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Wildcat Times:

Cross Country Edition

Week 4, September 16th – September 22nd

Change is NEVER easy…

You know, anytime things change or something new comes about that is different than what you are use to, it is never easy to make the needed changes, no matter how beneficial the new ways may be. I want to first off say that I in no way do I want any of what I am about to say to come across negative or in a bad way, I am simply describing the “State of the Program” in this newsletter in hopes that we all become better from it and make the needed changes to do so. Much of this is not directed at every single runner and I hope that it simply causes some reflection from our athletes of what they can do to become better runners and students both now and for the future when they embark on their post high school studies and in life in general. Trust me, it is never easy to hear some of this, but it is even harder to try to put this in a way that it comes across correctly. I have written and re-written this more than 4 times this week, and every time I type what I feel needs to be said, it always ends up the same. So I am just going to deliver the message in hopes that it comes across correctly. Sometimes things have to be brought to light in order for things to end up for the better. The parental support that I have in this program is tremendous and I am sure you will help push each of your athletes to be their best after reading this. I want to say thank you to the tremendous parental support in volunteering for the home XC meet that we will have on Sept 29th. I almost have all spots filled and will be e-mailing out duties and responsibilities very soon. It is because of you that we have a wonderful program.

A lot of what I am going to say in this newsletter will be things that I could call a meeting for, but I respect all of your time and hope that you do not mind me putting this in the newsletter for you to read. I feel that most of our parents do read this newsletter and can help support the direction that the program needs to head to from home while I attack it at school. I felt that it would be a better avenue to explain what is taking place because much of it probably is never discussed at home and parents probably have no idea that some of these things are even taking place. Again, it is not everyone, but it does have to pertain to many in the program because we each depend on each other to do their job to succeed. I take full responsibility for everything and understand that in trying to be flexible; sometimes things end up different than you would have hoped. It is the ability to see problems and make the needed changes that makes great leaders develop great programs. It isn’t easy to say that the way I am doing things, isn’t working exactly as it has in the past, but I can see that I need to implement new policies to make sure we can achieve the goals that we all want and I know we can get.

I was happy to hear from one of our alumni on Saturday morning, Colin Stoeber who is running for Texas A&M this year. I had been keeping tabs on him and our other alumni like I always do of course. ( He ran in his first meet of the season at the Rice Invitational on Friday afternoon. I was pleased to see some wonderful results in such a short period of time. Naturally, he was elated with the early successes that he is seeing. Colin, ran 18:06 for the 6K race. That is an average of 3:01 for every 1000 meters. Well, I took that time and did a little comparison to what his times would have been at various distances if he were to run them based on his race time. Here is what I came up with: 3200 (2 Mile) 9:05, 3 mile 14:20, 5K 14:58, 8K (5 Miles) 24:39. Looking at his 5K time specifically, that is nearly a minute drop from when he was with us and a time that would have finished 2nd or 3rd in the state more than likely. The one thing that he did mention yesterday was how he was loving the program. He made this statement: “oh I feel like our training plans is just a higher mileage version of yours”. Now, this is being told to me a week after implementing the additional mileage for our varsity runners at the end of workouts. Naturally after hearing that, I am here thinking that my observations of what we are missing, is probably right on target. Just think, Colin has dropped nearly a minute from his 5K time with just the addition of extra mileage.

