Summer Conditioning

Emily and her closest soccer friend spent the summer getting ready for soccer tryouts.  I have to say, they are a really impressive group of girls.  Between 5-7 girls showed up 2-3 days a week and put themselves through whatever tortuous workout I prepared for them.  In addition to lots of 200 and 400 repeats, the girls did any fitness test I could find - beep test, Man U test, timed mile, full field sprints, 2 mile ladders, you name it.  And they pushed themselves, and each other, to the limit.  It made me so happy when they told me that when they went to captains' practices or started tryouts that they were in the best shape out anyone their respective team.  It is so great to see their hard work pay off. 

Mixing it up with some soccer training.

Agility work after a time mile.

Beep test in the pouring rain.

Full field accelerations.

Meeting up early one morning for a timed mile.

Everyone has to run a time mile, 1.5 mile or 2 mile so we did a lot 400 repeats.  They got faster and faster as the summer went on, and shortened their rest time on their own.

Hanging out with the coyote....

Final Man U.

9th and 11th

The beginning of school looked very different this year, but the girls seem to be making the most of it.  Emily had a 1/2 day of orientation and then a 1/2 day of school (freshmen only); two days later, Elizabeth had a 1/2 day of school (juniors only).  The following week, they had two days of class that were remote, and two that were in person, so that the school could address any issues with remote learning (which some students have opted to do for the semester or the year) and ease into full time school.  Finally, the whole school came together and so far (knock on wood) they have been able to attend full time, five days a week.  The daily schedule has changed and includes mask breaks and few daily classes, but everyone seems to have adjusted very well. The girls said there are no issues with masks - the kids all want to be in school so badly, they are following every rule.  They are both so happy to be with their friends and learning in the classroom again.

Pierced

Emily got her years double pierced at the beginning of the summer and then, on a whim, she got a third hole in late August. We aren't sure if she will ever go four weeks without a soccer game until she is out of high school, so thought that we should seize the opportunity.

Elizabeth also got a new piercing.  14 days after we returned from New Hampshire, she had her conch pierced, something she's been looking forward to for a while.  The healing process is up to a year (!!), so we are a bit nervous about fall lacrosse, but hoping everything works out well. Once you move on from the traditional piercings, everything comes with a lot of blood and a lot pain.  Although Elizabeth didn't bleed too much, she was in some serious pain.