Ladies,
I'm no fool. I've coached girls' sports for many years. More than any of you are alive, for that matter. I know the Homecoming Dance will be on your minds. That cannot be stopped.
At least slow it down a bit. At least share a little concentration on the meet. Some. A little. Any.
Seriously, I cannot stress enough how important it is for us at this juncture. So many questions get answered in a very real and almost final way. We are running out of chances to affect the final lineups for the year. Tomorrow settles HHC. The only other two chances to change the Sectional lineup come the following week at NE Dubois. That's it!
We need to make progress on Salem. I hate to put the heat on it, but if we can't fair well against them, we may have a hard time escaping Sectional. Yeah, like that. We're a better team than that. Think of the time you sacrificed all summer. Make it count.
Carrie - find Sydney from the jump and do not let her escape. Not one inch of slack on the rope! You have better kick speed, so the only way she breaks away is if you let it happen. Simple as that. She is not better than you, not at all. She has been more determined. That changes tomorrow. Target - beat Sydney.
Danielle - the second mile is the ticket for you. No matter what happens the first mile, too fast or too slow, you have to make the second mile hard. Really hard. You'll be fine once you get to the third mile. But get there in a hurry! Target - 6:40 pace.
Alli - the ankle is getting better. You ran great the last time you ran this course, hit it with the same determination you did the first time. You are so tough, I know you can do it. You are still very strong, and you are a fighter. You'll do great. Target - 6:50 pace.
Madison - by now you have to realize you can run at or near the front of this group of girls. Don't be afraid to go hard, and don't be afraid to hurt. It won't last forever (though it may feel like it). Reach deep. You are a major factor in our Sectional plans. You are a pivotal player in our battle against Salem. Target - 6:50 pace.
Bret - like Danielle, you cannot mentally break in the second mile. You have great turnover and stride length when you are confident. Decide to be confident! I know that sounds stupid, but whatever it is that you are afraid of, whatever thought it is that is holding you back, shove it out of your head. Better still, recognize it for what it is - a limiter. Whatever that thing might be, it can't be worse than giving less than your best. That's the only thing worth being afraid of. Target - 7:25 pace.
Kaitlyn - you are first of the bubble girls. Like Madison, we have to have a drop from you. We need another minute out of you. Are you up for it? Twenty seconds per mile. You've done it in practice. Do it in a race. Get through the second mile, then turn it on hard. Target - 7:20 pace.
Chloe - you have earned your spot on the Varsity roster tomorrow. Fight to keep it. You are stronger than you know. You have a great kick. This one is easy - beat Kaitlyn. Target - 7:20 pace.
Morgan - it's a tall order. You are hurting, no doubt about it. Still, you are extremely talented and tough. You won't hurt your foot running on it, but it's going to hurt. If you can shove that aside, you can do what you must. You'll have to beat Kaitlyn and Chloe. Target - 7:20 pace.
Diana - it's time. You have worked hard, fought hard, but now you have a hard target before you. Somehow you have to turn yourself inside-out and beat the three girls mentioned above: Kaitlyn, Chloe, and Morgan. Target - 7:20 pace.
Carlee - I could add you to this bubble too. And the order is the same - beat the girls above: Kaitlyn, Chloe, Morgan, and Diana. Target - 7:20 pace.
Claudia - you should be running in the 24's. That's about 7:40 pace. Mentally dig in, give it a shot. You have the talent. Don't coast, don't be afraid of the pain. Embrace it! Target - 7:40 pace.
McKena - yes, like Morgan, you have plantar. Yes, it hurts. It won't hurt your foot, but you are going to be in pain. Tough it out! You only have a couple races left, and taper starts for you Monday. You can do this! Target - 8:00 pace.
Now if all else fails, think of it this way... you are all valiant soldiers in defense of the honor and kingdom of your newly crowned queen, Her Royal Highness Danielle. Fight with honor, my Valkyries!