Now the one point I would like to make is that we have 6 weeks before our first major race, being the District/Regional meet. That is plenty of time to make the needed changes in our training. We are flirting with being in contention with being one of the top teams in the Region and possibly making a trip to the State Meet as a team, but in order to even have a small shot at this, change needs to happen and it needs to start at the top, being our varsity teams, but really in every runner in our program. I hear many team members talking about wanting to go to State and know they would love to do so, but many times, their actions are not indicating such a “WANT”. From the team, I hear complaining about workouts, I see lack of effort on runs, I see too much stopping during workouts and runs, I see walking, I see runners cutting corners in what needs to be done in order to be their best, and then I see only 11-12 runners sign up to go run at Spring Creek Park on Monday afternoons. I understand that Monday afternoons are not required, I get that, but I would think I would see runners wanting to go for the sake of getting better or for the sake of preparing for the district meet which will be on that vary course. Also, I understand that we have many 2 sport athletes and I know who you are and I know when you are not with us, you are more than likely doing your second sport, which is perfectly ok with me. However, the large majority of our team is XC only athletes. WHERE ARE YOU ON MONDAY AFTERNOONS??? None of these things that I am seeing will get any of our teams to where they need to be. Now I am sorry if I am sounding frustrated and bothered by this, but it’s hard to see these things happening daily, when I want the best for each and every member of our program. Many times, I tell groups and individuals to pick it up or to try or to show more effort and I get NO response and they keep on their way not even trying to push themselves. However, things are about to change, and for the better. In addition, I see kids missing practice habitually, kids being late continuously, missing practice and either coming to school real late or missing 1st period all together, and finally kids missing XC for clubs vs. missing clubs for XC. We have morning practice only; the afternoons are left open for you to attend clubs. So if you ask to skip practice for the sake of a club, the answer is no, sorry! I need athletes in this program who are living the lifestyle of a runner, who have a burning passion to hurt in a good way daily from making the most of every workout and every run. Running on the weekends is a must and getting in some afternoon runs is essential on your own. In essence, I want athletes who want success more than I do and are willing to work in a way that nothing will get in their way to get there. It is about getting out of the box and out of your comfort zone to expand your limits of pain in quest of beating your rivals across the region. We have the man power to make it to state, but you have to embark on the journey with the knowledge and understanding of what we are doing and why. We have an opportunity to really dominate this district and need to not take things for granted. Succeeding at the district level is nice, but succeeding at the Regional and State level is so much better and should be our goal. Hard work and consistent great days in practice will be needed to have an opportunity to have a shot to compete for a State berth. I want you all to approach every workout with the mentality that no one will outwork you that given day. Run with a purpose and run with a passion that will make you and me both proud.

A few changes were discussed last week in the newsletter and discussed with the team that will take effect for our Varsity teams (for now) that will affect their participation in meets starting this Monday. All Varsity runners will be given 1 week to get a watch to wear during all training runs. This was discussed in the parent meeting and will be enforced starting a week from this Monday. Failure to have a watch on will result in 1 missed meet. I know it may seem drastic, but I have been patiently waiting for this to happen and it has not. This training tool is as important as the shoes that you wear each day. I in no way expect anything fancy. They best and very reasonable priced watch can be bought at Wal-Mart, Target, or academy. It is a Timex Ironman 30 Split watch. I will be happy to show you how to use it. Many times it can be bought for about $30. It in itself will help you monitor your training and will give us valuable feedback. It is very reasonable and I have had my watch for years. I would suggest you either keep it in your locker or somewhere you will have it daily. I will be glad to hang on to it as well as long as you write your name on it. In addition, ALL varsity runners (in the XC athletic period) will do a 20 minute run each day after their workout. We finish each day about 7:15ish and you will have plenty of time to do this. It is to be at a pace of a run and not a jog. In addition to this, I understand that we do not have afternoon practices, however, there should be runs being completed by our varsity runners every afternoon on your own (everyone can do this as well). The afternoon runs should be about 25 minutes-30 minutes in length at a decent pace, not slow, but not fast either, just needs to be strong. I am implementing this because of the benefits of added mileage and the benefits of improved aerobics. Even though I am requiring this for all Varsity athletes, all other runners are welcome to take part in this as well. It will help everyone.

Also, on Sept 22nd, I am going to take the Varsity teams to the Kingwood Andy Wells Invitational. I have decided to include our top 7 JV runners as well. All other runners will race on Friday Sept 21st at the Cy Fair ISD XC Invitational at Spring Creek Park. I will double check our responsibilities for that CFISD Meet, but I will need 3 parent volunteers to work that day.

This week, like I mentioned before, we will have 2 meets and half will run on Friday Sept 21 at the CFISD meet at Spring Creek Park starting at 4pm. The other half of the roster will run on Saturday morning at the Kingwood Andy Wells Invitational. The Rosters will be posted later in this newsletter.

Please remember that the fundraiser cards WERE due last Wednesday and all cards need to be sold and money turned into me ASAP.

Please let me know if you have any questions. Thanks again for all of your help and know that without your help and support, these types of home events wouldn’t happen.

At the parent meeting, there were a few things that slipped my mind and I forgot to mention or I simply wanted to remind you of what I did say. I will briefly talk about those things now:

1) All rosters are not set until 10 days before district, as a result, runners will be moving around from squad to squad all season and as a result have the opportunity to move up if they are entitled to that move. Just because a person is on varsity or not on varsity at the beginning of the season, does not mean that is where they will stay for the duration of the season.

