Mayo Invitational Photos

Here are pictures from the Mayo Invitational courtesy of Jon Peterson:
https://picasaweb.google.com/107965039773023631721/MayoCrossCountryMayoInvitationalSept172015?authkey=Gv1sRgCKG5g_TvtOzBJA&feat=directlink#

Thanks, Jon!!

Also...I'm off a week-next week is Owatonna...so obviously the All-City Pasta Feed will not be next Monday...look for a Pasta Feed on Wednesday and the All-City is the following week!  Sorry for the confusion :)

This week...

Saturday was a beautiful day for a XC meet!  Here are some photos from Maya Khanna's dad!
Winona XC Meet


Mankato is coming up fast!  Tuesday already...we have never been there before so I have no words of advice to share beyond the usual:  get release form signed to excuse them from the bus, stop at a Kwik Trip before you arrive at the meet site, allow extra time to walk from the parking lot to the site.

After Mankato I will post information about the All-City Pasta Feed next Monday!  This is a very cool event hosted by JM the day before the All-City meet!  Everyone is expected to bring a dish to pass.  Pre-ordered KLM t-shirts will be available for pick up here as well as at the meet.

Have a great week!

Winona and a couple of other random thoughts

Hello All!

Hope that everyone is enjoying the fun of Homecoming week!

Subway:  if you want to make changes to your Subway order, please contact me by text or email by Thursday morning at 10:00.  Once the orders are turned in, I can't make any more changes so let me know right away!

Travel Release Form:  I have forgotten to mention this earlier.  If you are planning to transport your athlete to a meet instead of them riding the bus, they need to have this approved through the Activities Office.  The form is available online at www.mayospartans.org>Forms (tab on the left). Students MUST be transported by an adult.  Be sure to turn in the form a couple of days before the meet.

Winona:  A super-fun course!  Very hilly with lots of switch backs.  Really fun to watch!  Spectators don't have to go far...but they do have to go UP!!  Wear the right kind of shoes for this!  Also...again allow for some time to walk from the parking lot to the field.  There are also a lot of stairs between the parking lot and the field so be prepared for that!

Parade:  A huge thank-you to Jay Maier, father of a couple of our athletes, for his contribution of the parade vehicle this year!  And speaking of the parade, don't forget to pick up some large bags of candy for the athletes to throw out to the spectators!

Parade part 2:  Parade starts at 4:00 at the Fairgrounds and runs down 16th Street to the high school.  Weather looks like it will be great!

All-City T-Shirts:  In case you don't have the order form, here is a copy of one.  A facsimile will be fine for ordering in case that is easier than trying to print this.  See previous post regarding turning in by Thursday to Coach Brandt.

Have a great rest of the week!  Hope to see you at the parade!

Homecoming Week Activities from the Captains...

KLM (All-City t-shirt with all runners names on it) t-shirt order forms were passed out at practice, orders need to be turned in with money by Thursday to coach Brandt.

Float decorating  Wednesday night at Grace Perrone’s house (3050 Oakview  Drive NE, Rochester)  after practice until 7:00 pm.  Bring poster board, markers, tape, glue, etc.

Breakfast Friday morning_

        Girls- Panera South at 6:30 am

        Boys-Perkins South at 6:15 am


Friday after coronation or 2:45/3:00- Walk to Dairy Queen and eat ice cream (bring money) then walk to fairgrounds to decorate the float.

        Girls meet at locker room/door 3 area

        Boys meet at track area

Noodles South after the parade

Rosemount Pictures and a couple other Random Thoughts

Thank you to Jon Peterson for taking these pictures from the Rosemount Meet:

https://picasaweb.google.com/107965039773023631721/MayoCrossCountryRosemountMeetSept42015?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCODju6bxtqzPuQE&feat=directlink

Also...regarding the Mayo Invitational...confirmed with Mr. Whitney on Friday that the word "postponed" is not really accurate..."cancelled" would be more appropriate :). It will not be rescheduled.

And...a huge thank you to Zadeo's Pizza for their support on Thursday.  They brought in extra people to help provide our order and were super-flexible as we navigated the supply/demand...and then did not charge us for pizzas that they had already cooked but we didn't want anymore due to the storm...

