Topeka Saints Cross Country

09/13/2021

When you have a tiny, but mighty team that STILL medals every single meet, that's WORK and PERSEVERANCE!
Two more meets this week, Saints!
Let's bring home some more bling!
💙⭐

09/09/2021

It's Race Day Saints!! 💙

I know you're nervous.
The butterflies in your chest and stomach are multiplying!
Go with it!
Embrace the butterflies!
They will help you fly!

Run with your heart today instead of your mind. When you run with your mind, you think of the things you cannot do, but when you run with your HEART, you forget about what you can't do and you just DO IT!!
YOU FLY!!

Reach for the stars today, Saints! ⭐
I can't wait to watch you fly this afternoon!
Let's do this!


See you on the course!! Go Saints! 💙

XOXO, Coach T

08/23/2021

Quick reminder of the practice schedule this week:

Monday and Wednesday at the Governor's Trail.

Tuesday and Thursday at Hayden.

All practice times are from 5:15-6:30.

Our first three meets are ONLY 2 weeks away! Woo hoo! 🤸

The temperatures this week are forecast to be EXTREME! I cannot stress enough that you need to be drinking plenty of water throughout your school day so that you're plenty hydrated for practice. Even if you aren't thirsty, DRINK YOUR WATER!

Parents, I will be extra cautious and "pulling back" a little in practice this week. I don't want your kids overdoing it or getting sick in this heat, but we still need to train and condition in these temperatures to prepare for meets .... they don't cancel meets just because it's hot...and some meets will be hot! 🥵

My first concern will ALWAYS be keeping them safe and healthy, but I would be lax if I didn't train and prepare them to compete in these conditions.

See y'all tonight at the Governor Trails!
BRING YOUR WATER!! 🥤💦💧

GO SAINTS!

Coach T

08/11/2021

I honestly thought I was going to "chill" this season and just cheer, but I got pulled back in for another Cross Country season!!

I am still recruiting runners!
Boys and girls grades 6th, 7th and 8th interested in running with Coach T and the Saints Blue Wave, call or text me or just show up to our first practice for the 2021-22 season.

First practice is Wednesday 8/18.

Practice schedule for the season is as follows:

Mondays and Wednesdays: Governor Trails.
Meet in the parking lot at the top of the hill by the Governor Mansion.

Tuesdays and Thursdays: Hayden High School.

All practice times are from 5:15pm - 6:30 pm

Meet schedule for the season:

Manhattan/Anthony - 9/7 @ 2:00 - Warner Park in Manhattan

Fort Riley - 9/9 @ 3:30 pm - Milford State Park in Milford

Emporia - 9/11 @ 8:00 am - Jones Park in Emporia

Seaman - 9/17 @ 3:30 pm - Shawnee North Community Ctr

Shawnee Heights - 9/21 @ 4:00 pm - Shawnee Heights.

An email was sent to each of our Catholic Schools, but please don't hesitate to share this post!
I'm recruiting y'all to help me find runners! 🤸😄

I am super excited for another fantastic season and running with each of you! Let's go grab some stars this season!

Any questions, please feel free to call or text me, 785-608-0931.

See y'all on the 18th at the Governor Trails!

Go Saints! 🌊

Coach Tressie (Coach T! ❤️)

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09/21/2020

Reminder: Practice is at Hayden tonight. Short practice .. Only an hour. 5:15-6:15. We will run the XC course and talk about tomorrow's meet and expectations.

Meet tomorrow at Shawnee Heights. Meet starts at 3:30 ... I want all my runners there by 2:15 for warm-up. Team prayer will be led by Elliot this meet. ❤️

See you soon! Go Saints!

Coach T

09/14/2020

Meet schedule...

I have posted this a couple of times, but since Ft Riley rescheduled, I am posting again.

9/18 : Manhattan, Warner Park. Meet starts at 2:00, everyone needs to be there by 12:45....will pass out race info tomorrow after practice.

9/22: Shawnee Heights. Meet starts at 3:30.. everyone there by 2:30.

9/25: Ft Riley: Milford State Park. They have not set a time yet, but my guess is that it will start at 3:30 as previously planned.

Practice at Gov Trails tonight.

09/10/2020

Ft Riley Meet Cancelled

I just received a call from Ft Riley...due to the rain and half the course being under water, Ft Riley has cancelled the meet today. They will reschedule for a later date.

09/08/2020

It's Race Week, Saints! Woo hoo!!

Reminder: Practice will be at Hayden Tuesday and Wednesday, 5:15-6:30.

Race day is Thursday! Ft Riley Invitational at Milford State Park. Everyone must be there by 2:15. Meet starts at 3:30.

I will be handing out uniforms at practice tonight.

Dress warm...it is chillier this week. I want warm-ups / jackets on over your shorts, etc. I will let you take them off after warm-up.

See you tonight! Go Saints!

Coach T

09/03/2020

Hello Saints!

I received details on our first race for September 10th and wanted to go over a few things. I will also hand out this information tomorrow at practice along with a course map for each athlete to take home and study this weekend.

Ft Riley Invitational
Race location: Milford State Park
Everyone races 2 miles
First race begins at 3:30
I want the entire team there no later than 2:15 for warm-up, bibs, etc.
You will need to notify your teachers of your early dismissal that day.

