We have now officially finished the first four weeks of the XC season. The men's and women's teams have now progressed through four weeks of workouts. On the heels of our first meet - the September 1 UIW Relay - we continued our training assult with another heavy volume week.
I personally look forward to our big team trip. Yes, it is finally here! We leave for Notre Dame Thursday morning from the SA airport. We look forward to a fun, educational experience and some good racing conditions in South Bend, IN. Unfortunately, Notre Dame is playing the other major dissapointment of the 2007 Division I football season, Michigan, in Ann Arbor, MI.
Withouth further ado, this weeks MVRs...
Women's MVR for the week of September 3rd-8th: Sonya Solorio (Bush HS, Houston, TX). Sonya entered UIW with very little running experience. In fact, she has been running for less than two years. In addition to her lack of experience, she has experienced, as many freshman do, a difficult transition to college life. To make matters more difficult, Sonya is very close to her family and has missed them terribly the first month of the school year. However, Sonya, with the aid of some great individual workouts, is really starting to come around. The girls have really taken her under their wings and the continued encouragement has spear-headed Sonya to witness her best week of workouts yet. It is my hope that she will continue on this path as she continues to gain valuable running knowledge this cross country season! Congats Sonya on earning your first MVR of the week award!
Men's MVR for the week of September 3rd-8th: We have a tie for men's MVR this week: Jeremy Juarez (freshman from Lytle, TX) and Shayn Weidner (Marion, TX). Jeremy and Shayn have known one another for some time now. They were in the same district for two years in HS. Despite the fact that Shayn is one year older than Jeremy, they often found themselves competiting with each other in HS long before they became teammates. Well, the transition to teammates has been about as seemless as it possibly could be. Every morning, as we start our runs, Jeremy is right next to Shayn. Their love of running and determination to get better feeds their running relationship. Despite the fact that Shayn is an individual of few words, he has taken Jeremy under his wing as he teaches him the ropes of collegiate running. As Blake Bartosh (Burnet, TX) stated so succinctly last week on our way back from a workout "I think Shayn should be MVR this week because he sets the tone for the whole men's team. We see him working hard and we can't help but want to follow his lead every day." Well Blake, I am taking your advice - with an added twist; I believe Jeremy is quickly making himself a tone setter as well. Because of these two guys there is not a single guy on the team that doesn't come to practice ready to get after it. Adrian, Mike, Blake, Roman, Estevan and Jose all continue to keep their eyes on the goal, the goal that only the team knows.
This goal can only be obtained by living in the Here and Now. We can't focus too much on the past (other than to see how far we have come) and we can't look to far into the future (other than to maintain our focus on where we want to go). We are a part of something bigger than ourselves. The men and women have united to work together toward a common goal. Often times, there are people who advocate for how we should be different, individuals not tied to a group for fear of losing our unique identities. For instance, some radical thinkers believe that groups lose their sense of diversity and free thinking, which stifles ever-important critical thinking. Here is what I propose: What about a group of unique individuals, all capable of doing things the other person is not capable of doing, joining together in search of a common goal - striving for excellence together all the while learning from each other and in turn becoming more brodely defined unique individuals because of the experience??
I don't know...it is a novel idea. However, it seems to be the basic premis of team dynamics. It also seems to be what can make teams so special and unique.
XC and Track teams: Here is my challenge to you - Lets try to come together in a way that defies logical team dynamics. Lets create a family atmosphere that compells outsiders to wonder how they too can get a piece of "that unique UIW XC/TF experience."
Until next time...
Sunday, September 9, 2007
Friday, September 7, 2007
Another Week in the Books!
Well, we are putting the finishing touches on our fourth week together as a team. We finish the week with a long run in the AM of Saturday. This will be the finish of a very good training week for us. I have been pleased with how everyone is progessing as we continue our quest for the perfectly timed peak.
The men showed their unity this morning when they showed up for practice with matching mo-hawk hair cuts. 5 of the guys cut their hair last night to have some fun. Jose was not able to because he wasn't feeling well and they guys were not able to convince Michael to cut his yet. They are still working on Mike as they try to convince him to let his guard down a little bit and join the mo-hawk crew! Come on Michael, we know you really want to do it!!!
For the women, Sonya Gibbs (Gibbster) celebrated a birthday last week with the rest of the girls at a restaurant. On another happy note, Christine has joined the team again after a few weeks of rehabilitation. She is doing some easy running as she eases her way back into form. We hope to unleash her within the next week.
Finally, we had our first track team meeting yesterday. We gathered all track athletes together for an informative meeting to set the fall training schedule and talk about team expectations for the upcoming season. We had around 60 men and women in attendance (with several more not able to attend)! That officially makes us the largest athletic team on campus. The increase in numbers gives us great hope for another fantastic year as we continue to make a name for ourselves. At this point (roughly 10 total athletes give or take just two years ago when I took over the program) there is no where but up for this program to go.
