We met with the West Ranch boys at Central Park in Santa Clarita, CA for an interval workout on a hill trail. Coaches Gerry Perez and Chris Raigosa organized the day's practice at the park. Many other schools from the Canyon Country area were also there doing workouts. The team returned from their team camp in Flagstaff in the previous week and the start of the school year is next week.
West Ranch finished third in division 3 at the California State Meet last year and hope to build from that experience. Coach Perez shared information about the team:
During the summer season, how often does the team practice?
Since I took over the boys' program at West Ranch a couple of years ago, we started hosting practices the second week of June, giving us a full nine weeks of summer training. We hold practices from Monday to Saturday, and all team members who are in town are encouraged to attend. For those athletes with personal commitments like summer travel or summer school, they are diligent about running on their own. Each athlete has a personalized training plan to follow as needed. While it might seem intense to have a schedule similar to the school year, I firmly believe that summer training is crucial for the development of our athletes if we want to remain competitive.
What are some special summer activities?
During the summer, I always look forward to our altitude camp. For the past couple of years, we've brought the team to Flagstaff, Arizona, and it's quickly becoming a tradition. Despite being far from home, we love what Flagstaff has to offer. You'll often find other XC programs from around the country there, and it's not uncommon to see elite athletes running on the trails.
Aside from our altitude camp, we also enjoy taking the team to the beach for our long runs. The kids love it, as they get to take a dip in the ocean after their run, followed by breakfast at the beach. These special activities not only enhance their training but also build team camaraderie and create lasting memories.
How do you build team culture?
Team culture is built by the athletes, 100%. As head coach, I provide guidance and the foundation of our culture, emphasizing that we are here to have fun and enjoy the sport of running. My goal is for all athletes who come through my program to love running and hopefully become lifelong runners. While having fun is important, I also stress the importance of responsibility and accountability—skills that are essential both in sports and in life. Additionally, we focus on helping athletes achieve their personal and team goals.
With this foundation in place, the kids are the ones who shape the culture each year. As graduates leave and freshmen join, new traditions are created. This year, with the departure of our senior class we have a smaller roster than last year, the team has realized that to continue to be competitive in our league, as well as within our CIF division, they need to work smarter and harder, so this year's culture is building around this theme, reflecting their dedication and determination.
What are some events that the team is looking forward to in the fall season?
Aside from the main meets we traditionally attend, such as Woodbridge, Clovis, and Mt. SAC. Last year, we took the team to the RunningLane Cross Country Championships in Huntsville, AL, and the kids represented well the West Coast, and they loved it. This year budget permitting there is one meet we are particularly looking forward to, we plan to bring the team to another competitive meet which is the Nike Portland XC Invite. We’re excited about the opportunity to compete with teams outside California again and showcase our athletes' hard work.
Click HERE for photos from the practice!
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