The 2018 YLHS Cross Country Awards Banquet will be held Friday, November 30th from 6-9PM at the Yorba Linda Community Center in the Imperial Room. We strongly encourage all runners and their parents to attend. It is a wonderful event catered by Blue Agave. All runners will be recognized for their contributions to the team. It is a great opportunity to celebrate a tremendous season as we enjoy one last time together as a team.
Please send in your RSVP and check by November 16th! Thank you!
The Century Conference league preview will be held at Yorba Regional Park Tuesday, October 30th with the first race starting at 1 PM. The top two varsity teams in each league qualify for CIF prelims 11/9.
Yorba Linda is in the North Hills League and will be competing against El Dorado, El Modena and Villa Park. The Crestview League features Brea, Canyon, Esperanza and Foothill.
There is a $3 fee to park at Yorba Regional.
Race schedule…Girls JV 1:00, Boys JV 1:30, Girls Frosh/Soph 2:00, Boys Frosh/Soph 2:30, Girls Varsity 3:00, Boys Varsity 3:30, Awards Ceremony 4:15
Course map…Century Conference Finals Course
The bus leaves YLHS at 11:30 AM.
The Riverside Invitational will be held Saturday, October 20th at Riverside City Cross Country Championship Course 1055 Orange Street, Riverside, CA 92501
YLHS is in the Division 2 races that begin at 9:45AM.
Schedule: Boys Varsity 9:45; Girls Varsity 10:00; Boys Frosh/Soph 10:20; Girls Frosh/Soph 10:35; Boys JV 10:55; Girls JV 11:15
Google map for Riverside City Championship Course…Riverside Championship Course
There is no course map posted.
The bus will depart YLHS at 7:30AM.
The Orange County Championships are being held Saturday, October 13th at Oak Canyon Park, 5305 East Santiago Canyon Road, Silverado, CA.
YLHS is in the Medium Schools (MS) races that begin at 8AM. The varsity girls will race in the Sweepstakes race at 10AM.
Google map for Oak Canyon Park…Oak Canyon Park
Area Map of Oak Canyon Park…Oak Canyon Map
Meet schedule…OCC_Schedule
Course Map…OCC_Course
The bus will leave YLHS at 6:30AM.
The Century Conference league preview will be held at Yorba Regional Park Tuesday, 9/25 with the first race starting at 3 PM.
Yorba Linda is in the North Hills League and will be competing against El Dorado, El Modena and Villa Park. The Crestview League features Brea, Canyon, Esperanza and Foothill.
There is a $3 fee to park at Yorba Regional.
Race schedule…Century Conference Meet Information 2018
Course map…Century Conference Finals Course
The Dana Hills Invitational is Saturday, September 22nd at Dana Hills High School in Dana Point.
YLHS is in the Division III races that begin at noon.
Google map for Dana Hills High School…Dana Hills Invitational
Meet schedule…Dana_Hills_Schedule
Course Map…Dana_Hills_Course_Map
The bus will leave YLHS at 9AM.
The Woodbridge Invitational at Silver Lakes Sports Complex in Norco will be held Friday, September 14th.
YLHS is racing Friday in the RED division races and the RED A race for varsity. This is a busy meet and multiple races will be running at the same time.
There is a fee to park or enter the park to watch the races and traffic can be burdensome on Friday afternoon to get to the races allow plenty of time to get there. After spending all of that time driving, stay awhile and watch a few races. You’ll get to know a few more people and probably enjoy it.
Eighth grade roundup was a great success and it was nice to see all of you eager to start your high school athletic career. We also saw a little self-doubt, worry and apprehension because, “I’m not a runner” or “I don’t run.” Just because you haven’t run with the exception of the mile in PE doesn’t mean you are not a runner. Approximately 1/3 of the athletes currently on the cross country team never ran prior to joining the team their freshman year. A little bit of nerves or self-doubt is perfectly normal for anything you have never attempted but it shouldn’t overwhelm or stop you. The coaches understand where you are coming from and have spent time developing a program to maximize your potential while minimizing the risk of injury. Much like math is a series of building blocks to solve larger problems, cross country takes a building block approach to get you ready for the season.
