email and meet us by 7:25am.

• $5 admission ($10 max per car) Please avoid parking in local business lots.

• Girls race at 8:10am, boys race at 8:30am. Awards at 9am. Top 15 finishers in each gender.

• We will provide transportation to HCMS after the meet with a stop in Zeeland (probably around 11?). You are also welcome to take your runner home after the meet, simply sign them out.

• Course and spectator map sent via email. We follow the middle school 3200 course map.

Week Four

Well done to the team for completing our first meet of the season. The team showed grit and a can-do attitude. It can be tough to hang in and stay mentally focused when our legs are burning and feel heavy. However, the mental game is a big part of racing. At lunch on Thursday, we will discuss common pitfalls, and strategies to help ours runner cope when the going gets rough. 

REMINDERS AND ANNOUNCMENTS

• A watch with a stopwatch feature on it will be VERY helpful this week. Nothing advanced needed, just something to track minutes.

• ZC 7th grade camp? Let me know if you will miss practices or the meet on Wednesday.

• Weekly cross country lunch on Thursday 

• Shirt $ due ASAP. If you handed in the shirt money to the office, just let me know so I can mark it down.

MEETS THIS WEEK

Wednesday, September 13 East Rockford 4:15pm

•  2:30 departure from HCMS. ZC families: possible Zeeland park and ride pick up (near McDonalds), when I get confirmation I will let you know.

• Location: East Rockford Middle School, 8615 9 Mile Rd NE, Rockford, MI 49341, USA

Saturday, September 16 West Ottawa Invitational 9am 

• Parents will be providing transportation TO AND FROM this meet. Please drop off your runner at 8am. Specific drop-off location TBD.

• The race will be run on the middle school campus. The race will finish on the track and football stadium just west of Harbor Lights MS. 1024 136th Ave.

• West Ottawa has informed me they will send me a course map by Friday. I will forward that along to you. The course may be different from last week.

Week Three

When the weekend comes around, I love to head out on a trail for some quiet time with God. The ability to connect with God while moving through His creation ends up bringing clarity to my week and is truly transformative. If you get a chance, get out and experience some of our local favorites:

Holland South/Saugatuck: Sanctuary Woods,  Wolters Woods, Saugatuck Dunes, VanRaatle Farms

Holland North: Riley Trails, Hemlock Crossing, Pigeon Creek, Mt. Pisgah

Zeeland: Upper Macatawa Trails

REMINDERS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Pay to Play and Code of Conduct: Please turn this into the office ASAP.  If we do not have a record of payment on file, runners will be unable to participate in our first meet.

• Team Shirts: Please bring payment for the shirts to myself or the office. Just shoot me an email letting me know. I am keeping track of payments for our team. 

• Meet Date Change: Our meet with Mona Shores, originally scheduled for September 26, is now on Monday, September 25. The calendar has been updated.

MEETS THIS WEEK

Saturday, September 9  West Ottawa Middle School "Fun Run" 11am. This untimed meet is a great opportunity to see how a meet works, practice race prep, and get comfortable racing in a non-competitive setting.

• Bus leaves HCMS at 10am SHARP. Parents are responsible for transportation home.

• Please wear your HC racing singlet, black shorts, and warm-up clothing. (pants, sweatshirt, hat,  or anything else you need to stay warm)

• Bring water bottle, and a post-race snack. 

 ****LOCATION: WO Soccer Complex Stadium (start & end), located on the Middle School Campus: 3700 140th Ave, Holland, MI 49424

Week Two

Here we go! Week two is when we start to get busy. Long runs, fartleks, intervals, oh my! It's gonna be awesome! Remember, we are not looking for perfection, we are looking for effort.

• TEAM WARM-UPS: We will be placing our order for team warm up shirts tomorrow (Monday). Since we race in our singlets, these long sleeve tech shirts will be perfect for laying before the start of our races. Please let me know the size you need (Adult S-M or Womens cut) by tomorrow morning. Prices are $17 and $21 (with last name on back)

• TEAM PICTURES: Will be on TUESDAY, AUGUST 29 during our normal practice time. Please wear your HC supplied maroon singlet you received at practice on Thursday and black shorts. You may layer a black short sleeve or tank underneath :)

• PAY TO PLAY ($55) and CODE OF CONDUCT: Due to the middle school office by Friday, August 31 

• Snack Box: If you would like to donate post-practice snacks for our team we would be grateful. Trail mixes, granola bars, dried fruit, fruit ropes, individual peanut butter cups/pretzel bag/ even chocolate milk!