2) The Girls Varsity Championship distance (District, Regionals, and State) did increase to a 5K up from the 2 mile distance that had been in place for many years. Texas was one of two states in the US who had not made the increase in distance prior to this year. With the move up, we will race more 4K’s and 5K’s in the varsity divisions, but will not race that distance every week. The only meets that we will race longer than a 2 mile race are: Aug 31, Cy Woods Meet (4K), Sept 22, Kingwood (5K) , and a NEW MEET, Oct 5th, the La Porte Bulldog Invite (5K), then of course the District Meet, Regional Meet, and the STATE meet. My feeling on the increase in distance is very positive. We really are not going to change our training much at all because I have always trained our runners to be able to handle longer races. It will affect those programs who do not train over the summer or in the off seasons. If our varsity girls utilize the workouts that we do daily especially the long run days, the 1000’s, and the 800’s, you will more than prepared. We have to train our bodies to endure workouts and runs longer than our race, without breaks. If we focus on that, we will be more than ready and you will see the results in grand fashion at the District meet, especially at the Regional meet, and YES, at the STATE meet. I hope you all jump on board with the challenge and do not let it be an issue. If we make it an issue, it will be an issue, if we embrace it, we will conquer it.

3) Parent/Athlete Team shirts – THEY ARE IN, IF YOU DID NOT ORDER ONE, LET ME KNOW AND I WILL SEE IF I HAVE ANY LEFT TO SELL.

4) We will have various team functions this year as we do every year. If you are interested in assisting at any of the following, please contact me with your intent and I will forward it on to the other parents. Without your assistance, we will not be able to have these wonderful team events.

1. Help is needed at the Aug 31 home cross country meet

2. Help is needed at the Sept 29 home cross country meet

3. Volunteers are needed to assist in planning the team Pre-District pasta dinner the Wednesday before the district meet

4. Volunteers are needed to assist in planning the Post-District Celebration cook out in the park immediately after the district meet on Friday morning Oct 26, 2012

5. At will, any family is welcomed to host one or more pasta nights before weekly meets. In no way are you expected or should have one of these team bonding pasta nights for the entire team, it is probably recommended to be done in small groups to help alleviate cost. For example, maybe the Varsity team at a house, the JV Boys at a house, JV Girls at a house, ect. This can be done on a rotation weekly at different team member’s houses. This is only a suggestion and not a requirement, I know the kids love it and look forward to it.

6. On weeks that we do not get to race everyone, those who will not race will have a time trial on Friday morning to give them the opportunity to earn a spot on the travel roster. This will be on weeks that I will only take one bus.

7. Calling all pictures – I always put together a end of the year DVD to play during our season ending banquet. However, I am usually too tied up at meets to take all of the pictures that I would need to do so. I would love for you all to send me Pictures on CD’s periodically to help me with this as well as to capture pictures of team events, get-togethers, and funny videos or pictures of the everyday lives of our wildcat runners. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

8. On December 15th, I am hosting a 5K road race that starts and ends at Cy Woods HS. It is called “End of the World 5K/1K” . It is being held to help three major causes. One being the Rose, a non-profit Breast Cancer Treatment Center, another being the Cy Woods Athletic Booster Club, and the last being to help offset the cost of an over -night trip for the top 35 or so runners next year to the UTSA XC Meet OR the Oklahoma State University Cowboy Jamboree. I am seeking sponsors for the race as well as participants. I am going to ask our team to help get people signed up and will give them each 10-20 entry forms or as many as they would like to try to get this run populated (THERE WILL BE A PRIZE FOR THE RUNNER WHO SIGNES UP THE MOST RUNNERS. I would like to make it the best road race in Cypress as well as the best one on this side of Houston. So naturally, my standards and ideas are high. I will also be seeking volunteers for the race and have already made contact with several organizations around school to help us. If you have any ideas and or contacts for sponsors, donors, or anything to make the race a huge success, please let me know. In addition, I will be giving entry forms to parents if you would like to take to your place of business to see if any of your co-workers would like to take part in the event. I hope this will be the first of many I will put on in the area.

This year, I will be utilizing a Parent Text MSG notifying system for information that needs to be sent for you and/or the athletes. Last year, I only sent urgent super important info out to the parents. However, I think this year, I will send all parents the same exact text that I send the student-athletes. If you would like your number added, please e-mail me so I can add your number to my text distribution list or text me (281-413-9027) and be sure to tell me who you are so I can add you to my list. I feel that If you get the same info , there will not be any type of missed communication and in the event your student’s phone is lost or broken, someone else in the family will have the info that is being sent out. I am in the process of getting a e-mail distribution list together for those interested in getting emails from me as well. I just want to make sure info is getting out there.

If you have any ideas or questions to toss out to me, feel free to shoot. I am all ears (

Take care and Happy Running!

Go Woldcats!!!!!

