Good morning, parents!

I took a look at our practice schedule this morning, and we are set to run a shorter schedule today, and for our “more fun” practice on Wednesday. As Coach Kristin acknowledged, “…all of our practices are fun!”

Please expect the kids to be finished by 5:45 PM today and Wednesday. Thank you.

~Coach Brian

Hi Guys! We are at our last conference meet coming up this Saturday against Newbury Park at NPHS. This is especially important for those who are chasing the Golden and Platinum Batons. Those are for athletes who compete in 10 and 12 events respectively. If your child is missing an event that they haven’t done, then this is the last time to do it.

In addition, it is important for our post-season races. We will have two meets left after Saturday’s meet. We host the league finals West on May 3rd, where six teams will be competing on the same day. This meet is only for non-Varsity competitors. However, one can only compete in events that which they participated in during the regular season. If they want to run a particular race or do a field event that they haven’t done yet, then they will need to make sure that they sign up for it for this Saturday’s meet in Newbury Park.

On May 10th we will return to Newbury Park for those that qualified for Varsity competition at our conference championship. There are certain rules for this that we will be monitoring as soon as the names of the qualifiers come out over the weekend or early next week. Stay tuned for them as they will affect the JV Finals too.

As of this writing I still have 19 kids who have yet to sign up for Saturday’s race. Please speak to your children and if they haven’t signed up with me or Coach Kristin this week, then get their desired events and let me know ASAP. Especially if they are interested in the 4x100m relay. The cut-off, as always, is noon Friday, tomorrow.

Other than that, thank you for all of your help all year-long, and I look forward to seeing our athletes this Saturday at the NPHS track on Reino Road at 7:45 AM for the 3200m, hurdlers and 4x100m runners, everyone else by 8:00 AM to collect their event stickers. Thank you!

~Coach Brian

The time is now! We must place the order for the kids’ secret gift to be distributed at our end-of-year picnic. However, I need you to open the link below and complete the Google Doc Form for the sizing of their gift. We don’t want any child to be left behind, so please do this immediately. We will be placing the orders by the beginning of next week. If you have any questions about the process, please contact me immediately. If you have sizing questions, please contact Josh Spiker of Mile 26 Running Store. (805) 628-9501. Time is of the essence, so take the 1 minute or so to complete this form. Thank you!

If this link isn’t “live” for you, please cut and paste it into your browser.

https://forms.gle/HtUFpunmi6jU7B8Y7

Also, please keep this as a secret between you and me. I want to surprise the kids.

~Coach Brian

Final reminder that we will have photos today. Please have your kids wear their uniforms and be on time. The photography will not wait, and there is no make-up. After the photos, will be our regularly scheduled practice. They can bring a change of clothing for that if they wish, otherwise, they can practice in their uniforms. I hope to see their big smiles today! Thank you.

~Coach Brian

I’m giving you a heads up that you will be receiving a link to a Google Doc Form soon. I have made arrangements with Josh Spiker at Mile 26 Running Company to order a year-end gift for our athletes. I am expecting the link to be sent to you in the near future. Please watch out for it and complete the sizing portion as fast as possible. We want to make sure that your child is not left out of this gift.

Also, as a quick side note, you know that we will not have practice tomorrow due to the Buena High School track and field being used by one of their sports teams. That doesn’t mean that they should eat a bowl of ice cream and take the day off.

For Sprinters

Warm-Up (10 Minutes)
– **Light Jog:** 5 minutes at an easy pace.
– **Dynamic Stretches:** Include high knees, butt kicks, walking lunges, and leg swings to loosen up and activate the muscles.

Sprinting Workout (30-40 Minutes)
1. Short Sprints for Explosive Speed:
– Sprint 20 meters at maximum effort.
– Walk back to the starting line for recovery (approx. 60 seconds).
– Repeat 6-8 times.

2. Longer Sprints for Aerobic Capacity
– Sprint 100 meters at about 70-80% effort.
– Jog or walk 100 meters for recovery.
– Repeat 4-6 times.

