Avon Meet Apparel

Avon is selling optional t-shirts for their meet tomorrow. All proceeds to go to the American Red Cross and all shirts will be shipped to athlete homes. The sales are online only!

Here's the link: Avon Meet Apparel

Avon Meet

 Here’s our weekly update:

• Great job at Vermilion last Thursday! Lorain County won the Lake Erie Challenge, claiming 8 first place finishes out of 10 total races. 
• Here are the Boys' Results:

          Avon Lake 21 

          Westside Christian 58

          Edison 114                    

• Here are the Girls' Results:

          Avon Lake 29

          Westside Christian 35

          Edison 37

Avon Meet (ATHLETES):

• The Avon Meet on Thursday is going to have a lot of great competition. This is a perfect opportunity to practice racing with our SWC competitors!
• We are taking two buses to this race.
• Boys will be leaving Learwood at 3:15 p.m.
• Girls will be leaving Learwood at 4 p.m.
• All boys will run together and all girls will run together (no team/open races).
• Bring sweats, 2 bottles of water, a sports drink, and a snack. There will be no concessions at this race.
• We're including a course map here: Course Map
• Results will be posted on baumspage.com for this meet. Go to this site, click on Cross Country, and our results will be located on the right-hand side under the Avon link.
• Athletes must wear a mask prior to and upon completion of races. 
• There will be no tents, but we will have a designated camp area.
• Runners should arrive at the start line 5 minutes before the race.
• There will be no huddles, rituals, or run-outs at the start line (we can do our chant before this, away from the start). 
• Runners will need to be spaced out 6 feet apart at the start line. Wear a watch to get a more accurate reading of your time! Start your watch as you cross the line.
• Runners will need to break in after staying in their alleys for 150 meters.
• There will be no chute, head back to camp to get your water. You can catch your breath and do your own cool-down to camp.

Avon Meet (PARENTS):

• The course will be held at 3701 Veterans Memorial Parkway Avon, OH 44011
• We are required to leave within 45 minutes of our last race, spectators are asked to leave within 15 minutes of the last race.
• Spectators are required to wear a mask.
• They are asking for two immediate family members only for this race.
• Parking will only be permitted towards the front entrance of the parking lot (cars will not be permitted beyond the playground).
• We may need help with the chip timing system. I'll send out another post about this. 

Additional Vermilion Info

I just finished a Zoom coaches meeting for tomorrow's meet, and I wanted to follow up regarding a few things:

• First, this looks like it will be a lot of fun! They're planning music and they'll announce the teams at the line.
• Avon Lake will be given a section for camp. We'll let everyone know where that is once we find out tomorrow.
• The course is very spectator-friendly and it will be lined the entire way. It will be impossible to get lost and we should get to see a lot of the race.
• Parents, it takes about 30 minutes to get to Sailorway Middle School. So the boys should leave Avon Lake at 4:45 p.m. (arrive at 5:15 p.m.).
• Girls, you can leave at the same time if you want, but you could leave at 5:15 p.m. (arrive at 5:45 p.m.). That way you can meet with all the other girls, get ready to warm-up, and cheer on the boys at the beginning of their race.
• Boys, you should stay to cheer on the girls during their race.
• Warm-ups are allowed on the course, but cool-downs should be done at the practice football fields.
• If we do a cool-down let's keep it short tomorrow as we all have to leave the premises within 45 minutes of the last race.
• Parents, there's nothing that says you can't watch both Avon Lake races. I know it's a pain to sit around waiting for your child to run, so 15 minutes before the boys' race join us on the course to cheer on our entire team!
• If possible, the coaching staff would appreciate signing athletes out after the conclusion of both races. Or, if this is not an option, sign out with a coach who isn't helping out at the finish line.
• We will be busy at the finish line, as we have to help in identifying our runners as they come across the finish line. 