The beauty of cross country is that everyone participates and everyone races. Every team member is valued and everyone contributes. You race as an individual while part of the team. You support each other while working to run your best time.
You may doubt yourself and think, “I should have started running sooner.” It’s never too late to start—ask Julia “Hurricane” Hawkins. She started running at the spry age of 100 and recently set the age-group world record in the 60 meter dash. At the same meet Orville Rogers, 100 lost to Dixon Hemphill, 93 in the men’s masters 60 meter dash. Despite the defeat, Rogers still set an age-group world record. There may be someone out there faster than you, or you may be the one everyone else is chasing! Your personal achievements and accomplishments are ahead of you. Last year nearly all runners improved throughout the season and most runners improved 30 to 90 seconds (or more) per mile.
Your journey begins July 9th and you are not alone. Welcome to the YLHS XC family!
Summer Camp is Coming Soon…
As school continues on, summer camp appears to be in the far distant future but it is less than two months away. If you are new to running, it is a great opportunity to prepare your mind and body for the upcoming cross country season. Returning runners understand what to expect but can start to prepare now. New runners can start a program to build up their endurance to be ready for the season.
Here are a few important tips for new runners (and returning ones, too):
There are some really nice looking shoes and clothing great for running but they may not be right for you. Everyone’s stride and foot strike are different and it is important to get shoes that are right for YOU. Discomfort and injuries can occur due to wearing the wrong shoes. It is recommended you visit a running store specializing in helping runners get the best fit with their shoes. The store should analyze your gait, watch your stride and recommend multiple pairs of shoes for you to try. Try them on with an open mind and with more than a fashion eye. Comfort and function are the most important part of the shoe. Great designs and colors are more awesome when the fit is perfect!
Here are a few area stores that specialize in helping runners get the right pair of shoes (no endorsement or recommendation stated or implied).
A Snail’s Pace (Brea)
Top Speed Running (LaVerne)
Legacy Running Co (Whittier)
Road Runner Sports (Costa Mesa)
Fleet Feet Sports (Rancho Cucamonga)
Runners High (Long Beach)
Socks and clothing are important too. You want to get socks that wick moisture away from your feet. Avoid socks that are 100% cotton. They absorb moisture and can create an uncomfortable experience and potentially lead to skin and foot problems. Consider cotton, wool and synthetic blends or synthetic fibers for best performance. You may also want to consider padding (heels, balls of feet), seamless toes and the rise and fit of the sock as there is nothing worse than a sock that slides into your shoe during a run.
With clothing, again avoid 100% cotton. The cotton will absorb moisture and wet fabric will stick to the skin causing irritation, chafing and/or blisters. Look for blends and synthetics that wick moisture away from the skin for the best comfort and performance.
Not all gear is right for everyone. We all have different body types, mechanics and sweat patterns. Shoes, socks, shorts and tops that are perfect for one person may be extremely uncomfortable for someone else. Ask your coaches and experts for advice and get the gear that is right for you.
You don’t win the race on the first day of practice. Depending on your fitness level and running experience, you may actually need to start with a run/walk program. Start easy, take it slow. If you’ve never run before start by running every second or third day, one to three miles at a time. Instead of distance, you could even start with running for time—10 minutes to start and then begin to work up to 45 minutes. Don’t be afraid to take walk breaks if necessary. Before you know it, you’ll be running three miles or more comfortably. The cross country season is long and the only way to be successful is if you are healthy enough to toe the starting line. The biggest mistake a runner can make is to do too much, too soon, too fast. A general rule of thumb is to increase your weekly mileage no more than 10% per week. Three to five days of running per week is enough to prepare you for summer camp. Proper rest, hydration and nutrition will help get you ready to tackle the summer.
For more great tips refer to resources such as runnersworld.com and search for “beginners”.
We look forward to seeing you July 9th for the start of summer camp and a healthy and successful season.
