Spartan 5K is almost here!

Thank you so much to all of you who have signed up to volunteer, donate or run this Sunday!  The Spartan 5K is almost here and we are very excited!

Although we waited a little long to get going on this, things are falling into place nicely :).  A very special thanks to Great Harvest Bread Company, who agreed to provide race rolls with very short notice!  Please thank them if you get a chance!

A special plea to please not wait until the last minute to register to run!  It will be much easier if Brett can have that information ahead of time to get everything into the computer for the chips.  Sign up right away so that there is not much left to do on Saturday morning!

Register to run here:  http://tinyurl.com/2014Spartan5K
Volunteer here:  www.SignUpGenius.com/go/30E054EA9AD2BA57-20141

Rochester Nordic Ski Team

Usually I mention this earlier in the season... but now is as good a time as any!  There is a good chance that your runner has talked about joining the Nordic Ski Team this winter season.  This is the direction that many XC runners (and others) go for a fun sport in the winter.  Here is a little bit about this team/sport:  The Rochester Nordic Ski Team is an All-City team under the umbrella of the Rochester Active Sports Club.  It is run by volunteer coaches who have a wonderful focus of teaching kids the lifelong sport of XC skate skiing.  Skate skiing is very different from classic skiing, which is what many people think of when they think of XC skiing.  Skate skiing uses more of a skating motion, is faster (once you know what you're doing), and is a great workout!

The team meets Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from the end of November through February.  Attendance is taken but the atmosphere is relaxed.  If there is not snow or the temperature is too cold to be outside (usually below 0), dryland practices are usually scheduled.  Some winters this happens too often but hopefully this season will be a good  one for skiing!

It is possible to letter in XC skiing through participation in practices, meets, technique proficiency, and service hours.

Because the team is an All-City team, the kids will meet lots of new people from other schools-many of them are also XC runners for their school.  Fun to ski with the same kids that they run against at a different time of year!

For more information about this year's program and for registration information, visit www.rasc-mn.org.  If you have questions, send me an email!  Registration night is Monday, November 3 at Century High School.  It is recommended that you register online ahead of time if possible and then attend the registration for all of the information!

Spartan 5K

Moving right along to the Spartan 5K on Sunday, November 2.  We hope that your family will  participate!  (I see that some of you have already begun to sign up!  Hurray!)  There will be race-day registration available but we are hoping that as many people as possible will sign up ahead of time.  This will make race morning much simpler!
Runner/walkers sign up here:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1UAwSYSNCgv1QIvAIPirF_VgdclSY9WclNyxYLysMwPo/viewform

Volunteers sign up here (please note that Brett is hoping that those who can do the run/walk will choose that option!):
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e054ea9ad2ba57-20141

This event has a suggested donation of $10/participant (remember, this is our team fundraiser!  We never sold cookie dough!).  Current potential plans for donations include the addition of a shed on the track dedicated specifically to XC/Track and Field Equipment.

If you are not able to make the event but would like to make a donation, mail it or drop it off at the Activities Office:  Spartan 5K, 1420 11th Ave SE, Rochester, MN  55902.

It would be super-fun to have the runners recruit their non-XC friends to participate in this activity as well!  Encourage them to spread the word!

Also...random comment...Great Harvest made my day today when they agreed to donate race rolls.  I did not expect to get them as a donation because ordinarily businesses expect at least a month in order to consider the request!  Shout out to Great Harvest!!

State Meet

First of all, a warm congratulations to Chad Couser for qualifying for the State Meet!  A quick explanation:  These teams are in our section 1AA:  Albert Lea, Austin, Century, Faribault, Farmington, Hastings, JM, Kasson-Mantorville, Lakeville North, Lakeville South, Mayo, Northfield, Owatonna, Red Wing, Winona, and Zumbrota-Mazeppa/Kenyon-Wanamingo.  Our Section is determined by the size (AA) and geographical location (1) of the schools.  Some of these teams we see often during the season and some we see very little.  It is worth noting that we are up against the top competition in our area -and remember, you essentially have to finish in the top 8 to qualify for State!

Regarding State...November 1 at St. Olaf in Northfield.  This is a fantastic day!  If you have the time, take a run up to the campus and enjoy this huge event.  It is super-fun and Chad will love to have your support!  (You can also cheer for Century Boys, Aly Welch from Century Girls, and Emma Christensen from JM Girls while you are there, congrats to them!)
In the past, there have been years when they have taken a fan bus up to the meet.  I am not aware what this year's status is but I do believe that interest is a huge part of the reason that this would happen.  More information should be available about this soon!

Team Photos

Cross Country Team Photos??
Click here!
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152710744636823.1073741967.66751116822&type=1

Sections

Hey, everyone!!
Pasta feed Wednesday at Noodles immediately following practice!