Athletes, a few other things to go over:

• Don't forget what we went over today! 
• Additionally, you are not allowed to be at the start line until 5 minutes before your race. So warm-up on the course, do your form-drills, and your team chant away from the start. 
• I'll post a schedule of what to do and when to do it on your team cards, given to an 8th grader.
• Make sure to be positive at all times, support each other, talk each other up!
  
• At the line make sure you wish the opposing teams good luck. Practice good sportsmanship throughout our time in Vermilion.
• When you finish, catch your breath and then make sure you keep moving back to camp, where you can meet back up with your teammates and grab your water!
• Again, if you aren't running, make sure you have your mask on.

Get some rest tonight, it's race day tomorrow!

Go Shoremen & Shoregals!

Lake Erie Challenge Tri-Meet

Here's information regarding the Lake Erie Challenge Tri-Meet:

• We will meet at LEARWOOD at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday (bus leaves at 4:35 p.m.).
• We should return between 8 - 8:15 p.m.
• Spectator parking will be at Vermilion Elementary School (across the street from the middle school).
• We are anticipating only needing one bus for Thursday, per our polling of the team earlier this summer. We'll talk to the team tomorrow to confirm we only need one bus. Athletes are encouraged to get a ride with a parent but we understand if you need to ride the bus.
• All BOYS run at 6:15 p.m.
• All GIRLS run at 6:45 p.m.
• The Lake Erie Challenge will feature multiple tri-meets, with each tri-meet featuring a team from each of the following counties: Cuyahoga, Lorain, and Erie. The county that earns the most victories will win the Lake Erie Challenge. Avon Lake will be facing off against Westside Christian and Edison.
• The starting line will be lined with a 100M alley that athletes will stay in before they are allowed to cut in.
• The finish line will be OPEN (no chute) and athletes will be directed from the finish line quickly. Athletes will need to get to camp to get their water.
• Scoring of this meet may be tricky, we may need to assist Vermilion with the scoring of the meet by assigning our athletes' names to the times scored. We may know the score right away but Avon Lake may need to assign names to the times. We'll post our team's times later the next day (or the following weekend). 
• Coach Peepers will drive out and set up our team camp, which will be located at Sailorway Middle School.
• The coaching staff will need to conduct a health assessment, including temperature check, once athletes arrive at the camp.
• Teams can arrive 60 minutes before the first race, but not before.
• Teams have to leave within 45 minutes after the completion of the last race.
• Cool-downs are not permitted on the course; however, you can gather your team together and cool-down at the practice football fields.
• Top-three finishers in each race will earn medals and a framed certificate will be mailed to winning county.
• Face coverings are required by all coaches, spectators, and athletes. 
• Athletes can remove face coverings when they are running. I'll find out if they need to wear masks at the starting line.
• Spectators should not arrive until 15 minutes prior to the race and are expected to depart within 15 minutes following the race.
• Parents, if you're taking your child to and from the meet, you should be fine. Once you arrive you can direct your child to our camp at the middle school (you won't be able to miss it, we've got two AWESOME tents this year), then you might want to hang back off the course & camp until 15 minutes prior to the first race.
• Results will be on Twitter: @VermilionXC.
• Course map can be found HERE . The middle school course ends at the 2-mile mark.
• Parents, Coach Walters is going to set up a QR code to be scanned by your phone. Each coach will have a clipboard with the code so you can scan your child out from the meet (instead of signing out your child). We'll cross-check this after the meet but hopefully this is easier, quicker, and socially-distant for everyone.

Athletes:

• Bring uniform, apparel, running shoes AND spikes (if you have them). You can get spikes if you want them but they aren't necessary. You will only wear your spikes for the race. Bring a cell phone, water, sports drink (just one), and a healthy snack.
• Remember, if you wear compression shirts, shorts, or just regular shirts/shorts underneath your uniform, it has to be BLACK! Officials are much better with the logos, but make sure your shirts/shorts are a solid color (black). We’ll review this at our team meeting on Wednesday.

