Sunday, August 24, 2025

Week of August 25

There are a few items in this post, so please read through the whole post.

To help with those putting together food for the pasta parties (which there are still openings, please look through them), if your athletes has any allergies, can you please fill out this form.  This will also help with the end of season banquet: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdZZesbmaXlI8krcHqYgxskvxmy4WiGxLZ7jtxK6LcJlM6z5w/viewform?usp=sf_link

We are starting a fundraiser this week that is a little different than any we have done in the past.  We will be collecting and recycling used running shoes and sending them to GotSneakers! where they can either recycle the shoes or reuse them, depending on the condition the shoe is in.  For each pair of running shoe that we collect and send in, we will receive between $1 and $7, depending on the condition.  We have not set an end date yet, but we will collect for at least two weeks so the runners can be collecting at school as well.  There are a few details we will need to decide on with the runners, but if you have any, or know of anyone that has some old running shoes, please start sending them to practice. As we get closer to the end of when our campaign will end, we will send out any other details.

Below are the locations for our practices this week as well as the basic info for our first meet on Thursday.  We will be getting uniforms on Wednesday, August 27 at 2:45 in the equipment room downstairs.  Please enter through Door 16.  If there is someone that is not able to be there for uniform hand out, please let me know so we can set up a plan to make sure you get your uniform.

The plan for practices is to be done by 5:00 Monday through Wednesday.
Monday: Meet at CR Soccer Complex, near the recycling center at 3:15.
Tuesday: Meet at west end of Tennis Courts at 3:15.
Wednesday: Uniform Hand Out at 2:45; Meet at west end of Tennis Courts at 3:15.
Thursday: District 11 Meet - Bus leaves at 7:00am, Girls race at 8:30, Boys race at 9:15.
Friday: Meet at CRHS west end of Tennis Courts at 8:00am.

Thursday is our first meet of the season and it is on the south end of Anoka High School.  The Girls will be racing at 8:30 and the Boys will be at racing at 9:15.  Everyone will be racing 5K and you will be able to see results online shortly after your runner finishes.  Once I get the link for the races, I will send it out

As for spectating, this is a good course to see the runners in a couple of spots without having to do too much running.  It will be a two lap course with the start and finish being in the general same area.  They also highly recommend that no dogs are brought onto the course.

Also note, we will meet at 6:30pm on Monday, September 2nd for practice, west end of the Tennis Courts, to allow those heading out of town for the weekend the opportunity to get home without rushing.

Any questions, please let me know,
Thanks
Denny


Thursday, August 21, 2025

Time Trial Results

Thank you to all of the parents and our alumni for coming out tonight for the time trial.  The weather was a little steamy, but everyone worked hard and put in some solid efforts.  The times/results are now posted on the right side of the blog, but if there are any times that are off, please let me know so I can correct them.  There were a bunch that came through around the same time and it threw me off a bit! Hahaha!

One other item that was not discussed tonight, but should've been is the team pasta parties.  The long tradition of Pasta Parties the night before our meets is a great way for the runners to bond but also a great way for our parents to see what a great group of student/athletes these runners are!  We have started putting together this years schedule and there is one of the dates on the schedule that is filled, but we would like to try and get as many of them filled as possible.  There are a few parents who have done this in the past that can definitely give more details as to what goes into these gatherings, so don't feel you can't do one since you haven't in the past.  Also, unless you are wanting to, there can be separate Girls and Boys gatherings.  If you would like to host one of the openings, please let me know and I will put down your name and keep it under the Pasta Party Schedule on the right side of the blog.  Please check out the schedule below.

Thanks again, and up next is the District 11 Meet next Thursday at Anoka High School.  Information for the meet will go out over the weekend.  

Thanks,
Denny

2025 Cross Country Running Pasta Party Schedule
MeetBoysGirlsBoth
August 27District 11Fuller's
September 3Bauman/Rovn
September 10Waconia
September 15Chisago Lakes
September 19Griak
September 22Cambridge
October 7Conference
October 22Sections

Saturday, August 16, 2025

Week of August 18

Here are the times and locations for our practices this week, as well as a link to the workouts.  Expect practices to be about an hour and a half long.    

New for the Boys this year is that they will be joining the Girls on Tuesday evening to do their annual Bike and Run from Anoka Ramsey CC.  This is a fun, costume workout that usually turns competitive, with each runner having a partner and alternating every mile for 6 miles running and biking (each will run 3 miles and bike 3 miles).  Parents are welcomed to come watch and cheer on the runners.  The course will go down Mississippi Blvd towards the CR Dam and back.  I will have the course details for everyone on Tuesday evening.  We will want everyone in the AR parking lot near the baseball field by 5:45.  

