The cross country team has begun a new chapter: a class designed solely for their team as a new way of communication and bounding. The class is taught by head cross country coach Steven White and follows the style of a typical class. There is a Google Classroom where running logs are posted and Google Meets are held. Meetings are held every week to discuss practices and the upcoming season. 

White sends out workouts through Google Classroom every week and the athletes follow these plans and record their activity on the logs. 

“85 kids are part of the class. I send out workouts for the week and the team captains choose locations,” White said. 

The class also gives the cross country students information about “time trials.” Time trials are practice races where athletes give it their all and can view their respective run times and coaches can assess the shape that the athletes are in.

“Everyone gave it their all and did really well considering none of us did a true speed workout,” junior and cross country student Saisdarth Senthilanthan said. 

Team captains are attempting to hold small group practices while following recommended COVID-19 protocols to ensure the health and safety of all. 

“Right now, we’re having socially distanced practices three times a week run by the team captains,” senior and cross country captain Lauren Nicholson said. 

Running logs and small workout groups help the athletes track their runs and show the coaches that they are running frequently. It also helps both athletes and coaches alike to track progression or regression in certain runs. 

“The running logs are helpful for me and the other coaches to see where people are during the week and during the month,” White said. 

From the logs, the coaches are able to formulate a spreadsheet that has the date and time of the run, distance, effort, and any comments they have. Logs are turned in at the end of each month.