The Woodlands High School, cont.

Weight training : We don’t do weight training. We do a lot of push-ups, crunches (everyday), chins, pull-ups, dips, over head latter, medicine ball sit ups and arm pumps (Tuesday and Thursday)

Team building : We train together each week day. We have captains that get guys together to run on weekends. If they train together they will be more likely to race together.

Camps : We don’t go to a camp. We take our team some where for a week to train and to bond. We have gone to Alamosa or to Fayetteville for this.

Transforming runners into a team : There is no easy answer for this question. It takes time and team sacrifice and commitment. To create a team consistently, the Coach must be willing to give up his summer to insure that the guys run together and develop a sense of unity and concern for each other.

Racing as a team : I think having the guys run their workouts together and making them stay together in their jogging will really help team racing when race day comes.

Thoughts on the coming season : The Woodlands High Cross Country team will be very young and they will lack experience, but if they can avoid injuries and sickness, they will be a contender in November. They return Daniel Gerber (9:10/4:17) as the lead man and there are six runners behind him that have run under 10:00 for 3200and two more at 10:01 and 10:03.

What makes a special program : I think this varies from team to team, but the thing that really separates the good ones and the great ones is the team moral. How the team relates to each other and cares about each other is a big difference on great teams.

How I got the program rolling : Cross Country is a passion and I love the athletes, so time was never a factor and I don’t give up easily. I recruited and recruited and trained and recruited a lot more. I went to the Junior High and I put on fun runs and track meets. I did everything I could to get kids running.

NOW READ A TRAINING BLOG FROM ONE OF THE WOODLANDS TOP RUNNERS!!!