No 6th Grade Race Tuesday 9/16/14 (to the best of my knowledge)

After repeated attempts to find out from the host if there will be a 6th grade race, I've come to the assumption that no response means no race. Tuesday's meet is scheduled to be held at Forest Hills Eastern High School (though it says FHN on your schedules).

What does this mean for the sixth graders on the team? One of two choices:

1. Come cheer on your 7th & 8th grade teammates and complete a workout at the course (probably a 2 mile run, not including warmup and cooldown). A change of scenery for the workout would probably be a welcome change. If you do come, bring your uniform just in case. You will not be able to actually wear the uniform though unless they happen to have a race (better to be safe than sorry).

2. Stay home and complete a 2 mile run, with a 1/2 mile warmup and 1/2 mile cooldown (total of 3 miles). You will be excused from coming with us and it will not be held against you in any way.

Good news though - there is a race for 6th graders on Thursday at Fremont. 5th graders are welcome as well, if they can get a ride to Fremont by racetime. More info on Thursday's meet to come.

Sparta Cross Gear, Earlier Practice End Time, and Reminders

Here's the transcript of an email I sent out on 9/10/2014

Sorry if I seem like a pest, but I'd rather over-inform than under-inform. Several things:

1. I've attached (check your email or look on the facebook page) a form that was handed out at practice today with Sparta cross country gear that is available for purchase. If interested, please print out the form and send the money in by no later than Friday (I told the kids Monday, but the high school coaches would like it by Friday). We will not being doing the tie dye that was done in prior years, but will instead order with the high school teams

2. Now that we are in a routine, practice is getting done earlier. On most days we will be done by 4:00pm for 6th-8th grade and by 4:30 for 5th grade, though our heavier workload days may go slightly longer. Please try to pick you athlete up around the practice finish time so the coaches can get home to be with their families.

3. Team meal Friday - remember that we will be joining the high school team for a team meal on Friday after practice. We should be done by 4:30 so please pick up your athlete at the normal location at this time. Middle school and future Spartan runners club athletes have been asked to provide drinks and desserts to share. Please do not send soda with your athletes; sports drinks, bottled water, chocolate milk (always a team favorite), juice, etc. are fine. If you have any questions or would like to volunteer to help with this event, please contact Nicki Hoover (check your email for contact info). We will have another team meal the night before our conference meet and I'll get you more information as we get closer to that event.

4. Just a reminder that if a practice cancellation is ever necessary, I will post it on the blog and send out a group text. Additionally, I'll post it on the new team facebook page I setup - click the link and like the page (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sparta-Middle-School-Cross-Country-Future-Spartan-Runners-Club/695375807210921   ) Any updates I add to the blog will automatically post to the facebook page.

5. If you are not on the group text / text by email group, click the following link to join it: https://www.remind.com/join/smsxc14        This is the quickest way to get info from me regarding cancellations.

Have a great night and I'll send out more info about Saturday's meet soon.

5th grade practice is cancelled for 9/10/14

5th grade running club is cancelled today. All other grade levels are practicing as scheduled. Expect muddy clothes :)

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Finalized Schedule (August 29, 2014)

We will not be adding any more meets, so here's the finalized schedule (though some times are still missing)

Saturday 9/06/14 Central Montcalm Hornet Run BUS LEAVES AT 9:15am
     * 8th grade runs at 11:10am (boys and girls together)
     * 7th grade runs at 11:40am (boys and girls together)
     * Future Spartan runners run at 12:10pm (boys and girls together)
Saturday 9/13/14 Sparta Invitational REPORT BY 1245pm
     * Future Spartan runners run at 1:20pm
     * 7th/8th grade runs at 2:10 pm
Tuesday 9/16/14 Jamboree @ Forest Hills Northern 4:00 PM start (bus leaves 2:45pm)
Thursday 9/18/14 @ Fremont Invitational (TBD)
Tuesday 9/23/14 Jamboree @ Lowell 4:00 PM start (bus leaves 2:45pm)
Tuesday 9/30/14 Jamboree @ Sparta 4:00 PM start (report by 3:15pm)
Saturday  10/04/14 Allegan Tiger XC Jamboree 10:15 AM start (bus time TBD)
Tuesday  10/07/14 Jamboree @ Northview 4:00 PM start (bus leaves 2:45pm)
Tuesday 10/14/14 League Championship @ Cedar Springs 4:00 PM start (bus leaves 2:45pm)

All three Saturday meets will have a running club race. I'm still waiting to hear on the jamborees, but should know by September 5.

Running Club Cancelled Wed. & Additional Dates

Running club for Wednesday is cancelled, due to the middle school and Ridgeview open houses. I will be running on Thursday at 6:00 out at the course if people are interested in joining me. I will be running the last running club of the season on Monday, Labor Day, at 7:00 pm for those who are interested.

INFO ON FIRST TWO MEETS

Here's what I've been able to determine for the first two meets:

The Hornet Run Sat 9/6/14:
I'm still undecided on when the bus will leave but it will probably be around 9:00am
8th grade race is at 11:10 am
7th grade race is at 11:40 am
5th/6th grade race is at 12:10 pm

Sparta Invitational Sat 9/13/14:
K-6 grade race is at 1:20 pm
7th/8th grade race is at 2:10 pm
report time is TBD

Finalized Schedule (August 29, 2014)

We will not be adding any more meets, so here's the finalized schedule (though some times are still missing)

Saturday 9/06/14 Central Montcalm Hornet Run BUS LEAVES AT 9:15am
     * 8th grade runs at 11:10am (boys and girls together)
     * 7th grade runs at 11:40am (boys and girls together)
     * Future Spartan runners run at 12:10pm (boys and girls together)
Saturday 9/13/14 Sparta Invitational REPORT BY 1245pm
     * Future Spartan runners run at 1:20pm
     * 7th/8th grade runs at 2:10 pm
Tuesday 9/16/14 Jamboree @ Forest Hills Northern 4:00 PM start (bus leaves 2:45pm)
Thursday 9/18/14 @ Fremont Invitational (TBD)
Tuesday 9/23/14 Jamboree @ Lowell 4:00 PM start (bus leaves 2:45pm)
Tuesday 9/30/14 Jamboree @ Sparta 4:00 PM start (report by 3:15pm)
Saturday  10/04/14 Allegan Tiger XC Jamboree 10:15 AM start (bus time TBD)
Tuesday  10/07/14 Jamboree @ Northview 4:00 PM start (bus leaves 2:45pm)
Tuesday 10/14/14 League Championship @ Cedar Springs 4:00 PM start (bus leaves 2:45pm)

All three Saturday meets will have a running club race. I'm still waiting to hear on the jamborees, but should know by September 5.

Schedule as of July 20, 2014

Here's the schedule at this point. We are looking to add a meet or two somewhere in the schedule as well.
Saturday 9/06/14 Central Montcalm Hornet Run 8:30 AM start
Saturday 9/13/14 Sparta Invitational TBD (late AM/early PM)
Tuesday 9/16/14 Jamboree @ Forest Hills Northern 4:00 PM start
Tuesday 9/23/14 Jamboree @ Lowell 4:00 PM start
Tuesday 9/30/14 Jamboree @ Sparta 4:00 PM start
Saturday 10/04/14 Allegan Tiger XC Jamboree 10:15 AM start
Tuesday 10/07/14 Jamboree @ Northview 4:00 PM start
Tuesday 10/14/14 League Championship @ Cedar Springs 4:00 PM start

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