Summer Training

As we get ready for the end of the school year, we start to prep ourselves for summer training and getting ready for the 2026 CC Season.

We will be starting our summer training on Monday, June 1st (We can work with the athletes from June 1st-July 31st, minus a week over the 4th of July), and we will be going at 3:15 Monday-Friday that week so that anyone that is a Middle Schooler and interested in either joining or ready for their summer training can be apart of it.   Starting June 8th, we will be having our practice time be at 8:00am, to beat any heat, Monday through Friday.  Locations for practices for the upcoming week will be posted a couple of days before the beginning of the week, but expect locations to be as follows for most weeks: Monday - Riverview Park; Tuesday - CRHS West end of Tennis Courts; Wednesday - Riverview Park; Thursday - Bunker Golf Course Parking Lot 1; Friday - CRHS West end of Tennis Courts.

New this year, 2026, we will be offering those entering into 6th grade the chance to come to our summer program runs to learn about the sport, get a chance to meet those on the middle school team as well as the high school team, plus get prepared for their season.  This is a non-mandatory gathering and there is no cost to be a part of it.  The summer program for the younger athletes will be 2-3 days a week, Tuesday's, Thursday's, and Friday's will be their best running options, but if someone cannot make those days, they are always welcome to be at the Monday or Wednesday runs as well. If you know of anyone entering into 6th grade and might have interest in running, please let them know of this option. I am currently working on a summer mileage chart for the middle schoolers that I will post on the right side of the blog as well.

One item that will need to be looked at for each athlete individually is when to begin their training.  If someone is still competing in an activity at the time we begin practices, we want them to focus on that.  If it is an activity, like Track, that just finished the week before, we want those runners to take some time off, at least a week, if not two, before they join us for practices.  The first week of practice is for those that were not in a spring activity or have been done for at least a week.  Rest and recovery from previous activities is just as important as building up mileage.  If there is anyone that is not sure what they should do, please contact me and we can discuss what should be done.

If there are any questions, please let me know.

Thanks and enjoy the rest of the school year!
Denny

2026 Running Camp

We as a Coaches are wanting to set up a Summer Running Camp that we are offering up to the whole team, a trip to the North Shore and staying at Lutsen Mt is what we are going to try and plan.  We would set the camp up for the last full week of July, starting on July 27th.  Originally we were thinking of a 4 day/3 night trip, but due to the current costs of lodging, gas and food, we have decided to go with a 3 day/2 night trip to make sure we don't charge too much. But, we do want to know what price limit everyone has, because we want anyone who would like to be there to be able to afford it.  (Cost would include Lodging, Food, and Gas for transportation, which are parent chaperones and myself driving).

One thing, however, in order to have a more definitive cost, we need to know how many people will be coming.  This could limit the number of possible new members to the team, but in order to assure lodging, we need to know sooner than later how many will be going.  So, we are asking that those that are planning to attend to please fill out the form below by April 30th!!  If there are new members that current members know about, it is ok for them to sign up as well so we know the numbers, so please forward this onto possible new members.  There will be some leeway on the numbers, but the sooner we know an exact number the sooner we can finalize the cost of camp (Last year, this trip for the same amount of time was $240/person, but we intentionally over-estimate and will return any left over funds).  If you are a parent and would like to chaperone/drive, please let us know as well. 

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdOl8kWmM6diRjvzlDknC6M4RlAiPA2uO_lPec2Us4DYVNsbQ/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=111658290248301905448

Thanks,
Denny

State Meet and Banquet Reminder

An overcast day with chili temps led to one of the best individual performances by a Cardinal Runner in program history on Saturday at the Minnesota State AAA Meet!!  Ruby was able to finish the season with another All Time PR, dropping 9 seconds from her Section and School Record time on a much harder course, finishing in 17th overall place out of 160 runners and earning All-State, adding her name to a short, but stellar group of females at Coon Rapids to earn All State honors in Cross Country Running!!