I'm no fool. I've coached girls' sports for many years. More than any of you are alive, for that matter. I know the Homecoming Dance will be on your minds. That cannot be stopped.
At least slow it down a bit. At least share a little concentration on the meet. Some. A little. Any.
Seriously, I cannot stress enough how important it is for us at this juncture. So many questions get answered in a very real and almost final way. We are running out of chances to affect the final lineups for the year. Tomorrow settles HHC. The only other two chances to change the Sectional lineup come the following week at NE Dubois. That's it!
We need to make progress on Salem. I hate to put the heat on it, but if we can't fair well against them, we may have a hard time escaping Sectional. Yeah, like that. We're a better team than that. Think of the time you sacrificed all summer. Make it count.
Carrie - find Sydney from the jump and do not let her escape. Not one inch of slack on the rope! You have better kick speed, so the only way she breaks away is if you let it happen. Simple as that. She is not better than you, not at all. She has been more determined. That changes tomorrow. Target - beat Sydney.
Danielle - the second mile is the ticket for you. No matter what happens the first mile, too fast or too slow, you have to make the second mile hard. Really hard. You'll be fine once you get to the third mile. But get there in a hurry! Target - 6:40 pace.
Alli - the ankle is getting better. You ran great the last time you ran this course, hit it with the same determination you did the first time. You are so tough, I know you can do it. You are still very strong, and you are a fighter. You'll do great. Target - 6:50 pace.
Madison - by now you have to realize you can run at or near the front of this group of girls. Don't be afraid to go hard, and don't be afraid to hurt. It won't last forever (though it may feel like it). Reach deep. You are a major factor in our Sectional plans. You are a pivotal player in our battle against Salem. Target - 6:50 pace.
Bret - like Danielle, you cannot mentally break in the second mile. You have great turnover and stride length when you are confident. Decide to be confident! I know that sounds stupid, but whatever it is that you are afraid of, whatever thought it is that is holding you back, shove it out of your head. Better still, recognize it for what it is - a limiter. Whatever that thing might be, it can't be worse than giving less than your best. That's the only thing worth being afraid of. Target - 7:25 pace.
Kaitlyn - you are first of the bubble girls. Like Madison, we have to have a drop from you. We need another minute out of you. Are you up for it? Twenty seconds per mile. You've done it in practice. Do it in a race. Get through the second mile, then turn it on hard. Target - 7:20 pace.
Chloe - you have earned your spot on the Varsity roster tomorrow. Fight to keep it. You are stronger than you know. You have a great kick. This one is easy - beat Kaitlyn. Target - 7:20 pace.
Morgan - it's a tall order. You are hurting, no doubt about it. Still, you are extremely talented and tough. You won't hurt your foot running on it, but it's going to hurt. If you can shove that aside, you can do what you must. You'll have to beat Kaitlyn and Chloe. Target - 7:20 pace.
Diana - it's time. You have worked hard, fought hard, but now you have a hard target before you. Somehow you have to turn yourself inside-out and beat the three girls mentioned above: Kaitlyn, Chloe, and Morgan. Target - 7:20 pace.
Carlee - I could add you to this bubble too. And the order is the same - beat the girls above: Kaitlyn, Chloe, Morgan, and Diana. Target - 7:20 pace.
Claudia - you should be running in the 24's. That's about 7:40 pace. Mentally dig in, give it a shot. You have the talent. Don't coast, don't be afraid of the pain. Embrace it! Target - 7:40 pace.
McKena - yes, like Morgan, you have plantar. Yes, it hurts. It won't hurt your foot, but you are going to be in pain. Tough it out! You only have a couple races left, and taper starts for you Monday. You can do this! Target - 8:00 pace.
Now if all else fails, think of it this way... you are all valiant soldiers in defense of the honor and kingdom of your newly crowned queen, Her Royal Highness Danielle. Fight with honor, my Valkyries!
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