Having problems with message search?
Why You should Join the Cross Country Team at Mission San Jose High School:
1) The best Mission students are on the Cross Country Team (the North Coast Section named MSJ XC as the top academic team).
2) Great way to run fast and get fit
3) Make friends
4) Have fun
Roadmap for Success for Hopkins 8th Graders who will Participate in Cross Country at Mission San Jose High School in the Fall of 2008 (from Coach Hotchkiss):
1) MSJ Cross Country (XC) had 95 runners participate last year and all had a fun learning experience, got into great physical shape, and saw their running improve greatly during the season. They learned that setting high goals and working hard are keys to success in XC and in life. Participation in Cross Country also promotes greater academic success at MSJ
2) There are 5 XC teams that all practice together: Varsity Boys, Varsity Girls, Junior Varsity Boys, Junior Varsity Girls, and Frosh/Soph Boys. Workouts are geared to ability level. Practices are 3-5 pm M-F starting 8/18, but there will be practices held in the mid-summer for those who are interested (participation is highly recommended, and an e-mail notification will be distributed---see #10 below to get on the distribution). Runners who schedule other conflicting activities during Fall of the school year between 3-5 pm are hurting their chances for success in XC. Coach Marden's workouts are the #1 factor in building great runners.
3) There are 3 MSJ XC coaches and all have successfully coached the sport for a number of years, have achieved significant athletic success as runners, are passionate about the sport, and continue to run:
Head Coach: Jack Marden
Assistant Coach: Linda Addison
Assistant Coach: John Hotchkiss
4) Successful runners do not wait for the first practice on 8/18 to get into great running shape. The period between May and August is critical for developing aerobic capacity and running strength. This is achieved by a gradual ramp up where running distances are increased by no more than 10% per week in order to avoid injury. Running three to five days per week over the summer (including one long run) will greatly increase your possibility for success in XC. Cross training including biking, soccer, etc. is also helpful.
5) A good pair of running shoes is essential to running success. Buy a pair that fit extremely well when you stand in them and when you run in them. The team will run on some hard surfaces so good cushioning in the heal, etc. is critical. Running shoes should be discarded and replaced every 500 miles because the cushioning breaks down, and injuries could result.
6) Running in some 5K (or 10K) races over the summer will help your training experience. Options are listed at: http://www.theschedule.com/
Invite your parents to see your races---you will run faster.
7) A watch that can track chronological running time is useful to measure how many minutes you have been running
8) Run with a training partner for safety and to make the experience more fun. This could also include a parent or sibling on a bicycle. Wear a white or fluorescent shirt if running in the evening. Avoiding cars, adequate hydration and sun cream are also critical.
9) Good running resources include:
10) Most e-mail communication and notifications from coaches happens through:
In order to subscribe, you need to send an e-mail to:
MIssionXC-subscribe@yahoogroups.com and ask that you be added to the distribution.
This is an important step to ensure that you are knowledgeable about practices, meets, etc.
11) A good book on the science of successful running is Daniels' Running Formula and it is available though Amazon for $14.93. Jack Daniels (the author) is a famous coach.
12) Procedural requirements for MSJ XC (including required forms for participation) are at:
http://www.msjhs.org/sports/sports.html
(Get these completed early)
13) Manage your workouts, your rest, and your life so that you can "run fast". Eat healthy foods and drink healthy drinks.
14) The MSJ XC web site (including results and pictures from last year) is at:
http://www.msjhs.org/sports/crosscountry/crosscountry.html
Can you run faster than last year's team members? Successful incoming Freshmen run over the summer with the intent of contributing to the team at a very high level in the Fall.
15) Extra credit: MSJ XC has a long history of developing successful runners including Jay Marden, David Rodriguez, Jon Stevens, Jack Marden, Elissa Riedy, Lori Riedy, Katie Hotchkiss
Jon Stevens http://gostanford.cstv.com/sports/c-track/mtt/stevens_jonathan00.html
Katie Hotchkiss http://gostanford.cstv.com/sports/c-track/mtt/hotchkiss_katie00.html
Jay Marden http://www.anitaalan.com/cooper/office/Office.html#marden
Elissa Riedy http://www.pacificstriders.org/Coppermine/displayimage.php?album=12&pos=3
Lori Riedy http://www.alumni.berkeley.edu/CAA_News_and_Press_Releases/Lori_Riedy.asp
16) Some all time MSJ records are at:
http://www.fremont.k12.ca.us/msjhs/sports/track/records.html
Are you willing to set high goals and work hard to join this elite group?
Coach Hotchkiss
-----------------------
From Coach Marden:
For anyone who steps out and joins a Running team, a season brings all sorts of personal revelations. At the beginning most of these revelations start out as questions asked in the minds of each one of our athletes. Why do I do this? How much further? Are there any hills? Why does this hurt so much? As the season progresses, the athletes learn to answer many of the questions themselves. The answers to the questions come from within, also where the personal revelations come into play. I'll overcome the hills. I can do it. I think I can beat this guy. I'll hold on a little longer. I'll train harder next year.
At the beginning of the season we have a large number of kids who feel sick after jogging a few blocks. At the end the athletes feel much better than they had previously. Running is an honest sport, challenging an athlete on a personal level. Athletes achieve direct results for the time they put in, and at the end of the season, the athlete feels a sense of personal achievement. At the end of the season, the rewards gained throughout live on forever. Jon Stevens and Katie Hotchkiss, two Alumni, found themselves in Stanford after becoming MVAL and State Champions. This shows that the rewards far exceed the amount of work put into the sport.
I would like to thank all of the students who will decide to give this sport a try. I further want to thank those athletes who have made a true commitment to the sport and have kept the Mission tradition running. To this day, I compete myself in the sport and know the sacrifices that athlete makes to run.
Coach Marden
Offline 
Send Email