Also note that the team time trial is this coming Thursday (open to alumni to compete in as well!!).  We will start at 6:00pm, and at this time, due to some of our current girls not being able to be there, we will run the boys and girls together, with our alumni as well.  We would like to have the runners at Riverview Park by 5:15 for warm ups, but then we will also have a quick parent meeting at 5:45 for an introduction and to be able to answer any questions.  Here also is the address for Riverview Park (Parking is on the south side of 105th, we meet on the north side):
2420 105th Ave NW

Here is a link to our workouts:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bckrpYA-2TI78BbsFL0snhTFLfSi3eYfREhLUu4rHWI/edit?usp=sharing

Monday: 6:00, CRHS, West End of Tennis Courts
Tuesday: 5:45, Anoka Ramsey Community College, Main Lot near BB Field
Wednesday: 6:00, Riverview Park, North side of 105th Ave N
Thursday: 5:15, (Time Trial starts at 6:00pm) Riverview Park, North side of 105th Ave N
Friday: 8:00am, CR Dam, Boat Launch
Saturday: TBD (Time and Location, or On their own)

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

Thursday, August 14, 2025

Thursday Evening Practice

As of right now, 4:00, if it is raining tonight, we will still have our practice. It appears that any rain that we get will be light and no lightning. If anything changes, I’ll let you know.
Thanks
Denny

Monday, August 11, 2025

Air Quality

We will be paying attention to the air quality for tomorrow (Tuesday) morning. It looks like we will be ok, but we will be paying attention to everyone and how they feel and how their breathing is. 

Saturday, August 9, 2025

First Day, First Week of the Season

The first day of the season is here and we will be getting things going Monday morning at the CR Dam, meeting at the picnic tables behind the Visitor Center by the boat launch.  The weather this first week looks positive and should be good for the training we would like to get the runners.  It will be still warm and humid, so we will be watching how everyone is doing and will adjust any workouts if we feel it would be more beneficial.  Also, please bring water, not only for after, but during the workouts.  A good option if you don't have a running water bottle, would be the store bought 16oz waters, and to use the grip handles we handed out to last years team (we will have these on Monday for the new runners)

Here are the times and locations, though, for the first week of practice.  I will be giving out a more detailed schedule as well as other information to the runners after the first practice Monday.  Monday's practice will be about 2 hours long, the rest of the morning practices will be between an hour 15 and an hour and a half long.  Evening practices will have a different focus, mainly recovery, weight training, and a little more fun.  We understand if not everyone can make these practices due to family obligations, but they are still important practices.  These practices will be about an hour 15 mins long 

Also, please remember that runners need to be signed up before they can come to practices!  The final day to sign up to be legal for Varsity at Sections is Monday, September1st and the last day to sign up for the season in general will be Friday, September 5th.  If there are any questions, please let me know.  

If you have any questions, please let me know,

Thanks
Denny

*Any changes will be posted:
Monday, Aug 11
All - 8:00am, CR Dam Visitor Center, Boat Launch Picnic Tables
All - 6:00pm, CRHS

Tuesday, Aug 12
All - 8:00am, CR Dam Visitor Center, Boat Launch Picnic Tables
All - 6:00pm, CRHS

Wednesday, Aug 13
All - 8:00am, CR Dam Visitor Center, Boat Launch Picnic Tables
All - 6:00pm, CRHS

Thursday, Aug 14
All - 8:00am, CR Dam Visitor Center, Boat Launch Picnic Tables
All - 6:00pm, CRHS

Friday, Aug 15
All - 8:00am, CR Dam Visitor Center, Boat Launch Picnic Tables

Friday, August 8, 2025

2025 Team Apparel

Below is a link to this years team apparel put together by our captains.  The apparel store will be open until Saturday, August 30th, so there is some time, but please don't wait. Also, it's important to note that you must click into an item to see all the color offerings. Most items are available in more than just the color displayed on the home page.  If there is a desire to order more after the 30th, we can always work on putting together a second order.

https://coonrapidsxc25.itemorder.com/shop/home/

If there are any questions, please let myself or one of the captains know,
Thanks,
Denny

Monday, August 4, 2025

Practice Times for the 1st 3 Weeks

Below are the times for the first 3 weeks of practice. Locations will be posted the weekend before the week begins. 

Practice schedule for the first 3 weeks: 
Week 1 is 8am Mon-Fri, 6pm Mon-Thur. (2-a-days)
Week 2 We will be at 6:00pm Mon-Wednesday, Thursday the 22nd is the time trial at Riverview at 6:00pm; Friday will be at 8:00am. Reason for this is due to work schedules with our coaches but also to have the runners bodies somewhat used to going at that time for the time trial.
Week 3 we will be at 3:15 Mon-Wed; 8am Fri.  Thursday the 28th is the first race at Anoka at 8:30am.

As mentioned, more information on every practice will be posted the weekend before as well as handed out to the runners.

Thanks
Denny