Summer Conditioning

Summer conditioning had a smaller, but just as dedicated group this year. The girls wanted to switch to morning sessions to free up their days, but summer soccer and work commitments prevented the larger group from training together on a regular basis. It was usually Emily and two or three other girls - depending on schedules - three mornings a week. They worked hard and powered through the humidity and bad air quality to bring up their fitness just in time for high school preseason, and our trip to England.

4's on the 4th of July

Some days, Em ran all by herself.

Minions

Once again, Emily and her soccer friends spent two nights a week doing training and conditioning work with me to prepare for the fall high school season.  I love these girls so much - they give it their all, day in and day out and this summer, they took it up a notch.  On days that they weren't training with me, I often received text messages asking for workouts that they could do on their own.  They also asked me about nutrition and sleep habits.  They are taking so much into their own hands at this point and it's really great to watch them grow.

The End of Cross Country

Elizabeth's final season of cross country ended on Monday at the Class S State Championship race.  Her last two races were definitely disappointing for her, but ending the season on the most difficult course in the state is still an accomplishment.  She will miss the camaraderie and her coaches, but she will not miss all those long runs!!  And as we drove out of Wickham Park, for probably the last time (and we've been there at least twice a year for the last seven years!), we said farewell.

September Cross Country

The fall cross country season started off very well for Northwest Catholic.  Surprisingly, Elizabeth has been running pretty well.  She admittedly did not train for distance this summer, focusing on working out at the gym and playing lacrosse. Despite that, she has been running pretty well, including her fastest 5K in three years, which she ran last week.  We are happy that she is relatively pain free and enjoying her final season of cross country.

At the start of the Blue Dragon Invitational.

Post race with her best friends and fellow captains.

These two played lacrosse with, and now against, each other for years.

The captains with Coach Carlson.

Seniors

Taking third at Camp Sloper for small schools.

These two ran for me when they were in middle school.  This is likely their last time running against each other.

Summer Running

Emily and her Sporting soccer friends spent the summer running miles, sprints and hills.  They suffered through the beep test, endless 400s, and plenty of agility drills.  No matter the heat or the humidity, the girls showed up and worked hard.  I can't wait to see them all play for their high school teams this fall - every last one of them on the varsity roster and most of them starting varsity. I'm so proud of them and I love to see their hard work pay off.

Before their last long run together.