Sections is back in Owatonna...the race times (from the Owatonna Big 9 site):
3:00 Girls JV
3:30 Boys Varsity
4:00 Girls Varsity
4:30 Boys JV

Who qualifies for state?  (From the MSHSL Rules and Regulations)
The top 2 teams from each section
The top 8 finishers...who are NOT from the top 2 teams...in other words, if you qualify as a team member, you have already qualified.  8 unattached runners from each section also get to run at State.

State XC Meet will be Saturday, November 1 at St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN.

New with Friends of Mayo Running

Hi, all,

This is Greg again (i.e., rather than Kristin Sorenson), the president of Friends of Mayo Running, a 501c3 organization that is set up to financially support Mayo High School’s running programs.  We’re doing some new and exciting things that will support our programs in other ways:

1) New website and logo at http://www.mayorunning.com .  Currently this is a very simple site that has our vision and mission as well as links to the blog for the latest information and to the boys and girls cross country teams.  It’s easy to remember “mayorunning”, so we’d like to make it functional.  If you have any ideas, please feel free to contact me at president@mayorunning.com .

2) Off-season running.  Many boys did this with me last year.  I hope to get more students of all ability levels including girls.  This can make a huge difference for confidence and fitness level, and more importantly it’s fun!  Many of the parents last year also used this as an opportunity to run together.

3) Amazon Smile.  If you so choose, you can have Amazon donate 0.5% of the price of eligible AmazonSmile purchases to Friends of Mayo Running whenever you shop on AmazonSmile.  It’s easy to set up and at no cost to you.  For more information, please visit http://smile.amazon.com/ch/27-2990272 .

4) Finally if anyone has ideas about fun offseason activities, please let me know.  I’d like to continue to build our running community and have fun.

Thanks and have a great week.

Greg Couser

Pasta feeds and Subway and Volunteer T-Shirts...Also State Meet and Spartan 5K/Team Recognition

A huge thank you to Marybeth Kasperski, who hosted our last pasta feed in the pouring rain!  And a huge thank you to those athletes that braved the weather to attend!  Thanks also goes out to the following people who supported Marybeth with food and assistance:  Lisa Luetmer, Melissa Brandt, Marianne Couser, DeAnna Schleusner, Hilal Maradit Kremers, Michele Bleskan, Erin Truesdale, and Haley Vold.

A shout-out also to all of those athletes who participated in their last race of the season at Big 9!  Cross Country is such a celebration of participation and personal goals.  Hopefully your athlete has felt satisfaction in one of these areas this season!

All athletes are welcome to the last pasta feed at Noodles!

If your athlete ordered Subway for Sections and it is not needed, please let me know and I will pull that order.  krsorenson6@gmail.com

If you happen to have a Mayo Invitational Volunteer t-shirt still hanging around your house, please drop it off in the Activities Office as soon as you can.  We will save it for you to wear again next year :)!

Upcoming Events:
State XC Meet for those who qualify based on Section results is Saturday, November 1 in Northfield.  There are often many team members and families who go up to support those who make it.  It is a great fun day!

And then to cap off the weekend...hopefully you are planning on the Spartan 5K and Team Recognition on Sunday, November 2!  If you are not planning to run/walk at this event, hopefully you can help!
More information will be coming very soon!

This Week in XC

These Tuesday meets sneak up on me!

Pasta Feed is at the Kasperski home on Monday:  6204 Townsview Ln SE
Last one of the season at a team member's home.

Marybeth will be happy to have your help!  Here is the signup:
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090a48a5a622aa8-pasta2

Big 9 is already here!  Hard to believe.  Meet is in Owatonna again.  I understand that there was some construction throwing off the route that I shared last time.  Does anyone have any information about this?  Please feel free to comment and let us know if the construction is still there and/or a better route.

Message from Greg Couser about Nike Cross Nationals Deadline

Hi all,

Nike Cross Nationals (NXN) is fast approaching.  We had two teams of guys go last year, and we had a blast.  We're looking for guys and gals of all ability levels, 8th grade and older (a meet requirement), to join us for some fun.

We need to get organized NOW, however.  If you want to go please sign up at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1B3fTp-XNmXa0Ipq_a5ZNPOKMF9Zmx4GM4dzRN-7Zn9s/viewform by Friday or let me know in person on Saturday at the pancake run at the Mallmanns.  Below I have reposted details from Kristin's 9/27 posting.

Great meet today and hope to see you in Sioux Falls!

