Saturday was a strange day where the team was just not on.  But we had an incredible week of training many guys, combined with the first week back to school.  

Last week brought some great training among our older guys especially.  Our top 3 men from this past weekend's meet were very intense from Monday through Thursday with little rest.  Wednesday's workout included a 3x5 minute workout where Joshua ran a 4:49,4:42, and 4:35 mile during.  Joseph was averaging around 5:15 mile pace on this workout.  The rest of the group did a cutdown workout and some different guys really stepped up their game and into new territory.  Carson Shane had two breakthrough workouts and Matthew Kees has continued to mix it up front.  These guys are training at elite levels and are going to light it up in the coming weeks.

Right from the start of the day I could tell our emotional energy was low and as a coach that is something that I have worked hard on to correct coming into this week.  We will keep things fun, while returning our focus to our team standards and remembering our WHY.  On Monday we will remind ourselves our purpose to build and love our teammates and make sure we are coming in each day with that attitude.  

Shout out to Parker in the first race getting out in first place and looking very strong before going the wrong way and having to fight back.  Not to his fault as the course changed prior and was not marked well, but that is beyond control and not something you expect.  Just like a fall, it's a good reminder if that happens to stay calm and patiently get back into the race.  Trying in one swoop to get back to where you were can zap your energy.  It takes much will power and relaxation, but a good reminder to all guys.  Parker fought back nice and was definitely deserving to be leading that race.  We are excited to see him light it up as a Husky.

We were excited to see David Bevsek show some signs of is ability in his race and thought he made some good steps toward competing.  We're looking for improved intensity during the week from our freshmen crew.  The beauty of the selfless pursuit is it takes being your individual best for your teammates.  It's the ability to enjoy discomfort and push for the guys around you.  David's brother Frank did a nice job as our 2nd man in the first race.  This week we look to build up that pack and be more aggressive like David and Parker were.  

This week - Tendick Park

We turn our focus to Saturday's meet at Tendick Park.  We will take the bus as a team this weekend.  Any parents that want to drive are allowed and will need a waiver if so, but we encourage going as a team to help with the energy and love.  Last week we were looking out for shelter but I think with tent and bus combination we should be good.  It's a trial run for all of this year with all the changes and different meet rules.

We go against some great teams here on out and we are one of those teams.  But it will take a commitment to our pursuit of selflessness to bring out our best.  Build and Love.

The bus schedule and meet schedule will be posted by Tuesday.  The meet host said the information is coming on Monday morning so we have to have that to know what is going on obviously.  I will give detailed info on our information page and link to schedule page as soon as I get it!

Practice will be at Greenfield Park at 3:30 p.m. and we will bring good focus to our warmups and strength work.  Last week with the rain I had assigned some strength at home and hopefully athletes did it!  Responsibility.  With better weather we will have more time to commit to everything.  We are not wasting time at practice and everything we do is important to our team's success.

Announced on Monday as possibility for Tuesday see below.  Will talk with guys - 

The one change to our practices is we would like to to meet at Minooka Park on Tuesday's practice.  We have enough athlete's that can drive directly there, and the coaches could take a few.  Any parents that could drop off and pick up there would be helpful as well.  Meet by E. Sunset Dr. road and we will run in from there.

Week 1:  "To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment."

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Week 2:  "The purpose of life is to discover your gift.  The work of life is to develop it.  The meaning of life is to give your gift away."

Week 3:
"I must not fear.   Fear is the mind-killer.  Fear is the little death that brings total obliteration.  I will face my fear.  I will permit it to pass over me and through me.  And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.  Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.  Only I will remain."  From the book Dune by Frank Herbert

Week 4: "The process is the goal...perfect the process first...hard things take time.  Impossible things take a little longer."

Week 5: "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.  Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure."

Week 6:  "Think progress, not perfection"

Week 7:  "Well-being is realized by small steps, but is truly no small thing." "The professional concentrates on the work and allows rewards to come or not come, whatever they like."  

The One Two Punch

The Hale boys came away with a 3 point victory on Saturday behind a first and second place finish from Joshua and Joseph.  Jack Hutter and Parker Szura set the tone early in the day with their 1-3 finish in the first race, setting the table for the guys in the second race to take the team title.  

What you do in the dark will shine in the light, and is nothing is truer than what we see with our team thus far.  In our first real competition in many months, we see our four seniors lead the way to victory. 

Joseph has been a joy to coach and he is a guy continually looking for ways to improve.  Pulling double duty swimming and running in the winter, and then turning that fitness into a professional level training regimen during the spring has helped build him to being a stellar competitor and athlete.  He essentially took home the victory in the race occurring behind Joshua.  

Brennan Kompas and Matthew Kees have come out the gates strong and are learning they can be front runners too.  Both of these young men have been great examples of consistency and intensity over their four years.  Brennan finished as our 3rd man for the second consecutive week and Keesy as our 4th, but moving up closer to our front guys to help close the gap on our scoring.  Him and Joseph both held off Slinger guys in the final stretch to secure the victory!

Collin Raschka had his best week of training and got shot out of a cannon in excitement of his first race back.  Continued intensity in practice and a bit smarter start will have him back near the top of races where we know he will be.  Carson Shane, Alex White and Dylen Eiler had great workouts this week too and they will see the impact of those in the coming weeks as they aren't instantaneous.  Dylen as a freshman earned his sport with this group and I'm glad we put him there.  We don't settle for average and sometimes that means putting athletes in challenging spots and even spots where they can fail.  He will bounce back and be a huge influence on the team's success.

Jack Hutter took home the win in the first race and was followed in 3rd place by Parker Szura.  Jack has had a very nice couple of weeks and we hope he builds off of that and keeps improving.  Parker has seen his training increase in both volume and intensity.  When he accumulates this training over the coming months and years you'll see him doing some really big things at Hale! 

The rest of our young crew continues to show promise and when you compare their debuts to some of the debuts of our scorers this week you see just where they can go with running!  But that comparison is just that, a comparison.  One may settle and become comfortable, but our coaches won't accept that route.  There are no limits.  Use the opportunity as an example, but don't settle for being as good as someone else, focus on being the best you can be.

Lastly never to take for granted Joshua put on a great display of running solo up front, running incredibly fast on not the fastest of courses.  This young man's training over his career has been special and the jumps he made over the spring and summer have been very large.  He takes advantage of his gift and loves what he does and the team he does it with.  When talking race strategy before the race he told me he would do whatever was best to help his teammates run fast.  He will get some opportunities in some good races this fall and we are loving being a part of his journey.

This week's practice

We will continue to practice from Greenfield Park all season.  Monday will be at 6:00 p.m.! 

Then starting Tuesday, practices will be at 3:30 p.m. rain or shine.  Please reach out ahead of time if an athlete needs a ride.  Coach Mach will be coming from work but other guys now have licenses and could help out.

This week's meet - Mitchell Park

The meet information is linked here - 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_SPJW6Y5CV_oJBCw9fapL1XvbXtllSikbwve1adhYqA/edit

Fans are allowed!  They want to limit to 1-2 fans per athlete so please be mindful of this and not have more than that.  The most important thing is to keep this season going for the kids.

Our bus will depart at 9:00 a.m. from Hale.  Some parents may want to drive and there's a form to fill out.
​   Transportation Waiver

Lineups to be posted Tuesday.

Have a great day!
​