As you may know, our 2020 cross country season has been moved to the spring. Conference coaches have been charged with determining how best to get this done. I have already told Jeremy he would have to find his own distance runners next spring. Seriously, if you have any ideas, send them my way, and quickly. We coaches have a zoom meeting on Tuesday, August 4. The best I can come up with is an 8K road race the Saturday after indoor nationals. Maybe at the State Fairgrounds. After that, let’s just do track and field.
Cross country will be able to practice with coaches all fall and race as many as four times in the spring without losing eligibility. So at least we get to be together. For the first time, the team returns to campus one week before classes start. I had planned on doing this anyway, as it has become increasingly difficult to begin our season around Orientation. This will give us chance to have a few two-a-days and a little orientation time of our own before things get busy. It will also help the University phase in the return of students. We are hopeful we can have a healthy fall across both campuses. With that in mind, I have asked our guys to bring lawn chairs with them when they return.
More than any other sport, distance runners can keep on training through odd times. This has been an opportunity to train well and run a lot of miles. But twelve months without a race is too long. We are going to do some fun things this fall from 1500 meters through 8000 meters. Picture a 5K under the lights with racers starting in lanes 1, 3, 5, and 8. Lanes all the way. Lane 8 will run 11 laps and 85 meters.
St. Michael’s Games afficionados will appreciate that the egg toss will be a solo event. You toss it, you catch it.
Finally (for now), please see the attachment below if you would like to order Saint John’s Cross Country tee-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, etc. This is NOT a fundraiser. All deliveries will be to your home address. Note that your deadline for ordering is Wednesday, August 5.
Best to you and yours,
Tim
320-291-4795
