Lynbrook HS - Update #1         www.LYNBROOKSPORTS.com - click on FALL / CROSS COUNTRY

Hello Fellow Runner,                                                         June 2, 2008

Here's an update on what's going on since Track season ended, what's planned for this summer and a little nudge to get you out there and running in your "spare" time, not to mention to get you out for Cross-Country this fall (hey, we have a good time). First off, for those of you who don't know me, let me introduce myself to you (returnees can skip the following paragraph):

I'm Hank Lawson and I've been coaching X-C at Lynbrook since 1994. Before that, I coached at Gunn High School from '88 - '92 and ran there from '69 - '73. In between, I ran for De Anza JC, San Diego State, founded and coached the Hewlett-Packard Track Team in the SF Bay Area, worked and ran for Runner's World Magazine and my last stint was programming/running/coaching at Maxtor Corporation. I'm very involved in Community Theater and help out alot at local shows. I still run and race competitively (when I'm not injured) and hope to run with you all this fall.

Missy will not be coming back to coach even though she really wants to. With both Anil and Anjali getting older, the school commitments have taken a bite out of Missy's available time. She will be tracking us on the web and will come to our meets if time permits. Coach Dovala will also not be back, but don't worry, I've got some irons in the fire and am actively looking for another coach to be part of the Lynbrook XC Family, more to come in my next update.

OK that's us in a nutshell. You can do the "300 Mile Club" again this summer. This is where you have 60 days to run 300 miles (5 miles a day average). Just keep a log of where you ran and how far each run is. You can start any time between now and June 30th. Then, just turn your log into me at the beginning of school and you'll get a "300 Mile Club" T-shirt. We had a few runners do it last year, let's try and get some more this year. If you're really ambitious, you can go for the "500 Mile Club" (Jr & Sr only) and get a "Custom Design" T-shirt for your effort. Los Gatos is having their standard "All Comers Meets" starting June 19th at 6:00 PM and going every Thursday until August 9th. It's $5.00 entry fee and you can run as many of the races as you want. All sorts of ages and caliber of athletes show up to these races and it's fun (plus, if you win your division, High School, you get your name in the paper the next day, usually). At WV College every Wed night at 5:15 a group of runners (headed by the Wilcox coach) work out on the track. One big event we will be doing this year is going to Pepperdine for an XC race on Oct 3rd & 4th. We'll be taking the first 50 guys & gals that sign up and have shown a commitment to running over the summer. We'll be basing our selection on Commitment, Speed & Attitude so if you want to be considered for Pepperdine you better make yourself known over the summer. Cost will be $160-170 and note that this meet is on an SAT Saturday (but not the big SAT Saturday, that's Oct 11th). We will be missing Artichoke, however. Finally, on Mon & Wed (starting June 16th) at 5:30pm at the Lynbrook Pool we will be running organized workouts from 3-7 miles (depends on your shape). Check www.LYNBROOKSPORTS.com for more information on races and workouts. There is also the Marshal Clark 4Mi (Aug 23rd) that we will be hosting as a fund-raiser. As you can see, lots of action is happening this summer - be a part of it!

Something else I am considering, how about a High Altitude Running Camp for 5 days (Tahoe or Mammouth) from Aug 12th thru Aug 16th? I am talking to other coaches to see if we can pair up with them. So let me know if you think you might be up for this idea or not. No idea what the cost is (if I had to guess... $100) and we'd be camping (yes, sleeping bags on the ground). I would need at least 7 to make this happen and if more want to go, then I need a parent to help in the driving (you bring a parent and you guarantee that you get to go). So, think about it and let me know within the next week.

We start X-C training on Aug. 18th at 9:00 (we meet at the Football shed by the Field House). We'll start off with an easy 3 miles that day and then work our way up from there. By the end of the season, you'll be able to run 9 miles in the hills without breaking a sweat. Attached is a PRELIMINARY race schedule. We'll have our standard Pizza Party, Rallye Run, Hash Run, Ice Cream Run, Turf & Surf, and some others I hope. You need to have your HEALTH CARDS in before you can OFFICIALLY run for the team. So please get your packet and get your physical ASAP. I suggest you print off the PRE-SEASON CHECKLIST form found on the XC web site to see what's needed for XC.

Hank Lawson (408) 460-6785 cell HANKLAW@IX.NETCOM.COM