Braves,
The alumni meet turned into quite the experience when it
started snowing a few minutes before we were slated to start. It turned out to
be amazing because of it. After it became a huge snow storm we told the team
before the mile that if you needed to go home due to the weather then you were
free to do so (the roads were bad and some weren’t prepared with the proper
attire for the cold). Even still we had over 30 people fight through the snow,
compete, and support their teammates which made for a very memorable
experience. It shows me that we have a group that is passionate about their
sport and their team if they are willing to do that in such conditions. Check
out our Instagram to see the pictures of the meet @bravestrackandxc. The
Antarctic-mile and 5x400 relays were pretty awesome, and the 100m dash in the
freshly fallen snow were unforgettable experiences for me. I love seeing that
kind of heart and passion from each of you who were there.
Moving forward, we need to be prepared for rainy and cold
conditions. Spring in Utah makes for a lot of rainy meets and practices.
Official track meets will be cancelled if there is snow like that, and we will
practice inside in the future with snow everywhere, but if it is rainy and cold
then the meets and practices will go on as usual. Get in the habit of checking
the weather so you know how to dress for practices and for meets. Dress warmer
than necessary, with layers, so you are warm and dry in spite of the weather. I
don’t want anyone out there freezing, so please, come prepared with the proper
attire, like a rain jacket, that still enables you to run.
The good thing about bad weather is that it develops mental
toughness, which is a key attribute of individual and team success in track and
field. If we let rain keep us from practicing then we don’t get better. It’s
all about getting better every day and supporting your teammates, and in my
opinion, poor weather accelerates that process by increasing mental toughness
at a faster rate than balmy weather.
Our first official meet is going to be Thursday at our
track. All who are eligible with grades, citizenship, and register my athlete
will be competing, and we will need everyone’s help to run the meet, by moving
hurdles, helping time, etc. You must have registered through
registermyathlete.com before being allowed to compete. I will have a list at
practice tomorrow of those who still need to finish it. I recommend getting it
started TODAY, it only takes a few minutes and will make my and your life much
easier.
Please come up to the track immediately after school on
Thursday to help set up for the meet. If it is snowing the meet will be
cancelled, but knowing Utah weather it could snow all day and then stop and
melt a few minutes later, so that call will be made between 12-2, most likely
around 12:30 so we can notify the other schools. I will send out an email if
the meet is cancelled. If it is cancelled then we will still be practicing,
inside if there is snow on the track, or outside if it has melted.
Continue to encourage and support your teammates. This week
I want you to focus on helping your teammates get better and have a positive
experience; think less about yourself during each workout and more about each
other. I’ve said this many times: being a great teammate is more important than
being a great athlete. Let’s live that more fully this week.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Coach Jacobson