Until next time....Remember that God loves you and enjoy the life you have been blessed with!
The men showed their unity this morning when they showed up for practice with matching mo-hawk hair cuts. 5 of the guys cut their hair last night to have some fun. Jose was not able to because he wasn't feeling well and they guys were not able to convince Michael to cut his yet. They are still working on Mike as they try to convince him to let his guard down a little bit and join the mo-hawk crew! Come on Michael, we know you really want to do it!!!
For the women, Sonya Gibbs (Gibbster) celebrated a birthday last week with the rest of the girls at a restaurant. On another happy note, Christine has joined the team again after a few weeks of rehabilitation. She is doing some easy running as she eases her way back into form. We hope to unleash her within the next week.
Finally, we had our first track team meeting yesterday. We gathered all track athletes together for an informative meeting to set the fall training schedule and talk about team expectations for the upcoming season. We had around 60 men and women in attendance (with several more not able to attend)! That officially makes us the largest athletic team on campus. The increase in numbers gives us great hope for another fantastic year as we continue to make a name for ourselves. At this point (roughly 10 total athletes give or take just two years ago when I took over the program) there is no where but up for this program to go.
Until next time....Remember that God loves you and enjoy the life you have been blessed with!
Sunday, September 2, 2007
2nd MVR (Most Valuable Runner) Award of 2007 Season
Our MVR for the week of August 27th - September 1:
Women: Melissa Martinez (Freshman from San Antonio). Melissa had another great week of work. Her complimentary and gracious attitude are contagious for the women's team. Her consistent hard work is starting to pay off for a runner who has only a year and a half of competitive running under her belt. She ran courageously yesterday when handed a lead in her first-ever collegiate cross country race and held it for 2-miles with three experienced Trinity girls gunning for her. Great job Melissa. Honorable mention this week: Yvonne Rodriguez (Tuluso-Midway). After finally settling her living situtation and having a week to get back into the swing of things in the classroom Yvonne had an excellent week of workouts. She began the week with a fantastic 4-mile tempo run and finished the week with a strong 2-mile test Saturday.
Men: Shayn Weidner (Sophomore from Marion, TX). What can I say, Shayn just continues to bring it. It is often easy to overlook someone who always has a good attitude and who you always know is going to do whatever he can to be the best runner he can possibly be. I never worry about Shayn squandering his gifts or ability level. Shayn has taken on a leadership role (along with Blake Bartosh, Sophomore from Burnet, TX) this season. He knows the guys look up to him so he always sets a good example each and every day. I am pleased, at this point, with the gelling of the men's team. They all work hard to respect one another and hold each other accountable. Honorable mention: Michael Cortez (Freshman from San Antonio). The guy is a lunch pail worker. Michael comes to practice ready to work, goes home, studies and goes to bed. He continues to improve thanks to a great summer base. I look forward to Michael surprising some people not only this season, but throughout his collegiate career. He has taken ahold of the mold Shayn has set this season. In fact, I can't think of a man on the team who doesn't carry this attitude.
Women: Melissa Martinez (Freshman from San Antonio). Melissa had another great week of work. Her complimentary and gracious attitude are contagious for the women's team. Her consistent hard work is starting to pay off for a runner who has only a year and a half of competitive running under her belt. She ran courageously yesterday when handed a lead in her first-ever collegiate cross country race and held it for 2-miles with three experienced Trinity girls gunning for her. Great job Melissa. Honorable mention this week: Yvonne Rodriguez (Tuluso-Midway). After finally settling her living situtation and having a week to get back into the swing of things in the classroom Yvonne had an excellent week of workouts. She began the week with a fantastic 4-mile tempo run and finished the week with a strong 2-mile test Saturday.
Men: Shayn Weidner (Sophomore from Marion, TX). What can I say, Shayn just continues to bring it. It is often easy to overlook someone who always has a good attitude and who you always know is going to do whatever he can to be the best runner he can possibly be. I never worry about Shayn squandering his gifts or ability level. Shayn has taken on a leadership role (along with Blake Bartosh, Sophomore from Burnet, TX) this season. He knows the guys look up to him so he always sets a good example each and every day. I am pleased, at this point, with the gelling of the men's team. They all work hard to respect one another and hold each other accountable. Honorable mention: Michael Cortez (Freshman from San Antonio). The guy is a lunch pail worker. Michael comes to practice ready to work, goes home, studies and goes to bed. He continues to improve thanks to a great summer base. I look forward to Michael surprising some people not only this season, but throughout his collegiate career. He has taken ahold of the mold Shayn has set this season. In fact, I can't think of a man on the team who doesn't carry this attitude.
