Project Details
Pre-Season
This project started in January 2017. I was enrolled in EDGE 3040, and I was in the early stages of developing my project. I got in contact with one of the coaches towards the end of January, and she told me they were more than happy to have me. From there I had to get my fingerprints and background check done since I was working with minors. Once that was done, I was cleared to begin my project with them.
During Season
I started coming to practice during the pre-season stages at the end of February, then eventually it transfer over to the regular season at the beginning of March. I was with them Monday - Friday from 3pm-5pm. I was with them until the end of April.
​
Practices followed a standard routine. All the students got to practice as soon as school ended, and started to warm up together as a team of 60+ kids. The warmups consisted of them doing a few laps around the indoor track, then they did a few laps of different dynamic exercises; and last they split off into boys and girls and did dynamic stretches, each lead by their assigned captains. After that, they began the workout for the day. During the pre-season practices they were doing more generalized conditioning, not really focusing on specific training for an event. They would do a mile for time, a hill run for time, and a few other events that they did before every season. This is also when they began to do some weight training in order to start developing more strength and muscle endurance. By the looks in the kids faces, you could tell they all really enjoyed the pre-season. It wasn't really serious training, they all had fun. It even allowed for them to try out some of the other events, it helped some of the kids decide what event they enjoyed more, and would rather do.
​
Once the season started, that's when the real training began. I convinced the coaches to let me help the distance runners, since that's what I specialized in when I did track. For the most part my job consisted of helping the parent volunteers in charge of the distance training. I would set up cones, help with warm ups, run drills, and sometimes even participate in the workout with them. They really liked when one of us younger coaches would train with them, they liked to see us going through the same pain as them. As the season continued, I noticed that some kids needed an extra push in order to get to next level. I asked the coaches in charge of distance if I could work with them one on one to help, but for the most part my ideas were turn down. The coaches said they had already set a standard training calendar for the season, as said before, so they could peak when necessary.
​
The remainder of the season followed a similar structure. They would arrive, warm up, workout, and go home. When meets started the schedule would change a little in order for them to better perform. Unfortunately, I was never able to go to the meets because of my job. Some of the students did very well during the season. Many placed high during the meets, setting personal records and some getting close to beating school records. Overall it was an excellent season for them, and for me as well.