Greg Couser

Introducing NXN

A small group of MHS runners have been going to the race called the NXN for the last several years. It has been a word-of-mouth opportunity in the past...but this year the group is determined to get the word out and recruit some more runners!
Please note that this event is a 5K race after the high school cross country season is over and has no affiliation with the Mayo Cross Country team!
Please note also that this event is for ANY LEVEL RUNNER!

Here are some of the details:
What:  Nike Cross Nationals Heartland 5K race
When:  November 8-9, 2014 (Leaving Saturday around 9am and returning late afternoon on Sunday)
Where:  Sioux Falls, SD
Why:  Because it's a great way to cap off the season!

Those who have gone speak so highly of this race...it is for all levels of runners and is a fun adventure!
Here is the website:  http://www.runnerspace.com/nxnhl .

The race is most fun when the runners register as teams.  Each team can have 5-7 members at ANY LEVEL.  I believe that we have taken 2 teams in the past.  We would love to take more this year...including a girls' team!
Also note:  participants do not have to have been running Cross Country this season!  If you know someone or there is a sibling that would also like to participate, they are welcome!

Keep in mind that drivers are needed for this opportunity and parents are encouraged to attend!  We will do our best to accommodate everyone we can within a carpool but we need parents to come along as well!

Expected/estimated costs:
Race:  $150 per team or $30 per individual.  Therefore individual cost is $30 or less
Accommodations:  $150 plus tax for a room for 4.  If we are able to put 4 runners in each room, cost per runner is approximately $40.  Obviously this is different if parents have a room.  This is the hotel that we are planning to stay at:   http://hiltongardeninn3.hilton.com/en/hotels/south-dakota/hilton-garden-inn-sioux-falls-south-FSDSFGI/index.html .
Team Singlet:  $30.  The kids may have noticed some of the singlets that they have worn in the past. They are often much-coveted.  Cole Geschwind is working on this year's design and it promises to be super-cool!
Gas Money:  We may ask for a small contribution to help with gas
Food Money:  Meals will be Saturday lunch on the road and dinner in Sioux Falls and Sunday breakfast at Panera and lunch on the way home.

So this is the preliminary information!  Great thanks to Greg and Marianne Couser for spearheading this opportunity and to those experienced parents who are lending their expertise:  Nancy Werning, Katherine Moore and Ellen McPhail.

If you are interested, DO NOT REGISTER at the NXN website!  Greg will put together teams based on PR times and do the registration all together.  Fill out the form below to indicate your interest!

We would like to get an idea of who is interested in order to begin planning.  If this is something that you and/or any runners in your house are interested in participating in, sign up here:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1B3fTp-XNmXa0Ipq_a5ZNPOKMF9Zmx4GM4dzRN-7Zn9s/viewform
Please sign up by Friday, October 2!
If we do not get enough parent drivers, runners will be accepted in the order that they signed up!

If this is something that you would like more information about, contact Greg (greg@productivementality.com).

Saturday Morning Run/Pancake Breakfast

Mallmanns are hosting a pancake breakfast on Saturday, October 11.
Run at 9:00 am and pancakes, ping pong and frisbee to follow.
1906 Stonewall Ln SW
All are welcome!

All-City Pasta Feed and All-City Meet

I am hoping that the post that I did a couple of days ago about this didn't get lost so am going to reiterate some of what I had put there...

Here is the link to the Pasta Feed info.  Please note that each person is expected to bring a dish to pass!  This is a potluck.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HGCWwmGUGQl7RvEzolb4cMLvtaOmwswKG1pcQjKLhSo/edit?usp=sharing
Since the pasta feed doesn't start until 5:30, usually kids go home and grab their food before heading out to the pasta feed.

For the meet on Tuesday, the website says that the athletes are excused at 2:35 but please note...there is NO transportation to Century!  There are many drivers going-so one of the things to do is have your athlete try to drum up a ride by checking with the upperclassmen.

Don't want to forget to thank Lisa Luetmer for hosting and all of the volunteers that pulled together last week's pasta feed:  Marianne Couser, Anne Colby, Cathy Anderson Benscoter, Allison Benike, Michele Bleskan, Mary Sirian Peterson, Erin Truesdale, Nancy Werning, Carolyn Sedlack, Kelly Turner, Cindy Pauley and Marybeth Kasperski.

Hoping that we will have some more runners for NXN!  Don't forget that we are hoping to hear from anyone who is interested by Friday.

Also...I am hearing that there is a run and pancake breakfast planned for Saturday...stay tuned for more information about this to come!

Thanks for volunteering!

A note from the 5K coordinator this past weekend:
A big thanks to Cole and the Mayo Cross Country team for volunteering at Erin's 5K!  Your fun music and enthusiasm at the water station was really appreciated.  We raised over $3000 Saturday which was donated to the Neurological Recovery House.
Tammy, event coordinator