Map of Saturday's races UPDATE on Parking

Saturday's Clash of the Classes races will go something like this.  The green curve is the approximate course for the 2 mile course.  Starts and finishes will be by the covered bridge ("You are here" on this map).  The race usually starts by following the big loop along the New River and finishes on the "Clark Curve."  Heustess Hill is the only climb.  Go clockwise there.


Red curve at bottom is Dale Street, which is an extension of Shadowline Drive.  There is parking off Hunting Hills Drive nearby, on either side of the swim complex.
Coach Mac: "ASU will be returning this weekend so we will not be able to use the ASU parking lot (the P on the map).  Everyone needs to park in the gravel lots near the swim complex (do not park in the Burnley/Clawson parking lot)."
It's a hike from the parking area to the course.  The restrooms at the bottom of this map will probably not be open, but there will be portable toilets.

(Thanks, Blue Ridge NC Guide)

Also see Google Maps and NC Runners coverage.

Saturday meet, early finish tonight?, shins?

It's here, almost.  The first meet, the Clash of the Classes, is this Saturday.

Please volunteer to work a table or other positions and bring a snack or beverage.

NC Runners has already started its coverage.  They have a photo of Ryan and Noah from a previous year.

Today's (Tuesday) practice is expected to be easier and shorter.  "If you are efficient with the circuits, we should be done by 5:00 on Tuesdays."  This should be repeated over the next 6-8 weeks: a little later finish on Mondays, even when runs are at the Greenway and uncomplicated, and then a little earlier on Tuesdays.

Shins OK?:  Coach Mac recommended buying shoes from Fleet Feet in Hickory (also Huntersville, W-S, and other NC stores) to start.  Some runners put icepacks on their shins too.

Notes -- practice goes late Monday, volunteer, 4A rankings, last Friday's times

• UPDATE from Coach Mac: "The team will be traveling to Bass Lake today for a long run.  If you are picking up your runner out there, we should be done around 5:45-6:00.  We should be back to the High School between 6:15-6:30."
• Monday's practice will be at Moses Cone, so return to WHS will be late. After 6:00, probably.
• Parents can volunteer for Saturday's event.
• NC Runners has posted its 4A Preseason rankings: Darby #1 (with photo), Madison #9.  Peter and Josh #4 and #6.  Bryan #14.
• Among other things that happened last Friday, almost all runners were timed on the track. Coach Honea has the times.  Big improvements include Michael, Jacob, Kathleen, Jordan, Juliana, and Lily.
• Olympic summary:  "Coach Williamson taught me to FINISH"--Manteo Mitchell (NC Prep Track)

Cancelled: football concessions, so volunteers not needed

This looks like the last word Friday 6:05pm from Coach Mac:

• "The Pioneer Club is not counting on having any business tomorrow so they are cancelling the concession stand.  Thank you to everyone who signed up to help.  Coach Mac"
• The earlier message: "The football scrimmage scheduled for today against Mt. Airy has been rescheduled due to inclement weather.  It will be played at 10:30 Saturday morning.  Sorry for the inconvenience."  
• It looks like that's still on, but no need for volunteers to staff concession sales.

Volunteer next week too, Time trial this afternoon, Donuts?

• There's a new volunteer opportunity, at next week's Clash of the Classes (and still 2 spots tonight).  
• Not for spectators, but the annual beginning of the season time trial is this afternoon.

Olympics

• Distance finals:  3:05pm (now) Women's 5000m
• 3:40pm Women's 4 x 100 is not a distance event, but the semifinal was so beautiful.
• 3:55pm. Women's 1500m
• 4:20pm The Men's 4 x 400 is not a distance event.

Saturday:  Men's 5000 and Women's 800; Sunday Men's Marathon

Cancelled -- Volunteer Friday night

Coach Mac needs parent volunteers for Friday night.  Here's the link to sign up.