Practice After School

 Here's a review of what practice will look like after school:

• Pack your workout clothes, shoes, socks, two water bottles, and a snack in a bag. One water bottle can be carried with you throughout the school day, and you can refill it at drinking fountain (there are water bottle filling stations at Learwood).
• You will drop off your bag in the locker rooms (boys and girls' locker rooms are located at either end of the gym). You are allowed to walk in, and you'll place your bag underneath the 'Cross Country' sign. 
• The coaching staff won't be able to direct you tomorrow morning (we have to be in our homerooms at that time); however our athletic director will be there should you have any questions or are nervous about walking into the locker rooms.
• You do NOT need a lock, the locker room will be locked up each morning.
• After school, you will be the first sport dismissed. Go to the locker room with your school book bag, and change in the locker room into your cross country gear. Cross country will be the only team in there from 3 - 3:10 p.m. so try to hurry! If we need to alter these times we will but try your best to get changed quickly so the next sport can get into the locker room.
• Take all your stuff and drop it off next to a desk in the MPR (not on a desk). You can eat your snack there but PLEASE do not leave a mess. This is even more important this year.
• We hope to start practice at 3:20 p.m. but we will of course wait for everyone from Open Door. 
• We will meet as one team on the track tomorrow and then we'll split up after that.
• Bring your water on the track and don't forget your mask! 
• We should be done at 4:45 p.m. If you need to leave early let us know and you can take your gear out to the track.
• You aren't allowed to be on your phone throughout the day but once school is over get in the habit of checking the REMIND app as I'll post updates. This will be key this year as the boys and girls' teams may not be doing the same workouts together. With our social distancing guidelines this year students won't be able to stop by my classroom (which is normally room 404) to ask questions about practice, so I'll post updates on the app and you can check it at the end of the day. Going forward I'll post weekly calendars as well.
• Looking forward to seeing you all tomorrow!

Alternate Practice Workouts: August 24th-29th

Practice is mandatory. However, if you cannot attend practice, we need an email/note from home. Please note that practice can only be missed for the following reasons:

• Illness
• Family commitment (vacations included)
• Doctor/Dentist/Orthodontist appointment
• Religious holiday

If you can't make it to a summer practice session, make sure you are running on your own. I'm attaching general running times below--pick a time listed below (or a time in between the times listed) to run on the days you will NOT be in attendance.

• Monday          8/24    20 minutes up-tempo run
• Tuesday         8/25    20 minutes
• Wednesday    8/26    28-38 minutes
• Thursday        8/27    10 minutes up-tempo run
• Friday             8/28    15 minutes
• Saturday        8/29     20 minutes up-tempo run

Practice Times & Locations 8/24 - 8/28

Our schedule for next week may have some changes. Locations and times may change on a daily basis, as we incorporate some workouts at Learwood. We will post any changes on the blog and through the REMIND app.

Here's the schedule for the remainder of the summer:

Monday, August 24th
ALHS Track (caboose)
3:45 - 5:15 p.m.

Tuesday, August 25th
ALHS Track (caboose)
3:45 - 5:45 p.m. 

We plan on running the Avon Lake Intra-Squad Meet this day. If it's really hot, we may delay this to later in the week so practice times may change.

Wednesday, August 26th
ALHS Track (caboose)
3:45 - 5:15 p.m.

Thursday, August 27th
Learwood Track 
3:45 - 5:15 p.m.
We will pass out uniforms on this day.

Friday, August 28th
NO PRACTICE 
This is our Fall Sports Picture Day. We've been told there's no practice before or after pictures. We will meet at Learwood (we'll let you know the time, but it will be in the afternoon).

Saturday, August 29th

We have nothing scheduled. However, it will be cool on this day so we may want to run the intra-squad meet.

Make sure you notify us of any excused absences! Family commitments, vacations, and appointments qualify as 'excused' absences. Oversleeping or just 'skipping' practice is an 'unexcused' absence. Just make sure you are communicating with us via email and/or handwritten note so we can keep track!