This Weeks Practice Schedule:

Monday: 6am Practice, Optional afternoon practice at Spring Creek (we will bus there and back)

Tuesday: 6 am - 1000’s

Wednesday: 6 am (long run)

Thursday: 6am 800’s

Friday: Off for those racing, those racing on Saturday will practice at 6am (those not in the period) or 6:30 for those in the period.

|CFISD XC Invitational Rosters |

|Friday September 21 |

|CFISD FRESHMAN BOYS |

| |

|CFISD JV GIRLS |

| |

|Cabanas |

|Antonio |

|M |

|9 |

|  |

|Casey |

|Claire |

|F |

|9 |

| |

|Campos |

|Jonathan |

|M |

|9 |

|  |

|Cushen |

|Katie |

|F |

|9 |

| |

|Cantu |

|Dylan |

|M |

|9 |

|  |

|Edwards |

|Reagan |

|F |

|9 |

| |

|Coalmer |

|Grant |

|M |

|9 |

|  |

|Jones |

|Rebecca |

|F |

|9 |

| |

|Garcia |

|Elijah |

|M |

|9 |

|  |

|Palacios |

|Alejandra |

|F |

|9 |

| |

|Meche |

|Kyle |

|M |

|9 |

|  |

|Williams |

|Alivia |

|F |

|9 |

| |

|Montgomery |

|Pierce |

|M |

|9 |

|  |

|Cooper |

|Makenna |

|F |

|10 |

| |

|Pellegrino |

|Nicholas |

|M |

|9 |

|  |

|Harvey |

|Kyli |

|F |

|10 |

| |

|Schumann |

|Derek |

|M |

|9 |

|  |

|Hodekar |

|Anvita |

|F |

|10 |

| |

|  |

|  |

|  |

|  |

|  |

|Hodge |

|Kennedale |

|F |

|10 |

| |

|CFISD JV Boys |

|  |

|Moose |

|Rebecca |

|F |

|10 |

| |

|Ameringer |

|Marc |

|M |

|10 |

|  |

|Truhlar |

|Ariana |

|F |

|10 |

| |

|Darner |

|Joshua |

|M |

|10 |

|  |

|Everitt |

|Carissa |

|F |

|11 |

| |

|Dockery |

|Benjamin |

|M |

|10 |

|  |

|Knight |

|Haylee |

|F |

|11 |

| |

|Dole |

|Spencer |

|M |

|10 |

|  |

|Mallon |

|Savannah |

|F |

|11 |

| |

|Everitt |

|Eric |

|M |

|10 |

|  |

|Willis |

|Maudria |

|F |

|11 |

| |

|Norris |

|Logan |

|M |

|10 |

|  |

|Knabe |

|Maggie |

|F |

|12 |

| |

|O'keane |

|John |

|M |

|10 |

|  |

|Redden |

|Marissa |

|F |

|12 |

| |

|Sims |

|Alexander |

|M |

|10 |

|  |

|  |

|  |

|  |

|  |

| |

|Wier |

|Alec |

|M |

|10 |

|  |

|  |

|  |

|  |

|  |

| |

|Halbert |

|Triston |

|M |

|11 |

|  |

|  |

|  |

|  |

|  |

| |

|Lucker |

|Ryan |

|M |

|11 |

|  |

|  |

|  |

|  |

|  |

| |

|Rhodes |

|Brendon |

|M |

|11 |

|  |

|  |

|  |

|  |

|  |

| |

|Wyrick |

|Gregory |

|M |

|11 |

|  |

|  |

|  |

|  |

|  |

| |

|Brandon |

|Blake |

|M |

|12 |

|  |

|  |

|  |

|  |

|  |

| |

|Martinez |

|Ruben |

|M |

|12 |

|  |

|  |

|  |

|  |

|  |

| |

|Oliver |

|Brandon |

|M |

|12 |

|  |

|  |

|  |

|  |

|  |

| |

|Williams |

|Victor |

|M |

|12 |

|  |

|  |

|  |

|  |

|  |

| |

| |

|Schedule: |

|4:00 pm Girls 2 mi JV (Unlimited) |

|4:25 pm Boys 2 mi Fr (Unlimited) |

|4:45 pm Girls 2 mi Varsity (Max of 10) |

|5:05 pm Boys 3 mi JV (Unlimited) |

|5:30 pm Girls 3 mi Varsity (Max of 10) |

|6:00 pm Boys 3 mi Varsity (Max of 10) |

|Location Spring Creek Park |

|Tomball, Texas |

|Directions: |

|Take Telge Rd North to Tomball, Make a Right onto FM 2920. Take first light to the Left (Park Rd). Park Rd will dead end into Brown Rd. Make a Right onto |

