Kingston High School is located in Kingston, Washington which is across the Puget Sound from Seattle. The Buccaneers compete in the 2A division of Washington (4A is the largest division in Washington). Coach Spencer Hunt provided the pictures of a summer practice and explained the Kingston summer program.
How often does Kingston practice in the summer?
Kingston XC has two official practices per a week in the summer; however, everyone is provided a summer workout schedule tailored to their current fitness level and experience. Each schedule follows a ten day cycle including long runs, moderate runs, and various tempo runs. I find it important to keep summer training accessible and achievable so athletes can grow in strength and mental fortitude.
The team is very fortunate to have many miles of trails within very close proximity to our high school. The team has a running joke that it is not possible to run a "flat" route in Kingston. Every route has rolling hills or better! This directly impacts the overall health and strength of each athlete.
Does Kingston go to a team camp?
This year the team will be attending Ultimook down in Tillamook, OR during the beginning of the XC season. Kingston has gone to Ultimook about every four years. Each time we go we have a blast and come back a more cohesive team.
This is my second year as head coach for KHS. Traditions take a while to build and I find small planned steps lead to success. Each year we will do a little more than we have the previous year to build on our experience and continue to grow as a team.
What is the secret to Kingston's success?
"Kingston is the smallest 2A team in the state of Washington. Coach Tara and Coach Spencer say the first step to success is putting on those running shoes and stepping out the door. We do this by building a network of support in our team to encourage others to lace up and do that run!
Coaches are dedicated to guiding athletes on their personal running journeys. As a high school athlete, it’s relieving to know that I have coaches who care about my personal health and success as a runner. They listen to their athletes and make sure that everyone is reaching their goals. This boosts confidence in the team, encouraging everyone to care about each others running journeys which ultimately contributes to Kingston's success." - Emmie McGrew, Team Captain
My goal as a coach is to teach my athletes running is a lifetime skill and more than just the success you see in individual races. Running is about the progression of learning to run further, faster, and happier. Each runner has a reason they run. I encourage athletes to embrace their reason and share with the team.
Finally it is important to remember we run because we enjoy it. Kingston has hard workouts, long runs, and stiff legs; but we still remember to have fun doing it. I find adding some water balloons, creating a game, or doing something nobody was predicting goes miles in creating a successful team.
How does Kingston create a team culture?
During the season both boys and girls teams train together, and in the off season we do team runs. I think that being able to get everyone together whether it be for workouts or pasta feeds bonds us. I’ve noticed that this builds encouragement all around which creates an uplifting environment for everyone to work hard, test their limits, fail, succeed, have fun, and show some spirit. Cheer each other on during their race, encouraging each other during practice, and the excellent leadership by captains.
Last season we made a bunch of encouraging running signs the team ran around with support each other when they weren't racing. We may have been one of the smallest teams, but we were certainly the loudest!
The greatest thing about the Kingston Bucs is the amount of support and encouragement they provide the whole cross country sport. Each of our athletes and coaches encourage not only our own team, but many on the opposing teams as well. We encourage them to finish that last 1k or to move their arms just a little bit faster. This fosters a culture of encouragement and a willingness to see everyone succeed!
Comentários