Welcome to the Lakewood Ranch High School Cross Country Team!

Please check the links/navigation to all of our important team pages. Thank you.

*** TEAM UPDATES 12/21/2024 ***

2024 Cross Country Awards Banquet is Tuesday, January 7, 2025 in the LRHS cafeteria:

5:30 p.m. - set up
6:00 p.m. - dinner & social time
6:45 p.m. - awards 
7:15 p.m. - special presentation 
7:45 p.m. - clean up
8:00 p.m. - out

Parents & Athletes: We are using the SportsYOU app for team messaging since that is easier and quicker than email, plus not everyone is signed up to receive the team emails. We need each athlete and at least one parent from each family to join 2 teams on SportsYOU. 1) We have LRHS XC which is for everyone and will be the most used for team communication. AND 2) We also have separate girls and boys teams: LRHS XC-GIRLS and LRHS XC-BOYS for times when communication from coaching staff or between athletes/parents for carpooling or whatever is for just that individual team. SportsYOU is an American owned company and all your data stays within the USA. Please text or email Coach Rae Ann to be added. SportsYOU is where we post the meet information, course maps, updates, links to photos, any last minute cancellations due to weather, and other important stuff. Thank you!

TEAM CALENDAR:  

We will use this team Google Calendar for all of our meets, practices, and other team activities. It will be constantly updated and will contain the most current events, so please check it several times per week. Our calendar is best viewed in “agenda” so click that on top right of the calendar to change to agenda layout.  This calendar will tell you when and where we practice and what time your ride should pick you up. All events have an end time set so please do not wait until practice ends to call your ride; have them arrive at the end time shown on the calendar. There are other important details on the calendar so be sure to click on that day to open up the additional details. Thank you.
Please bookmark this direct link to the calendar on your phone and computer.

PAPERWORK:

All athletes must complete the required physical and athletic clearance forms online and pay the athletic insurance/try-out fee before they may participate in any practices.  Everything must be done online this year. When doing your online athletic clearance, be sure to select all the sports you might do the entire school year. Uniforms will only be issued to those who are eligible/cleared which means completed physical, athletic clearance online, and paid athletic insurance.

Athletic Clearance: https://athleticclearance.fhsaahome.org/

Insurance/Try-out fee: https://manateeschools.revtrak.net/high-schools/lakewood-ranch-hs/lrhs-athletics/lrhs-athletic-participation-fee/

PRACTICE:  

We practice every day after school Monday through Friday plus Saturday mornings when we do not have a meet. We also practice in the mornings on teacher in-service days, school holidays, and record days, so please plan accordingly. We may give you some Fridays off from practice so you may schedule your dentist, doctor, hair, appointments, work, volunteering, etc. on Fridays or Wednesdays. *** Please do not schedule appointments so that you miss practice Mondays, Tuesdays, or Thursdays. ***  We practice in all weather conditions, except lightning (obviously). If it is raining at the end of the school day, plan on going to practice. We will wait in a safe place for any unsafe weather to pass. Please bring your water bottle, watch or Garmin, and large towel or mat to every practice and meet. All practice times and locations will be listed on our team Google calendar.

EQUIPMENT NEEDED FOR XC:

• Good running shoes - Please get properly fit for running shoes!  Coach Rae Ann has 18 years of experience as a Fit Expert so please check with her for an assessment or suggestions.
• Moisture wicking socks - no cotton socks! Cotton socks get wet, stay wet, then cause friction which leads to blisters. Click this link to check out  Coach Rae Ann's favorite - Swiftwick Aspire No Show socks.
• A Garmin Forerunner is highly recommended, but not required. Check your local running store or Amazon.  The following Garmin models are plenty of tech for what we do:  35, 45, 55, 235, 245.  If you do not wish to purchase a Garmin, you will need a good running watch such as the Timex Ironman 50-Lap model.
• Exercise or yoga mat or big beach towel - we do lots of core, strength, and stretching on the ground.
• Giant water bottle - please bring a bottle big enough to hold enough water for you for 2 hours of exercising. An insulated bottle is recommended to keep your water cold.  Walmart has some great 32-64 oz. insulated bottles for under $25.
• Please read: Care and maintenance of our two most important pieces of equipment

CROSS COUNTRY:  

Cross Country running is not very glamorous, it’s misunderstood by most, and not taken seriously by critics who like to compare us to hobby jogging. Distance runners are some of the most disciplined athletes and must work hard year round to achieve greatness, regardless of talent. What I love most about it as a coach is that you never know how many diamonds you will find in a group of 80+ kids. Unlike other sports, great runners don’t typically come from club teams where parents have spent tons of money and time trying to “fine tune” their child to be good enough for high school sports. They show up, unassuming at times, and are developed through nurturing, training, role modeling, and by providing a culture that they can relate to. It is a no cut sport which allows us time for those diamonds to shine after months or even years of hard work. And even though only 7 make the varsity spots, all of them are achieving goals that they never thought possible. The perseverance and strength that is required to endure hours of training and sacrifice, without instant gratification, is a life skill for these kids. It’s a character trait that we hope stays with them forever and will serve them well in whatever they set out to do. Cross County is a team sport, where your 5th runner actually determines the success as a group. Cross Country is not track, it is not jogging, it is not your sports punishment, and second place is never the first loser. It is comprised of a group of people who are willing to make sacrifices that most would not.

~This was written by Michelle Resendez, a former elite runner and now mom, nurse practitioner, coach, and wears many other hats. This sums up the best sport ever. Cross Country.