And...thank you to everyone who took leftover concessions off my hands!  :)

Photos from Mayo Invite

Thanks to DeAnna Schleusner for these photos!

Volunteers and Spectators:  https://www.flickr.com/gp/57309513@N08/L72v9V

Girls C:  https://www.flickr.com/gp/57309513@N08/49TkU9

Boys C:  https://www.flickr.com/gp/57309513@N08/onm7w3

Girls JV:  https://www.flickr.com/gp/57309513@N08/2rNas4

If you would like a file sent directly to you, contact DeAnna

Mayo Invite...

Well!  That was interesting!!

Concessions:  There is a lot to tackle in this post but I'm going to start with the foremost thing on my mind...leftover snacks that we weren't able to sell in the Concession Stand!
I have the following that I would love to be able to share around:
4 cases of Gatorade (28 bottles each case):  $12/each
2 cases of water (35 bottles each case):  $5/each
1 case of Kelloggs Fruit Snacks (36 packages):  $12
1 case Starburst (36 packages):  $22
1 case Gardettos (36 packages):  $12
2 cases Famous Amos cookies (42 packages each):  $14/each
1 Skinny Pop popcorn (20 packages):  $10

If there is any chance you would be willing to take any of this off my hands, I would be very grateful!  Think Halloween...or classroom snack...or just be good to your kids!  Email me at krsorenson6@gmail.com or call/text 507-269-1855 and we can arrange a transfer of goods :).

Okay...so now let's go back to the Pasta Feed:  Thank you so much to the Gathje Family for hosting this event on Wednesday.  Beautiful weather to eat pasta and hang out in the backyard!  Thank you also to those who brought food for this event:  Melissa Brandt, Kelly Turner, Marianne Couser, Michele Bleskan, Katherine Moore, Nancy Werning, Anne Colby, Kari Grafstrom, Anja Roden, Megan Pfrimmer, Erin Truesdale, Susan Poppen, Kate Mallmann, Janis Evers.  

Upcoming Pasta Feeds:
Next week Friday:  No official pasta feed due to Homecoming Parade
September 28:  Noodles South
October 7:  http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0b45aaac2aa6f49-mayo

So that brings us to the Meet today...where to start?  Start with rain...some periods in the middle where we thought we might just get away with getting the whole meet in...but reality rumbled in about 5:00, in the middle of the Girls JV race.  After a few minutes of hoping it would be just a postponement, the racers and families were soon told that the meet was cancelled.  An unfortunate and anticlimactic ending but really nothing to be done...can't control the weather!

So a huge thank you goes out to so many people who were there to support the meet!  Here are the volunteers that signed up and came out to help:  Kenna Atherton, Michele Bleskan, Ace and Ellen Browning, Greg and Marianne Couser, Angela Cramer, Laura and Paul Ehling, Dawn Elfstrand, Janis Evers, Jaime and Shelby Gathje, Randy Goss, Bart and Kari Grafstrom, Ellen Hamernik, Bruce and Cindy Hansel, Leah and Mike Holmes, Mani Howell, Kris Ihrke, Tonya Johnston, John and Marybeth Kasperski, Kay Kushwaha, Laura Lenz, Thomas Le-Rademacher, Kate and Steve Mallmann, Hilal Maradit Kremers, Katherine Moore, Cathy Nagler, Megan Pfrimmer, Joel and Susan Poppen, DuRanda Rinden, Anja and Robert Roden, Beth Sarkaria, DeAnna Schleusner, Steve Sine, Mary Sirian Peterson, Dawn Swanson, Lynn Swensen, Michelle Taylor, Erin Truesdale, Kelly Turner, Memy Vile, Aaron, Haley, and Dwight Vold, Nancy Werning, Elizabeth Yan.  Special thanks to John Trolander, Matt Wittman, John Resman, Roger Modry, John Spee, Brett's dad, Chad Korte, Connor Lang, Dave Brandt, Jeff Whitney and Athletic Trainers Chad and Maureen.  

A very special shout-out to those who stayed until the bitter end getting the tents down and the trailers packed up...including our three coaches...

Still one Mayo Invite t-shirt left!  It's an XL...contact Brett if you would like it...I bet he'd sell it to you for $10 instead of $12 :)

If you have Course Maps or Volunteer T-Shirts, please bring them to the Activities Office.