|Brown Rd and you will see the park on your left. |

|You will get out of class at 2:00 PM and you will need to head to the bus and we will leave right at 2:25 PM. Do Not be late. |

| |

|Kingwood Andy Wells Invitational Rosters |

|Saturday September 22 |

|Varsity Boys |

|Varsity Girls |

| |

|Berrones |

|Raymond |

|Ameringer |

|Mary |

| |

|Foster |

|Shea |

|Cameron |

|Emily |

| |

|Hanson |

|Connor |

|Gilcrease |

|Madison |

| |

|Krantz |

|Harrison |

|Glenn |

|Conor |

| |

|Talavera |

|Pablo |

|Keaton |

|Kaelynn |

| |

|Tepera |

|Blake |

|Melendez |

|Lorena |

| |

|Waters |

|Samuel |

|Nagle |

|Alyssa |

| |

|Quinlan |

|Zachary |

|Ragusa |

|Kayla |

| |

|  |

|  |

|Sanstrom |

|Kara |

| |

|  |

|  |

|Strautman |

|Emili |

| |

|  |

|  |

|Vasisko |

|Olivia |

| |

|  |

|  |

|Stephens |

|Shelby |

| |

|  |

|  |

|  |

|  |

| |

|JV BOYS |

|JV GIRLS |

| |

|Austin |

|Aaron |

|Howes |

|Gabby |

| |

|Eguia |

|Cristian |

|Morales |

|Quinci |

| |

|Grella |

|Emanuel |

|Perez |

|Jocelyn |

| |

|Hinton |

|John |

|Pham |

|Ashley |

| |

|Riggs |

|Bradley |

|Schmitzer |

|Melissa |

| |

|Silverman |

|Andrew |

|Soukup |

|Taylor |

| |

|Stoeber |

|Hayden |

|Villarreal |

|Brenda |

| |

| |

|Schedule: |

|8:00 a.m.- Varsity Girls (3 miles) |

|8:30 a.m.- Varsity Boys (3 miles) |

|9:00 a.m.- Jr. Varsity Girls (2 miles) |

|9:25 a.m.- Jr. Varsity Boys (3 miles) |

|The Bus will leave at 5:45 AM, Do not be late. |

|Kingwood High School |

|2701 Kingwood Drive |

|Kingwood, TX 77339- 3704 |

|Take 290 towards the Sam Houston Tollway. Take the Sam Houston Tollway North and then East to HWY 59 North. Turn right onto Kingwood Drive. Take Kingwood |

|Drive for 3.6 Miles and make a left into the High School Parking lot. |

| |

Wildcat Running Website

For those that are unaware of the team website, please feel free to visit for valuable team information. Within this site, you will find important dates, rosters, schedules, records, directions, and much, much more. Please take advantage of it.

A Few Notes….

Please remember that we will have a pre-district pasta meal on the Wednesday night prior to district. This has been a great tradition that we want to continue for the benefit of our athletes. In addition, we will have a post-district meal in the park after the district meet. If you are interested in heading this up or volunteering, please let me know. The district meet will be on a Friday October 26, starting at 9:00 AM with the team celebration to follow until about 2:00 PM (approximate)

*** Parents and family are encouraged to attend the post-race team celebration after the district meet. I encourage all athletes that have your parents at the celebration to ride home with your parents. We will have two buses to transport the athletes TO THE MEET, but will NOT HAVE a bus to bring students home. So if your parents are there, I encourage you to ride home with them or to arrange a ride with a teammate. This will ensure that we will have EVERY athlete at the District meet to race and support each other.

*** Please remember to have your waiver ready if you are going to leave any meet with your parent. You are only allowed to leave the meet with your parents, you are not allowed to leave with any other parents/athletes. The Waiver is on the main page of our team website.

*** More information to come. If you need any information added to the weekly newsletters, please e-mail me so I can get it out.

*** Please join the Booster Club as it has many benefits for you and our program, info can be found at:

PICTURES OF THE WEEK

[pic]

[pic]

2012 Montgomery Moonlight Madness Results:



If anyone ever has any info that you would like included in the weekly newsletter, please let me know and I will be glad to add the information. If anyone knows of companies or individuals that are interested in donating to any of our events (team functions, dinners, meets, or the End of the World 5K, please let me know. I will be happy to answer any questions. Take care and I look forward to a great week!

Coach Zarate

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The front of our Homecoming Float in the parade on Wednesday

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