Tuesday's Tidbits

Thought I'd throw together a quick post before I head for the hills. And Beetles. With cookies. Oatmeal/Chocolate Chip/Brickle Bits.

Options for activities on Thursdays are piling up QUICKLY. There's Byron Team R.E.D. at 6 pm (we're at Paul Melby's home this week), TNT (Thursday Night Triathlon) 6:30 at Foster Arend's for practice tri training, and beginning this week, Thursdays on First downtown which is also a lot of fun. There's no excuse for boredom on one night of any given week, anyway!

My perennial garden revamp project is coming along. I spent quite a bit of time on it yesterday. I moved some perennials around ... some were too crowded, some were in spots that are now too shady. There's still work to be done, however. But it's starting to take shape, and it's fun. I need to mow again. These rains are keeping the grass growing quickly.

Masters ORCAS (adult swim club) will start swimming outside for June/July on June 15 at Soldier's Field pool. According to their email, the schedule will be: M/W/F Rec Center 5:30-7am, T/TH Soldiers Field 5:15-7am (we start earlier...come at 5am to help set up the pool). In AUGUST - we will be at Soldiers Field every day. Just show up at the pool if you want to give it a try. That's what I did for a short time last summer.

In case you're interested, I posted my cinnamon roll recipe on my recipe blog. I've got all my favorite recipes posted there.

From Joey Keillor:

Rochester All-City Summer Running Program

Improve your running - support others - better yourself

Whether you’re a beginning runner or an experienced athlete, this new program for 9th – 12th graders will help improve your level of fitness, improve your enjoyment of running and improve your performance in fall cross country. We feature instruction on how to:

* Run more
* Run efficiently
* Train effectively
* Listen to your body

Dates: July 5 — August 14

(No big deal if you miss some sessions because you’re out of town or whatever)

Mondays 7:00 p.m. – 8:15p.m. @ Quarry Hill (Parkwood Hills Park)
Wednesdays 7:00 p.m. – 8:15p.m. @ Kellogg Middle School or Quarry Hill
Saturdays 8:00a.m. – 9:15a.m. @ Essex Park
Fee: $40 (assistance available)

This program is designed to build into the cross-country season. It won’t involve any racing, only preparatory base training. If that’s not enough for you, we’ll also have:
* A weekly guest speaker
* Plyometric, agility and strengthening instruction
* Lots of opportunity to socialize with other high school runners

Parents! Instead of dropping your kid off or waiting for them in the car, we invite you to use the time and location to walk or run on your own, or with other parents.

Questions? Contact Joey Keillor
E-mail: rochester.running@gmail.com or (evenings) 282-2747

* Note: The all-volunteer coaching staff will include a variety men and women who have an interest in endurance athletics, silent sports and fostering habits of life-long recreation and fitness in youth. Coaches will include some area high school coaches, coaches of the Rochester Nordic Ski Team, members of the Rochester Track Club and others.

Here are his notes regarding the need for volunteers (I'm going to try to help out when I can): FIRST: You don't need to be a runner or have coaching experience to help out. The running instruction is pretty easy, as it just involves base training and avoiding injury. Coaches are welcome to run with the kids, but I hope to have a coach or two just out on the course (on bike or on foot) just keeping an eye on things. Maybe a coach or two hangs back at the start point. Also, someone with aptitude in keeping track of paperwork will be needed. Also, people who are good at plyometric, stretching, strengthening and agility work are needed as well. Really, the most important task is simply caring about kids and encouraging them to be their best.

SECOND: Volunteers "come when they can". You don't need to be at every session. If you can make it once a week, great. Twice a week, great. If you go on vacation, no problem. The key is having a large pool of coaches to draw from, that way no one person has to carry that much weight.
 
My best friend growing up, Ann, who now lives in OH, turns 50 on Thursday. I don't know if she'll read this post, but ... the "card's in the mail" and I wish you a very happy birthday, girl!! I'll be there with you (the 5-0 club) all too soon myself.
 
Well, I'm going to pack up my cookies and head for the proverbial hills, hoping the rains stay away for a few hours. See you at Beetles!!