Thanks to the great support from all that came with to watch and cheer on Ruby!! Even when one is zoned in on their race, they notice the support!!  One coach even remarked about the great support from Coon Rapids for one runner and how impressive it was!!  Also, thank you to all of our runners that came out and helped Ruby get ready this past week at practices.  There have been many years where there may be one or two that would help.  This year, both boys and girls showed and continued to work hard to help Ruby get to this point!! It's a great group of runners and a group we hope will continue to work hard and be supportive of each other!

Also, a reminder that the end of season Banquet is on Monday, Nov. 3rd at 6:00pm at the High School Cafeteria.  All the information is below.

 2025 Cross Country Running Banquet 

The season is coming to an end it is time to look back on the accomplishments of the 2025 edition of the Coon Rapids Boys and Girls Cross Country teams.

This year, our banquet will be on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025 starting at 6:00 at the CRHS Cafeteria.  This will be a Pot Luck affair with each grade of athletes bringing the following: 

7 Seniors: Desserts

5 Juniors: Beverages

11 Sophomores: Entrees

9 Freshmen & Under:  Salads

Please note that there are 30 members of the team, 2 managers, plus three coaches, as well as family members of these athletes that will be attending, so please bring accordingly.  All plates, silverware, napkins, and cups will be supplied.

Due to Allergy concerns, if you do make anything with nuts in it, we ask that you mark it.

This will be a night in which we will be handing out all team awards and such, so we do appreciate you being a part of this event to celebrate the accomplishments of the athletes and the team. 

We are also wanting this to be a more formal affair for the athletes.
If there are any questions, please let me know.  Thanks, Denny

State Meet Week

Saturday morning is the State Cross Country Meet and Ruby will be competing at 3:15pm.  We will have a bus for our runners that are wanting to go down to watch and support Ruby, Lachlan and Owen.  That bus will leave at 1:00pm.

The races will be held this year at the U of M Les Bolstad Golf Course, the same location as the Roy Griak Invite.  Know that parking on site is not available and that you will need to park at the State Fair Grounds.  Please click on this link on where to park and go through the info below if intend to drive down:

https://www.mshsl.org/sites/default/files/2024-10/2024-cross-country-spectator-shuttle-map.pdf

SPECTATOR PARKING & SHUTTLE SERVICE: Spectator parking is free of charge and will be available on race day at the MN State Fair Lot "Buffalo Lot" at 1641 Underwood Street.  This lot can only be accessed from Larpenteur Ave or Hoyt Ave.

• Spectators should plan to arrive at the shuttle parking lot at least 60 minutes prior to the start of the race(s) they wish to see. 

• Shuttle service to and from the golf course and the parking lot will be provided from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm on race day. The shuttle pickup and drop off points will be posted with large “Shuttle Stop” signs. 

• Spectator Parking is NOT ALLOWED on site at the golf course and there is limited street parking near the venue. Security will be at each entry point of campus and will only admit busses and team vans with official parking passes, and vehicles with a current disability permit or license plates.

Also, if you are intending to watch the race(s), you will need to purchase tickets prior to arriving.  Please go to this link and then scroll down to Cross Country and then follow the prompts: https://www.mshsl.org/tickets

STREAMING: All six races and each award ceremony will be streamed. Go to nspn.tv/MSHSL for details. 

SOUVENIR MERCHANDISE AND TOURNAMENT PROGRAMS: Tournament merchandise will be available for sale on Friday and Saturday in a tent near the start line but also online: https://mshsl.signatureconcepts.shop/. Digital tournament programs are available at no charge on the League web site. Go to www.mshsl.org/programs to download copies.

SPECTATORS ON COURSE: Need to stay behind the fences in order that all runners will have a fair opportunity to do their best. Spectator interference may result in the disqualification of a team or individual.

If there are any questions, please let me know,
Thanks

Denny

 

Section 7AAA Results

Congratulations to Ruby as she finished in 6th place today at the Section 7AAA Meet, beating her own School Record and Qualifying for the State Meet for the 2nd year in a row!! 