Notes: Go Blue Ridge article, volunteer Friday

• Go Blue Ridge article -- Middlebrook, Vandenberg Ranked By NCRunners.Com.  Middlebrook #2, Vandenberg #10, Anderson #13, and Harman #19.  It's impressive that Watauga has 4 runners on the lists.  Boys and Girls.  
• A parent volunteer opportunity comes up already this Friday 6-9pm, working concessions at the varsity football scrimmage.  The Cross Country team gets money for its work.  You should get an e-mail link to the "SignUpGenius" soon to sign up for a shift.
• Dana Brackney generously offered to help a parent-volunteer who would like to learn how to manage the "SignUpGenius" after she graduates.
• The upcoming August 18 Clash of the Classes will also require lots of volunteers.  (I can't wait to see the first freshmen fly by.)
• Watauga is not just a team of state-ranked runners.  We had 82 athletes run in last year's Clash of the Classes, 33 girls and 49 boys.  It's a 2 mile run, instead of the 3.1 mile (5K) standard.  The times ranged from 10:11 to 22:54.  There will be 8 separate races, starting with the freshmen girls at 11:00am.
• Unlike the Clash of the Classes, meets typically have six races, with participation based on speed (and gender).  Watauga's fastest 7 will race against other teams' fastest 7s.  The next 7 fastest race against the other teams' next 7s.  Usually, all other runners compete in the open boys and open girls races.  That can be a lot of runners.
• Not on the high school schedule -- There is another uphill running race this Sunday, the Ascent.  It is 3.7 miles, ascending 1300 feet.  Starts at 11:00am at the Watson Gap Pavilion and finishes near Aho Gap on the Parkway.  This is probably not part of the Coach Honea's training plan for this week, but it should be beautiful.  Maybe we'll see some recent WHS graduates again.  Map and profile.   

UPDATE:  Watauga Lake Triathlon was August 11 also.  Results: Hailey (WHS '12) 5th among women, but 1st in the 15-19 age group and fastest in 5K run.  Ingrid (WHS '11) 2nd in 1000m swim and 3rd in 15-19 age group. 
In the Ascent, a 14 year old from the Asheville area won the overall by 0.1 seconds.  Yikes!

Updated 2012 Schedule

Note the additional meet in Ashe County September 20 and the details concerning overnight meets in Hendersonville and Raleigh/Cary.

Parents Meeting Tuesday 6:00pm CORRECTION: 3:00 Monday photos and practice

Tuesday, August 7, at 6:00pm, Coach Mac will have a meeting with parents.  The athletes will practice with the other coaches.  Please attend.

Monday, be there at 3:00 for photos, then practice.  Athletes are to be picked up on the other side of the Greenway at the Swim Complex that day.  (Because of spraying for bugs?  That's the story I got, from a reliable source)

Tuesday practice at 6:00pm.
Wednesday and Thursday practice after school.  Pick up at 5:30-6:00pm, usually.

Friday night -- Lock In?  Hardin Park School gym?

Preseason Rankings again

NC Runners has its 4A Team Rankings up now.  These are rankings based completely on best times of returning runners

Boys:  Watauga #1  Watauga #1
Girls:  Watauga #9.  Green Hope #1 again, but probably not the lock on #1 they've been lately.   The big obstacle this year is 2, 3, 4, and 6 from the West, meaning the October 27th 4A West Regional should be exciting.  5 teams (and who else?) will be competing for 4 spots at State.

Parents Meeting Tuesday 6:00pm. Be sure to attend. UPDATE

Next Tuesday, August 7, at 6:00pm, Coach Mac will have a meeting with parents.  The athletes will practice with the other coaches.  The meeting usually lasts about 45 minutes to an hour.  Please be sure to attend.  (It's good to know what's going on.)

UPDATE: There is practice Friday at 6:00pm.  Monday, practice will be at 3:20pm.  Tuesday 6:00pm.  Summer's over Wednesday--practice after school.

OLYMPICS distance events, finals only:
Friday 4:25pm Eastern  Women's 10,000m
Saturday 4:15pm Eastern  Men's 10,000m
Sunday 6:00am Eastern  Women's Marathon
Sunday 4:25pm Eastern  Men's 3000m Steeplechase
Monday 4:05pm Eastern  Women's 3000m Steeplechase
Tuesday 4:15pm Eastern  Men's 1500m
Thursday 3:00pm Eastern  Men's 800m
and that's enough for now . . .
full schedule

London is 5 hours ahead, right?

Notes -- August 1

• The Watauga Democrat has a brief story on Watauga High's Cross Country team (Thanks, NCPrepTrack).  They're working pretty hard this week, it's true, although a lot of them have been working hard all summer.
• NCPrepTrack notes that the 4A State Championships (November 3) will be at 10:30 and 11:30am this year.  94 days to go!
• Watauga had 82 athletes run in last year's Clash of the Classes, 33 girls and 49 boys.  It's a 2 mile run, instead of 3.1 mile (5K) standard.  The times ranged from 10:11 to 22:54.
• How does it affect Watauga fall sports, if school does not start until late August, as is now required by NC law?  Lots of NC schools start in late August now, but practices start at the same time for everyone.  So probably not much. Maybe it will be a little harder to get everyone to practice.