Due to Covid, no spectators / parents will be allowed ANYWHERE on the course! I know you will want pictures, so I have asked Bridget Stegman to be my Assistant Coach for this meet so that she can be at the start and finish taking pictures of your kids and also getting the kids lined up for races when I am out on the course with the other kids who are already racing .

Again, due to Covid, the races will be run very differently this year. They will be run in heats with staggered start times. For example, the first boys race will start and then 12 minutes later they will start the next wave of runners. The one pitfall to this, (besides the fact that Coach will be running this course MULTIPLE times!) is that even though a runner may finish in the top 10 in their heat, that doesn't necessarily mean they finished in the top 10 overall. Basically, we will be running against the clock. I cannot stress enough that if I am yelling at you to GO! SURGE! or pick up the pace, it is because I am watching that clock. I will coach you through your race as if every single runner is out there.

Saints, it is just you and I out there on the course. I know this will make it a little more challenging mentally, but this is when we need to be there for each other. Cheer each other. Encourage each other. We are one extremely strong and talented team. We will run this as a team. The Saints Blue Wave! 🌊 We've got this!

Reminder, practice is at Hummer tomorrow.

Have a fantastic day in school tomorrow! Study hard! I'm cheering for you!

Go Saints!

Coach T

08/28/2020

Hello Saints!

We did it! We survived our first week of practice! Woo hoo! I didn't take it easy on you, but you rose to the challenge. Awesome job! I am so proud of each of you.

Now for your weekend homework assignment - either Saturday or Sunday, I want you to lace up your shoes and run for 30-35 mins. Each of you should easily be able to complete 3-4 miles in that time. I ran with and watched each of you this week and there should be no reason you can't run this without stopping. Challenge yourself! Believe in yourself! Push through those moments when it starts to hurt and you feel tired. It is ok to slow it down a little to catch your breath and then pick the pace back up again. It is so much harder to start running again after you have stopped than if you just slow it down a bit and then kick it up again. You can do this!

Practice schedule next week:

Monday and Wednesday - Governor Trails

Tuesday - Hayden High School

Thursday - Kanza Science and Education Park by Hummer

All practice times are from 5:15-6:30

Our first meet is less than 2 weeks away, September 10th at Fort Riley .. this will be our focus next week at practice.

Have a fantastic weekend, y'all! The weather is supposed to be fabulous!

See you Monday! Go Saints!

Coach T

08/26/2020

Hello Saints!

I think I was able to personally talk to most of our parents tonight, but wanted to send out a reminder about the change in location for practice tomorrow, Wednesday, 8/26. I am moving practice to the Kanza Education Science Park / Cross Country course over by Hummer...meet in the Valeo parking lot. Practice time is the same .. 5:15-6:30.

Tomorrow is speed work and there is quite a bit of shade on the course.
I want to give the kids some help from this intense heat .. tomorrow's practice will be hard enough and I don't want the temperature weighing them down

I am also cancelling Thursday practice THIS WEEK ONLY, but will give the team a workout to do over the weekend when the temperature is supposed to be cooler.

Normal practice days and locations next week (will send y'all a reminder this weekend!)

See you tomorrow at HUMMER!

PHENOMENAL job so far this week, y'all! You have exceeded my expectations!

Go Saints!

Coach T

08/17/2020

Hello my fantastic team!!
One week!! One week from today we get to run together as a team again! Yaaay!

Reminder of the practice schedule:

Mondays and Wednesdays: Governor's Trails .. meet in the parking lot at the top of the hill by the Governor Mansion.

Tuesdays: Hayden High School

Thursdays: Kanza Education Science Park / Cross Country Course .. this is over by Hummer. Meet in the parking lot by Valeo.

All practice times are 5:15 - 6:30

There has been a change to the meet schedule .... See below

9/10 : Ft Riley Invitational. Milford State Park. 3:30 pm

9/12: EMS Invitational. Jones Park, Emporia. 8:00 am

9/18: AMS Invitational. Manhattan Warner Park. 2:00 pm

9/22: Shawnee Heights Invitational. Shawnee Heights. 4:00 pm

Seaman Invitational has been cancelled.

I cannot stress enough that y'all should be running already! This week....35 mins, 3 times this week ... if you have to stop, count to 5 and then start again. I also want each of you doing 25 jumping jacks x 2, 3 days a week and 20 burpees 3 days a week.... preferably the same time you do your jumping jacks. If you are not doing these, the first week of practice is not going to feel good .... this, I can promise you! Most of you have run with me before and know that I am only asking this of you to bring out the very best in you! You can do this!! And I PROMISE YOU, I am doing every jumping jack, every burpee, every mile with you this week!!

Parents, I will go over COVID precautions at practice on Monday, 8/24. Each athlete must bring their own water bottle. Masks are not required when we run. I will have a mask and hand sanitizer on me, even when we are out running, so when an athlete needs assistance, I can assist and maintain safety for both of us. I have thought of every possible scenario and your child's health and safety will ALWAYS be first.

First practice is Monday, 8/24. Work hard this week, Saints. I am running with you..I promise!!

See you next week! Oh my goodness, it's going to be an amazing season! I feel it in my bones! Plus, I think we're just that awesome!

I ❤️ you all!!

Go Saints!

Coach Tressie