Just one more thing...Homecoming week coming up will have some additional fun activities to look forward to.  I will post more if I get any information from the captains...but Homecoming activities usually include an evening of decorating for the float, breakfast before school on Friday at a restaurant, Homecoming parade.  Also, parents are welcome to attend Coronation on Friday afternoon at 1:00.

Thanks, Everybody!!

Mayo Invite and Pasta Feed

Hey everyone!
We are getting closer now...only 2 days away!
Would love to get some more volunteers...really down numbers this year so please think about helping us out!  Remember...I WILL NOT SCHEDULE YOU DURING YOUR RUNNER's RACE!  None of the jobs take skill, only willingness to help!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/19EVOOhHbJMDb_f_L0DDPqo-T30HdnI-kdDtb1aytQr8/viewform


Also...Shelby is asking for more help with the pasta feed...can you help provide food?  Sign up here:
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0b45aaac2aa6f49-mayo

Bus is leaving MHS at 2:15 on Thursday for Eastwood.  This is an effort to minimize the amount of cars that are parked there since parking is limited.  Please encourage your runner to ride the bus!  Note that there is no bus back to MHS...but should be plenty of people able to provide transportation that direction!

It is supposed to be warm and possibly rainy on Thursday so prepare for any weather.  At some point along the way here, you will arrive at a meet wearing short sleeves and leave wishing you had your sweatshirt with you.  That day might be this week...

Mayo Invitational T-Shirts will be for sale for $12/each at the meet.  If your runner wants one, don't wait to pick one up!  They always sell out!

More tomorrow, I'm sure!

Mayo Invitational Sign Up

Hello, Cross Country Families!

Thank you so much to those of you who have already signed up to help out at the Invitational on Thursday...however...I need approximately 50 more people to sign up!

This event is such a fun time.  I have talked to more than one former Cross Country parent recently who has told me that they come back to the Invite even though they don't have a runner in it anymore!

I am really hoping to work on the schedule this weekend...so it would be great to know if you can help!
Please sign up by Saturday at 2:00 if at all possible!
I will continue to beg until we get enough help...

Sign up here!

Mayo Invitational Volunteer Sign Up

Here it is!
Please sign up as soon as possible!  The more information I have to work with from the beginning, the easier it is to put it all together.  Don't wait!  Don't hesitate!

Mayo Invitational Volunteer Sign Up

The sign up gives lots of details about the different jobs that we have to fill.  You don't need any special skill to do any of the jobs and volunteers will receive direction from a Lead person who is responsible for each area.  Don't be shy!

Mayo Invitational Volunteer Sign Up

Please let me know if you have questions!  507-269-1855/krsorenson6@gmail.com

Thanks!!

Faribault Tips and Tricks

Hey there!
Wanted to post this separately since it is a completely different topic...

Faribault!  The Faribault meet is at the Fairgrounds in Faribault.  The best way to get in is from the east side of the fairgrounds.  In the past, they charged $1 for parking if you came in from the west, however I haven't come that way in so long that I'm not sure they are still doing that.  Again, if you need directions, go to Big9.org.  There will be a link from the meet information listed there.

Very important information that I forgot to mention last week-applies to ALL MEETS:  Stop at a Kwik Trip BEFORE you get to the meet!  The facilities are usually portapotties and have very long lines of runners before the meets so it is best not to arrive at a meet thinking that you are going to use the bathroom!  So best tip is to be sure to leave enough time to make your bathroom stop before arriving at the race site.

Faribault usually involves a lot of running by the fans to see the runners while they are racing.  Brett's note mentions that the course has changed...when I look at it, I can't tell too much about the details of the change-but I can see that it will still involve quite a bit of back and forth across a lot of space to catch the runners along the course!

Note that the C races are a different distance than the other races so be sure to accommodate for that when you are picking your spot on the course to watch!

Wear your running shoes...and your Mayo Green and Gold!  Go Spartan Runners!

Also...a shout out to Kate Mallmann for hosting the Pasta Feed tonight!  Thanks also to Marianne Couser, Megan Pfrimmer, Susan and Joel Poppen, Laura Lenz, Melissa Brandt, Anja Roden, Michele Bleskan, Tara Maier, Erin Truesdale, Nancy Werning, Kelly Turner, Leah Holmes, Katherine Williamson, and Mary Hemenway for supporting the Pasta Feed through donations and help!

