Monday, August 1st has arrived!!  Our first official practice at 6:00pm at Piedmont Park, Charles Allen entrance (directly across from the school). We will meet every day this week (M-F) at 6:00 pm.

You must have a physical/insurance form filled out to participate.  No "unofficial" runners allowed.  If you don't have a form, come and get one, then leave and go to CVS in N Highland and get the physical done there and come back.

Monday, August 8th is the first day of classes, AND the sixth day of cross country practice.  YES WE WILL PRACTICE THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!!!  Bring your running clothes/shoes.  Meet in the gym bleachers at 3:45.  We will walk across the street together at 4:00.

You need to have 15 official practices to run in your first meet.  Our race schedule begins August 31 (Wednesday at Grant Park).  I will have complete schedules for everyone this week.

If you are still on vacation, run on your own.  If I get a note from your parents confirming your workouts I will count them in my attendance book.  Everyone who is in town should be at the park at
SIX!

This will be our last week at Candler.  Meet as usual at 6:00 pm, Mon, Wed and Thurs.  Next week (Aug 1) we will be at Piedmont Park at 6:00pm, M - F (all 5 days).

YOU MUST HAVE A PHYSICAL FORM TO PRACTICE AFTER AUGUST 1ST.  We begin counting attendance then.  15 practices before you can get a uniform, team T-shirt, and be allowed to compete for the team.  First meet August 31.  BE READY!!!

Hope to see everyone tomorrow.

We are going to cancel our regular practice sessions at Candler Park for the remainder of the week.  I am completely confident that you will find time during the day, every day, to get in a run by yourself or with another of our team members. Take advantage of the cooler times of the day, drink water, try for a total of about one hour, even if you need some walk breaks in the middle.

See you Monday, July 25th, at Candler Park for our final week before moving to Piedmont.

GET THOSE PHYSICAL FORMS FILLED OUT!!!!!!

WestStride running shoe store is celebrating their 3rd anniversary Saturday, July 23rd.  If you would like to go up and check out some special deals and perhaps free give aways, send me a note and I'll arrange a pick up so we can drive up together.  I plan to go up around 11:30am, grab a bite to eat for lunch and a free cup cake.  Love to have some car mates.

Grady Cross Country runners after Peachtree Road Race in Piedmont Park

Congratulations to those of you who ran Peachtree.  Everyone seemed to be in good spirits and good health even though it was a hot day.  Sorry if I missed anyone.  We can swap stories tomorrow.  Practice resumes at Candler at 6:00pm tomorrow evening.  Hope to see all of you, rain or shine, hot or not so hot.

PHYSICAL FORMS.  I need to get those this month.  You must have a completed form with insurance by August 1st.  No form - No practice - No exceptions!!!!

I going to paste a copy of our tentative schedule below.  Look it over.  If you see problems let me know so we can decide whether to make changes.  SAT dates are included for juniors and seniors.  DO NOT sign up for the November 5th SAT.  That is state!

I am looking for a T-shirt design.  We have had a student design the shirt every year.  You can set it up on a computer or sketch it by hand.  Include Grady High School, 2011, Cross Country somewhere in the logo.

We have three more weeks at Candler Park, then we move to Piedmont Park on August 1st.  Practice will be 5 days a week M-F during August, Sept and Oct.  Look at your schedule of other activities and we can work around them, but I need to know where you are if you are not at our practice.  Everyone is expected to attend every day.

The boys and girls teams are beginning to take shape.  Remember, 12 boys and 12 girls qualify for the state team.  We will make that decision in mid October.  The running you do NOW will determine if you make the team, and if the team will be strong enough to compete at Region for one of the four spots at State.  We have enough raw talent to qualify, but we must be ready to outrun the talent in the other 14 schools in 5AAA at Mercer on October 30th.  All coaches are telling their teams the same thing.  It is up to you to respond by running daily and encouraging your teammates to do so as well.