Howdy to any youth parents, students teachers-coaches, who would like to run cross country this fa...

1. Youth Cross Country Running with the Vikings!
Howdy to any youth parents, students teachers-coaches, who would like to run cross country this
fall!
My name is Les Parsons, a Cross Country Running coach with our Augustana Vikings Camrose Ski
Club Junior Vikings.
We invite youth parents, and, students teachers-coaches from our Camrose region; to join with our
youth from our Camrose Ski Club; to train and compete with our XC Running Team this fall.
Our goal is to offer a xc running program, for youth and students, which will compliment school xc
running programs, to help develop school athletes, teams coaches. We are not competing against
school xc running team programs and practises, by stealing away top athletes. On the contrary, we
are working together with school coaches, to support xc running teams. If your school does not have
a cross country running team program, please share this information with any of your students their
parents, who may be interested.
Our team practices every Tuesday and Thursday from September 9th until November 6th, and we
will take part in some weekday and weekend xc running races. You are welcome to come to the
weekly practises or weekend events that do not conflict with your school's weekly xc running
practise schedule competitions. Students are encouraged to arrange car pooling with other families
from your school. Parents are encouraged to join us to learn to run with us, or, go for a walk on our
the trails in Stoney Creek Park during practises.
Tuesdays Thursdays 4:45pm-5:45pm, Stoney Creek Center, 5320-40th ave, across from the Camrose
Ski Jump. Meet on the grass on the south side of the building.
Saturdays and weekdays, school xc running races in the Camrose Region Central Alberta.
NOTE: If these practise times do not work for your school, I am willing to travel to your school to be
a guest coach at one of your school running team practises.
I am offering coaching to youth students ages 8-18 years of age, grades 3-12. Any youth are welcome
to join us, including students who have running experience, and, students who want to learn to how
to start running. We welcome coaches/parents to join us for coaching development...new or beginner
coaches/parents are welcome! We provide a safe, fun challenging running experience to learn to
enjoy running. Please encourage students who are active with any of your school's teams, or, other
sports such as soccer, swimming, biking, triathlon, hockey, ringette, etc to come and cross train with
us.
Our mission is to "Make Running Fun!" Our focus is to coach proper running technique, so that
youth "enjoy" our sport. Efficient running technique allows us to enjoy running without impact
injuries, caused by poor running technique. Proper technique for running is the most under-coached
technique of all sports in Canada.
Practises begin with an introductory warm up ice breaker game, followed by a series of running
exercises drills to teach running technique. We introduce athletes to the challenge of running faster,
and, to run longer distances. Practises include a variety of running intensity intervals, including fun

2. team relays. We finish each practise with a demonstration and explanation of running exercises and
strength training for each athlete to complete for the next week, in accordance with your weekly
school practises. This will include suggestions for individual self-training that students can do on the
days they do not have practises. We will work around your weekly school practises, so that students
only do one or two intensity efforts each week, and, focus on easy distance running on other days.
We encourage athletes to take part in any opportunities they have to run for their school teams at
local, county, regional, zone and provincial cross country running races. If your school team teachers
or coaches cannot attend all of our races this fall to provide coaching support, I will be providing
coaching support (race preparation, race site leadership coordination, race warm up, race strategy,
race self-talk, race cool down, race evaluation) and car pooling coordination at these races:
Tentative Draft Fall 2014 XC Run Schedule (dates to be added and confirmed):
Thu Sep 17th = Wetaskiwin XC Divisions
Sat Sep 20th = Peace Hills Wetaskiwin XC Invitational
Mon Sep 22nd = Hardisty XC (or Oct 6)
Thu Sep 25th = Spartan Tough XC Battle River Regional School Race, New Norway
Sat Sep 27th = Lightning XC Red Deer
Thu Oct 2nd = Vikings XC Camrose
Mon Oct 6th = Hardisty XC (or Sep 22)
Wed Oct 8 = Zones located at ?????
Sat Oct 18th = High School Provincials in Okotoks
Information Meetings: during the first few minutes of our first practice. Dress to be active starting
at 4:45pm sharp. This will be our first practise to introduce athletes, coaches parents to running
technique fundamentals.
Tuesday September 9th, 4:45pm-5:45pm, Stoney Creek Center, 5320-40th ave, beneath the Camrose
Ski Jump.
Thursday September 11th, 4:45pm-5:45pm, Stoney Creek Center, 5320-40th ave, beneath the
Camrose Ski Jump.
*If you cannot attend our information meetings, you can meet with Coach Les immediately after
practise.
$20 per youth = to help pay membership fee costs of our Camrose Ski Club, to pay for insurance
fees, use of our Stoney Creek Ski Center Stoney Creek trail fees, weekly training programs,
coaching at practises, and my coaching support travel expenses at races.

3. $0 per school teacher/coach/parent...adults willing to
volunteer to provide supervision and/or co-coaching
leadership with Coach Les, to improve your running
technique, while at the same time, developing your coaching
skills through coach-mentoring experience.
$75-$100 for a good pair of basic durable trail running
shoes (to be discussed at our Information Registration
Meeting).
XC Running Team GOALS:
SAFETY...to provide a sport program that is safe for youth;
FUN...to meet the social friendship needs of youth to have fun with their friends, and;
CHALLENGING...to motivate encourage youth to continue as outdoor endurance athletes.
If you have any questions or concerns, or need more information, please contact me!
I look forward to running with you!
We are a group of runners in Camrose, Alberta. We welcome everyone. Some of us are slow - some
of us are fast - no matter what your speed, come and join us!
http://www.camroseskiclub.com/2014/09/youth-cross-country-running-with-the-vikings/