Congratulations to the whole program, both the Boys and Girls teams, as they put together as good of a day as they could have.  Despite both Varsity teams finishing 8th out of 8 teams, today's races were not just about team or individual placings, but about something else, growth and development, and taking steps forward in the times that they have been running, and ending the season in a different place then where we started in August.  Of the 28 runners that competed for the Cardinals today, 23 ran All Time Personal Records and 3 more ran Season Bests!!  So many of these improvements were not by just a few seconds, most of them were significant amounts of time faster than any time they had run before!  It shows the hard work that they put in throughout the season!  We hope this will be a big, positive step as we move forward.  There are always points that one can look at that can be looked back on that indicate where things started to move forward in a positive direction.  Hopefully, today was that point! 

Thank you for all of the Cardinal fans, friends and families that came out to support the hard work that the runners put in, not only today, but for the whole season!  

The team will meet tomorrow at normal practice time to do team voting but also continue to help Ruby as she gets ready for the State Meet next Saturday, Nov. 1! We are putting together a bus for those that would like to come along to watch and support her!

Lastly, team uniform turn in will be a day or two after our team banquet, which is on Monday, Nov. 3rd.  Once I have the day confirmed, I will let everyone know.
Thanks,

Denny 

Section 7AAA Meet Info

Here are a couple of items for next week as well as for the Section Meet on Thursday, Oct 23 for the Varsity and JV at Anoka High School.  A list of who will be running Varsity is also below.  Those not listed will be running in the JV races.

Monday's practice will still be held at 3:15.  There may not be school for everyone, but some still have PSEO classes and Coach Jerlie has to work during the day, and she will be in charge of practice on Monday.

As for the Section Meet, this will be the last meet of the season for most of the team, but also the opportunity to qualify for the State Meet at the U of M Golf Course on Saturday, Nov. 1st.  Please note that this year both the Varsity and the JV will be in the afternoon session at Anoka High School, so there will be one bus leaving at 1:00 and everyone will return after the JV races are complete.

Those that qualify for the State Meet will be the 1st and 2nd place teams, as well as the 6 fastest runners that are not on those two teams.  The weather is looking like temp wise will be perfect for fast times, hard to say at this time if there will be any rain or not.

Also, please remember that there are no dogs allowed at the Section Meet.  We don't want a dog getting loose during the race and interfering with a runner.

For the Middle School Runners, there is a Middle School Championships on Saturday, Oct. 25 at the St, Michael Recreation Center in St. Michael.  If you are thinking of running, please let me know by Tuesday, Oct. 21st so I can register you.

We will be meeting as a team on Friday, Oct. 24 to do team voting and to take a survey for the school district.  It will be important that everyone be there to vote and to complete the survey.

Section Varsity Runners:
Boys: Dagi, Josh, Tate, Josey, Nixon, Mohammed, Truman

Girls: Ruby, Josy, Mackenzie, Emily, Ella, Faith, Emmy

Bus Leaves at 1:00

Varsity times:
Boys - 2:30
Girls - 3:10

JV times:
Boys - 4:20
Girls - 4:50

Any questions, please let me know, but do know that Lauren and I will be out of town and will not be back until Monday evening.  I will check messages, but not sure on the reception or availability to answer any questions right away.  I will get back to them though.
Thanks,

Denny

Week of October 13

Here are a couple of items for the week ahead:

Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday is practice as usual, 3:15.  Runners, please bring your spikes with you.

A reminder that the ABC 3K that was canceled

Thursday is the JK5K, which is not a meet, just a practice in which we will work on specific items while running a 5K.  Bus will be leaving at 9:00 am from the high school and we will start the JK5K at 10:00 am, everyone together.  We will then be back to the high school at about 11:00.

Friday practice will be at 10:00 am at CRHS.

If there are any questions, please let me know. 
Thanks
Denny