• PRACTICE THIS WEEK: Monday- Thursday 3-4:30pm. Thank you for your prompt pick-up! 

• MEETS THIS WEEK: NONE

Week One

So excited for the start of school and cross country - it's going to be a fun season! Below are some quick updates before our first practice this week. The calendar link on this page is up-to-date with practice days and meet information (click on the event to see details). Looking forward to running with you on Tuesday!

• Team night update - although the team night was on Aug 14 (sorry for the miscommunication), Gazelle Sports will still offer a discount on regular priced running shoes and spikes. Just mention you are with Holland Christian. If you have questions about shoes, please let me know - I am happy to help.
• Practice this week is on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 3-4:30. After school dismissal, please change into proper attire and running shoes. School bags, laptops, and other personal belongings should remain in the cubbies just outside of the locker room (not in the locker rooms or on the floor). After changing, we will meet just outside the back doors in the grass area at 3:05. 

• Starting next week, our regular practice schedule will be be Mon-Thurs from 3-4:30pm following the same routine as above. No running shoes = no running.

• Parent meeting will be on Thursday, Aug. 24 at 4:30. Please plan on attending or having a proxy collect the info for you.

• Remind App. This will be our primary form of communication while we are at meets. It is a simple way for me to send out groups notifications with arrival times or any delays we might encounter. It also gives you the ability to contact me back if needed. Follow the directions below:

1. Text the word "@mlambers" to the number 81010
2. You should receive a welcome text from Remind with a link to download the free app
3. Once you install the app, you can go through the setup process to create an account (please ensure you setup notifications via text, not just email)

Update

First Practice- Tuesday, August 22 from 3-4:30. Weekly practices will be M-TH from 3-4:30pm at HCMS.

Parent Meeting- after practice on Thursday, August 24 at 4:30pm. Please plan on attending as we will be sharing important info for the season.

Team Apparel- We are working on the details of our team uniform. Details will come home after the first week of practice.

Summer Running!

Summer running for fall cross country is HIGHLY encouraged. Preparing your body for the fall running season is one of the best ways to prevent injuries and feel strong heading into the season.

Here are some fun ways to get moving this summer with your family, teammates, or on your own.

• Extra Milers- is the perfect place to start summer training! We meet on Mondays at the Dow Center @ 7pm and Wednesdays at Tunnel Park @7pm. HC high school and middle school coaches lead and will be at these runs all summer. Parents, siblings, and friends are also welcome to walk or run along. FYI: The group is also open to other area schools, so you may even see a friend from church! The complete calendar can be found HERE.

• Personalized training plans- if you are someone who wants a little extra push, likes a checklist, and is ready for a more structured summer running plan please contact me!  Together, we will make a plan that works with your schedule and ability. FYI: The plans include age-appropriate strength and cross training days. 

• On your own- if you can't make it to Extra Milers we would still love for you to run on your own at least 3x per week. Here are a few local options I like for running: Riley Trails, Sanctuary Woods, Saugatuck Dunes, Helder Park, and Upper Mac Area. 
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IMPORTANT SIDE NOTE: Summer running is NOT a requirement of joining the team. It is simply encouraged to help you feel successful heading into fall. 

SUMMER!!!!!!

It's about this time of the year that I start dreaming about all things summer. I start planning summer vacations, dream of sitting out on the beach with my kids, swimming, and of course RUNNING!!! Even though my favorite time of the year to run is fall (hello crunchy leaves!), there is a fond place in my heart for summer running. It can be hot and unpleasant at times; however, I love the feeling of the sun on my skin, sunglasses on my face, and finishing a hard run with a jump in the lake or a pool. Awesome-sauce for sure.
Speaking of summer, swimming, and running, I can't wait to share with you some of the fun things Holland Christian XC teams (both HS&MS) have planned for the summer. 

#ExtraMilers

#ExtraMilers running group that meets all summer long to help kids build a base for cross country in the fall. Starting June 12, the group will meet on Mondays at the Dow Center and Wednesdays at Tunnel Park from 7-8:15pm. This group is open to all local schools and is led by HC cross country coaches. Even though these workouts are geared towards the high school teams, your middle school coaches will be at these runs all summer! Parents and siblings are welcome to run or walk along too. Bring your friends! Contact megan@runthemitten with questions. 

RUN for the SUN 5k

We are putting together an HC team for the Run for the Sun 5k on July 19. Contact megan@runthemitten.com for registration details. The 5k cost for XC team has been covered by a generous donor!!!