2nd Annual UIW Relays
The men's and women's cross country teams kicked off our season yesterday at Live Oak City Park in San Antonio, TX. Despite the Friday afternoon rains the meet was a success on a number of fronts. First, for all intensive purposes it seems that the 5K course can withstand a cross country meet of the magnitude of a regional championships. I was pleased with how the course ran and how it help up despite a heavy rain the day before. Secondly, our men and women had good season debuts despite their visible dissapointment in their times. The rain was one factor in the slower times - as the wet grass and a few muddy spots kept runners from really opening it up. The fact that this was our first racing simulation of the season also contributed to the sluggish times. Nonetheless, I was pleased with our first meet. There were some good efforts and some good showings from the Cardinal and Lady Cardinal side.
Yvonne Rodriguez and Melissa Martinez won in impressive fashion over a pretty talented field. Yvonne took the lead from the very beginning and handed off to Melissa with a 25 second lead. Melissa then proceeded to hold that lead.
Maggie Callahan and Rose Caldwell teamed to finish a close 7th overall (31 teams) by both running consistent legs. Both girls looked strong in their first meet competition of the season. In fact, Rosey nearly caught the 6th place Trinity team in a sprint at the finish!
Shayn Weidner and Adrian Carrillo teamed up to finish 2nd overall to a Trinity pairing. Despite suffering from a painful cramp 2 1/2 miles into the 5K Shayn maintained his placing to hand off to Adrian in 3rd overall positioning. Adrian quickly moved toward the leaders, overtaking first and second place 2 miles into the final leg. At that point I thought we had the men's title sown up. However, a Trinity sophomore turned on some unexpected jets to race past Adrian in the final 800 meters for the narrow 15 second victory. Despite this, Shayn and Adrian both put forth valiant efforts. I look for both of them to be major players in the race for the individual conference championship in late October.
Unattached runners Jay Wilson and Jeremy Juarez ran strong legs to finish a close 5th overall. Both runners are training hard and redshirting this XC season.
Finally, Michael Cortez and Blake Bartosh teamed up to finish 13th out of 27 teams to give the UIW men 3 pairs in the top half of the finishers.
Both teams are off next week as we continue our preparations for our big trip to Notre Dame for the National Catholic School championships in South Bend, IN. We leave Thursday, September 13th for the Friday event. We will visit the Notre Dame campus as well as Chicago. Before leaving , we are planning a team long run on the shoreline of the beautiful Lake Michigan.
Check out the following link at our UIW athletics web page: http://www.uiw.edu/athletics/crosscountry_men/news.html#newsitemEEllyZuZklIeyClBaz
http://www.uiw.edu/athletics/crosscountry_women/news.html#newsitemEEllyZuVAZxwNGGTRC
Also, go to photobucket.com to see pictures from the meet!
Until next time...
Yvonne Rodriguez and Melissa Martinez won in impressive fashion over a pretty talented field. Yvonne took the lead from the very beginning and handed off to Melissa with a 25 second lead. Melissa then proceeded to hold that lead.
Maggie Callahan and Rose Caldwell teamed to finish a close 7th overall (31 teams) by both running consistent legs. Both girls looked strong in their first meet competition of the season. In fact, Rosey nearly caught the 6th place Trinity team in a sprint at the finish!
Shayn Weidner and Adrian Carrillo teamed up to finish 2nd overall to a Trinity pairing. Despite suffering from a painful cramp 2 1/2 miles into the 5K Shayn maintained his placing to hand off to Adrian in 3rd overall positioning. Adrian quickly moved toward the leaders, overtaking first and second place 2 miles into the final leg. At that point I thought we had the men's title sown up. However, a Trinity sophomore turned on some unexpected jets to race past Adrian in the final 800 meters for the narrow 15 second victory. Despite this, Shayn and Adrian both put forth valiant efforts. I look for both of them to be major players in the race for the individual conference championship in late October.
Unattached runners Jay Wilson and Jeremy Juarez ran strong legs to finish a close 5th overall. Both runners are training hard and redshirting this XC season.
Finally, Michael Cortez and Blake Bartosh teamed up to finish 13th out of 27 teams to give the UIW men 3 pairs in the top half of the finishers.
Both teams are off next week as we continue our preparations for our big trip to Notre Dame for the National Catholic School championships in South Bend, IN. We leave Thursday, September 13th for the Friday event. We will visit the Notre Dame campus as well as Chicago. Before leaving , we are planning a team long run on the shoreline of the beautiful Lake Michigan.
Check out the following link at our UIW athletics web page: http://www.uiw.edu/athletics/crosscountry_men/news.html#newsitemEEllyZuZklIeyClBaz
http://www.uiw.edu/athletics/crosscountry_women/news.html#newsitemEEllyZuVAZxwNGGTRC
Also, go to photobucket.com to see pictures from the meet!
Until next time...
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