Welcome to the Lakewood Ranch High School Cross Country Team!

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*** TEAM UPDATES 5/1/2024 ***

1. Team and Parent Meeting For All New/Potential and Returning Runners
Thursday, May 9, 2024 in the LRHS Cafeteria 7:45 p.m.-8:15 p.m.

Please join us Thursday evening, May 9th for our short but important meeting for all athletes and parents to attend.  We will be sharing with you the details you need about athletic paperwork, summer training, the meet schedule, equipment, fundraisers, transportation, and more. If you cannot attend the meeting, please email your coach with your athlete name, email, and phone number and also include a parent name and email so we can send you the information.

Thank you,
GIRLS COACH - Rae Ann Darling Reed, 941-586-9375, darlingreedr@manateeschools.net
BOYS COACH - Bill Zarrella, 941-726-0179, or zarrellaw@manateeschools.net

2. Parents & Athletes: We are using the SportsYOU app for team messaging since that is easier and quicker than email, plus not everyone is signed up to receive the team emails. We have almost everyone on SportsYOU. Please text or email Coach Rae Ann to be added. SportsYOU is where we post the meet information, course maps, updates, links to photos, and other important stuff. Thank you!

TEAM CALENDAR:  

We will use this team Google Calendar for all of our meets, practices, and other team activities. It will be constantly updated and will contain the most current events, so please check it several times per week. Our calendar is best viewed in “agenda” so click that on top right of the calendar to change to agenda layout.  This calendar will tell you when and where we practice and what time your ride should pick you up. All events have an end time set so please do not wait until practice ends to call your ride; have them arrive at the end time shown on the calendar. There are other important details on the calendar so be sure to click on that day to open up the additional details. Thank you.
Please bookmark this direct link to the calendar on your phone and computer.

PRACTICE:  

We practice every day after school Monday through Friday plus Saturday mornings when we do not have a meet. We also practice in the mornings on teacher in-service days, school holidays, and record days, so please plan accordingly. We may give you some Fridays off from practice so you may schedule your dentist, doctor, hair, appointments, work, volunteering, etc. on Fridays. Please do not schedule appointments so that you miss practice Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays.  We practice in all weather conditions, except lightning (obviously). If it is raining at the end of the school day, plan on going to practice. We will wait in a safe place for any unsafe weather to pass. Please bring your water bottle, watch or Garmin, and large towel or mat to every practice and meet. All practice times and locations will be listed on our team Google calendar.

EQUIPMENT NEEDED FOR XC:

• Good running shoes - Please get properly fit for running shoes!  Coach Rae Ann has 18 years of experience as a Fit Expert so please check with her for an assessment or suggestions.
• Moisture wicking socks - no cotton! See team store for some options.
• A Garmin Forerunner is highly recommended, but not required. Check your local running store or Amazon.  The following Garmin models are plenty of tech for what we do:  35, 45, 55, 235, 245.  If you do not wish to purchase a Garmin, you will need a good running watch such as the Timex Ironman 50-Lap model.
• Exercise or yoga mat or big beach towel - we do lots of core, strength, and stretching on the ground.
• Giant water bottle - please bring a bottle big enough to hold enough water for you for 2 hours of exercising. An insulated bottle is recommended to keep your water cold.  Walmart has some great 64 oz. insulated bottles for under $25.
• Please read: Care and maintenance of our two most important pieces of equipment

CROSS COUNTRY:  

Cross Country running is not very glamorous, it’s misunderstood by most, and not taken seriously by critics who like to compare us to hobby jogging. Distance runners are some of the most disciplined athletes and must work hard year round to achieve greatness, regardless of talent. What I love most about it as a coach is that you never know how many diamonds you will find in a group of 80+ kids. Unlike other sports, great runners don’t typically come from club teams where parents have spent tons of money and time trying to “fine tune” their child to be good enough for high school sports. They show up, unassuming at times, and are developed through nurturing, training, role modeling, and by providing a culture that they can relate to. It is a no cut sport which allows us time for those diamonds to shine after months or even years of hard work. And even though only 7 make the varsity spots, all of them are achieving goals that they never thought possible. The perseverance and strength that is required to endure hours of training and sacrifice, without instant gratification, is a life skill for these kids. It’s a character trait that we hope stays with them forever and will serve them well in whatever they set out to do. Cross County is a team sport, where your 5th runner actually determines the success as a group. Cross Country is not track, it is not jogging, it is not your sports punishment, and second place is never the first loser. It is comprised of a group of people who are willing to make sacrifices that most would not.

~This was written by Michelle Resendez, a former elite runner and now mom, nurse practitioner, coach, and wears many other hats. This sums up the best sport ever. Cross Country.