Photographer Needed and Med City Half Marathon Volunteers and Thank you!

Hello, All!
Here is a note from Marianne Couser:
Are you willing to help us keep a photographic record of this year's season?  We are looking for a photographer to help us with the meets at Faribault, Owatonna (10/8), Mankato, and Winona.  This would involve taking pictures of as many Mayo runners as possible!  Please contact Marianne if you are interested!

An upcoming opportunity to put on your calendar:
Volunteers are needed for a water stop for the Med City Fall Half Marathon on Sunday, September 20 from .  In exchange for our helping with this volunteer spot, we will receive $250 for the team!  Please consider helping out!  We will be at Mile 8, which is near the entrance to Mayowood Mansion.
Here is the signup:  Med City Fall Half Marathon

Thank you to the following volunteers for helping out with the Scheels Healthy Human Race:  Spencer Moore, Tristan Moore, Katherine Moore, Chad Couser, Ethan Couser, Madison Couser, Marianne Couser, Kendall Pfrimmer, Lance Pfrimmer, Lara Pfrimmer, Morgan Vold, Savannah Vold, Andrew Werning, Jack Mallmann, Travis Turner, Kelly Turner, Ann Holmes, Sara Holmes, Allison Dobie, Jacob Gathje, Andrew Gathje, Samuel Gathje, Jaime Gathje, Macie McKinley, Alaina Schleusner, Claire Schleusner, DeAnna Schleusner.

Pasta Feeds

Happy Back-to-School Day!
Friday seems a long time ago...but what a beautiful day it was to watch a XC meet (a little hot to run one...)!  I just love the Rosemount course.  It feels so festive and "eventful!"  It is also easy to see the runners from lots of places.  It was great to see lots of Mayo parents out there!

Hopefully you have had an opportunity to mark on your calendar all of the XC meets for the season.  If not, you can get the information from Brett's packet .  Go to the Schedule/Guide link.  You can also find this information at Big9.

Once you have the meets on your calendar, go back to the beginning and put "Pasta Feed" on the calendar the day before each meet.  Even if you don't hear about this until the last minute, you can count on a pasta feed the day before each meet.  The captains like to have some of their pasta feeds at Noodles South and the parents and runners like to host some of the pasta feeds at their homes.  The schedule for the year...and the sign up to provide help...is here:  Pasta Feeds 2015.  Looks like this there are a few holes this Thursday so take a look and help out if you can!

Mayo Invite is next week already...and I will need to get moving on that very soon!  Look for a flurry of posts to come soon...but in the meantime, volunteers will be needed starting at about 3:15 so you can think about how that fits into your schedule!

Rosemount Meet

Well...here we go...the race season begins!

We haven't raced at Rosemount for a few years so it is fun to get back there.  It is a fun course to watch because spectators can see the runners in several places without too much effort.  The race has a huge field of runners so it is a great race to be initiated into Cross Country with.  I have some of my favorite photos from past races at this course!

This might be a good time to review Brett's info packet from the beginning of the season.  You can find it here:  http://assets.ngin.com/attachments/document/0080/3435/2015_Cross_Country_Guide.pdf
I won't repeat the things he tells you here but there are definitely some pieces that will be helpful to read through...even if you did it earlier in the season!

Hopefully you have already taken a look at directions and how long it will take to get there.  Allow just over an hour to drive but be sure to allow another 10 minutes to get to the course.  Parking at Cross Country meets is always a little walk from the course so never arrive at the last moment hoping to see the start of the race!  You will likely miss the start if you do.

Directions can be found at the Big 9 website (www.big9.org).  If you don't already have that site bookmarked, now is a good time to do that.  You can also sign up to get notifications if anything changes on this site.  This is a good idea because if a meet is cancelled for some reason (weather), the notification you get from this site is about as quick as you can get this information.  You will be an informed parent and all of your friends will marvel at your knowledge!
Here is the map to Rosemount but it probably won't do you much good in this form. Rosemount Map
Go to Big 9 or even Google Maps for a version that isn't static.

Well this is a long enough post for one day!  Hope to see you tomorrow!  Be sure to wear Mayo Spartans Green so that we can identify each other!
:)