Tentative Practice Plan Once the School Year Begins
Once school starts, with our new school day of 8:40-3:20 it will provide us with some opportunities and some challenges.

This year will also be a learning experience for all of us as we try to develop some new routines that work well for athletes, families, and coaches. Be aware we may have to make adjustments to the routine as we are all learning how this new school time will impact everything.

Typical Weekly Routine
Monday afternoon 3:45-5:15pm 90 minute practice All athletes

Tuesday morning 6:45-8:00am 75 minute practice Limited veterans
Tuesday afternoon 3:45-5:30pm 105 minute practice All athletes
*Tuesday extended to 5:30 to include time for lifting
Wednesday afternoon 3:45-5:15pm 90 minute practice All athletes

Thursday morning 6:45-8:00am 75 minute practice Limited veterans
Thursday afternoon 3:45-5:15pm 90 minute practice All athletes

Friday afternoon 3:45-4:45pm 60 minute practice All athletes
Saturday practice tba on non-competition weekends.

This will make our typical daily practice 30 minutes shorter than it has been in the past. This will mostly impact our athletes who run the highest volume, which is why we are including the morning sessions. We plan that on the Tuesday when we lift that we will extend practice by 15 minutes. Again, this new routine will require some flexibility and experimentation.

Biggest Challenge- Athletes with jobs
I think, with certainty, the most difficult challenge will be athletes who are trying to work evening jobs during the season. This new routine will make the evenings shorter. I’d encourage all athletes who are working to begin now proactively planning with your employer to see if they will be able to accommodate adjusting shifts given our new school and practice schedule.

Biggest Opportunity- Morning running
We know how hot afternoons can be in August and September and we are planning to introduce some morning practice opportunities. In most cases these morning practices will be for our experienced, higher mileage runners to do double runs. However, if hot weather demands, we will add some morning practices for the whole group, as KHSAA (and good wisdom) prohibits us from running in exceptionally hot weather. As we get closer to the school year we will talk more to our veteran athletes about this opportunity.

Morning running will not typically be mandatory (unless weather dictates that it is our only practice). We do have on campus showers and will make plans for athletes to have time and place to eat before the school day as well.

Open Questions
Afternoon practices at parks: At this point it is unclear if there will be bus drivers on campus who can take us to parks during the week. In the past, we have enjoyed two days per week at parks but our regular drivers from last year may not be available this year. The schedule would depend on availability, but if the opportunity arises, it would most likely be Monday and/or Thursday at either Tom Sawyer or Beckley Creek. We hope to nail that down in the next couple of weeks.