3. **Hill Sprints (We are not in short supply of those in Ventura. Perhaps at Arroyo Verde Park, if not a quiet neighborhood street):
– Find a slight incline and sprint uphill for about 15-20 seconds at full intensity.
– Walk back down for recovery.
– Repeat 4-6 times.

Cool Down (5-10 Minutes)
– Light Jog/Walk: Gradually bring your heart rate down.
– Static Stretches: Focus on hamstrings, quads, calves, and hip flexors.

For Distance Runners

Same warm-up as the Sprinters

– Then do an easy jog to a hilly location. (I like Petit Avenue, North of Telegraph Road). Start at the bottom of Telegraph Road with an easy jog up the hill, increasing their speed each block, until they are at 90% of a sprint at the last block at Foothill Road. Really focusing on their form and breathing. Keeping their heads and shoulders relaxed and swinging their arms back and forth without crossing their bodies. Keep their fingers relaxed by lightly touching their forefingers to their thumbs as if they are holding a potato chip that they don’t want to break. Walk/jog back to the beginning (they should be fully recovered), then immediately do it again for a total of only TWO times.

Cool Down (5-10 Minutes)
– Light Jog/Walk: On a flat grade. Gradually bring your heart rate down.
– Static Stretches: Focus on hamstrings, quads, calves, and hip flexors.

For Both Categories:

Tips
– Focus on Form: Encourage the athlete to maintain proper sprinting technique—drive the knees high, and focus on the turnover, meaning pushing your feet back to the ground as fast as they can, pump the arms, and stay relaxed.
– Hydrate and Rest: Proper recovery and hydration are key to building strength and avoiding injury.

Thank you,
~Coach Brian

Thank you to many of you for responding to my request for event preferences for your athletes. We just have several more to complete. If you haven’t reached out to me, then please do so today.
A few things to know for this weekend at Moorpark High School.
1. For the second away meet in a row, there will be no team camps on the infield. Athletes should only be on the infield for warmups and competition. We’ll have two tents in the stands, and another two tents on the grass at the end of the track between turns 3 and 4.
2. Except for water, no food or other beverages are allowed on the track or infield. Please help monitor the athletes.
3. There will be shaved ice available, but otherwise, their snack bar is going to be closed. Pack a healthy snack for your kids, please. They will get hungry if they are running in the later events.
4. Keep in mind that Moorpark, like us, is known to run an organized meet and therefore expect the meet to be running on-time if not quicker. If you are showing up later in the meet, give yourself enough time to not have your athlete miss his event.
5. Please help clean up your team camp at the end of the meet.

On a different but important topic for those kids striving to earn a golden or platinum baton this season, they need to make sure that they will have their requirements completed by the last regular season meet. After tomorrow, they will only have two qualifying meets left. The Golden Baton is for an athlete who competed in 10 of the 12 available events. The Platinum Baton is for those athletes who participated in all 12 events over the season. It is very important that some of these events require a specialty coach to approve the athlete in order to compete in the event. This means that your child must attend the specialty practices on Tuesdays and/or Thursdays, in order for the coach to assess their ability and ensure they are safe to go, especially in high jump, hurdles, and shot-put categories. I mentioned this to the kids at our last regular practice, but not everyone was there, so make sure that your kid knows and understands the procedure. Thank you!

~ Coach Brian

With so many interruptions with our practice schedule this year, it has been a challenge for all. Administratively it has become more demanding to get the kids signed up for their race day events. We did a good job collecting preferences on Monday, but we are still 30 kids short of full enrollment for this Saturday’s meet at Moorpark High School. Please help me to make sure that your child is entered into their desired events by contacting me via email at Youth@VenturaTigres.org or by text at (805) 746-7023. Especially with our relay groups, as I noticed several sprinters who have not let us know of their intentions. We have to set those groups together by Friday.

