Early Release

Early release today at Newton North, so time for some random thoughts...

Are certain injuries contagious? It always seems that there's one injury every year that makes the rounds, even among runners who are doing different training. One year it was shin splint, this year it's achilles tendonitis.

It's good to see the freshman class (girls) and sophomore class (boys) doing so well. The future looks bright for the ongoing success of the program.

The great thing about cross-country is that every single runner, from the fastest to the slowest, can expect to see significant improvement over the course of the season. Some of that improvement is plain fitness, and some of it is learning how to push. I never get tired of seeing someone wake up to what an XC race is all about and suddenly cut a minute or more off their best time.

The Bay State Invitational at Franklin Park (Oct 1) is a great event. Too bad the boys aren't going, but the girls are running a varsity and freshman team (and maybe JV?). The freshman race is at 1:45, the varsity race at 2:20. Go support the team!

The NN-Wellesley meet (Oct 5) is the first real dual meet test for North. It's going to be fun.

Dave Polgar is doing a great job as captain of the boys team.

I don't want to jinx us, but I've never made it through an XC season without at least one meet being postponed because of weather. Halfway through the season, we've been very fortunate.

I don't understand why all the hockey players in Norwood come out for the cross-country team. I thought football was the sport for keeping these kids off the street.

So much of running success is habit. Running during the summer is habit. Running every day during the season is habit. Warming up and cooling down are habits. Eating well, getting enough sleep, and taking care of yourself are habits. Running hard in track workouts is habit. If you have the right habits, you almost can't help being successful.