Other than that, please make sure that your 3200m, hurdlers, and 4x100m athletes are at the track by 7:45 AM to ensure a proper warm-up. For others we expect you to be there by 8:00 AM to get your athlete stickered up and make sure that there aren’t any errors with their events. Thank you!

~ Coach Brian

Dear Parents,

As we prepare to host Simi Valley this weekend, I want to ensure the most important part of this meet—the athletes—are fully engaged and ready to participate. Currently, there are 42 athletes who have not informed me whether they will be attending the meet, whether they are absent due to vacation, or which events they wish to participate in.

So far, seven parents have confirmed that their children will be out of town. If your child will not be attending and you’re unsure whether you’ve notified me, please reach out as soon as possible. For those who will be attending, please provide the list of events your child wishes to compete in this Saturday.

**Important Deadline**: If your child is participating in the **4x100m relay**, I need this information no later than Friday at noon so we can organize the teams accordingly.

Lastly, for the athletes attending, I ask that you remind them to continue practicing independently, as outlined in my previous email blast.

Thank you for your cooperation, and I look forward to a successful meet this weekend.

Sincerely,
Coach Brian
🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️✨

Week 8: March 24 – 30

In order for kids to keep up their conditioning for the week, here are the suggested workouts:

Distance
3 workouts next week; get some hill work in if possible.
3-minute jog to warm up
Dynamics
25-35 minute run
Strength and Core

Sprints
3 running workouts; run sprints uphill if possible.
3-minute jog to warm up
Dynamics
5 x 15-second full sprints (2-minute rest between each)
2 x 30-second full sprint (2-minute rest between each)
Strength and Core

Ask your athletes to be disciplined in their practice this week. I look forward to seeing them this coming Saturday at the Buena High School track. I’ll be in further contact with you this week to make sure that all the kids have selected their events. We have many but are missing several.

I know, for some, it is difficult to practice alone, while others thrive on it. Please let me leave you and your athletes with a few inspiring thoughts:

“The true test of a champion is not how they perform under the spotlight, but how they train in the shadows.” – Anonymous

“What you do when no one else is looking defines your character, and ultimately, your success.” – John Wooden

“Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.” – Tim Notke

~ Coach Brian

Our next meet is this Saturday at Westlake High School in Westlake Village, where we’ll compete against Team United from Oak Park and the surrounding areas. Currently, 22 kids have not indicated their chosen events. It’s possible they plan to be absent due to Spring Break activities. If your child plans to miss this meet—or the following one on Saturday, March 29th, at Buena High School—please let me know. This is especially important if your child typically runs on a relay team.

We’ve been asking kids who plan to attend the March 29th meet to finalize their event selections with me or my coaches in person. Since there will be no practice next week (March 24th–28th) due to the Ventura School District closure and lack of track access, we’ll also follow up with them this Saturday for their selections.

**Important Notes for This Saturday’s Meet:**
– Oak Park will not be providing water cup stations after each heat to reduce waste and help the environment. Therefore, it’s essential that our athletes bring their own filled water bottles. There are faucets at the top of the stadium for refills if needed.
– We will not have designated areas on the field for this meet. Instead, we’ll be seated in the stands and listening for our calls. We hope to have enough canopies to cover each division.
– Coaches will be on the field, and athletes may warm up there as well. Afterward, they will need to return to the stands.
– If your child is running the 3200m race, they should arrive at the stadium between 7:45 AM and 8:00 AM to ensure proper warm-up time.
– If your child is running hurdles or participating in a 4x100m relay team, they must arrive no later than 8:00 AM.

**Summary**
• Please let me know if your child will attend the next two Saturday meets or if they have planned absences.
• If your child intends to compete, ensure they’ve submitted their event choices to me or one of the coaches.
• Take note of the arrival times listed above.
• Make sure your child brings a filled water bottle this Saturday.
• There will be no practice during the week of March 24th–28th, but we will host a meet on Saturday, March 29th.

~ Coach Brian
Youth@VenturaTigres.org
(805) 746-7023