Thursday, July 15, 2010

Physicals/First Practice/Move-in

Physicals for all cross country runners will be given by the team doctors on Saturday, August 21, at 4 pm at the Fitness Center. You do not need to get a physical before arriving at Drury. Medical Forms must be turned into the athletic trainers or Coach Van Arkel by August 21. There are other earlier dates for physicals on August 8 & August 15 if you are in town and can be on campus. Our first running practice is Sunday, August 22, at 7 am at the Fitness Center. All runners can move into dorms/apartments as early as Friday, August 20.

**Remember** NO PHYSICAL or NO MEDICAL FORMS = NO PARTICIPATION !!!

Dates for Physicals on campus:
Sunday August 8th @ 4:00pm(Volleyball and any cross country athletes able to be here)
Sunday August 15th @ 4:00pm(Soccer and any cross country athletes able to be here)
Saturday August 21st @ 4:00pm: All CROSS COUNTRY runners

Freshmen will have a short team meeting Saturday, August 21, at 1 pm at the Fitness Center.

Coach Van Arkel
xcountry@drury.edu

Saturday, July 10, 2010

XC Training: July 11 & 18

We are adding more total mileage the next two weeks along with the long run and a session of hill repeats each week. Women should be running between 40-50 miles/week. Men should be running 50-60 miles/week. The long run can be from 70 to 90 minutes at a conversational pace. Increase your hill repeats(6-8 repeats up a 150-200 m hill at 3k race pace with a recovery jog back down) and do at least two core/strength training workouts. These should consist of crunches, pushups, dips and planks(face up & face down, both with alternate leg raises).

Sunday(7/11 & 7/18) Long run of 9-13 miles

Monday 6-8 miles

Tuesday 7-9 miles w/ strength training

Wednesday 8-10 miles w/ hill repeats

Thursday 7-9 miles w/ strength training

Friday 8-10 miles

Saturday 4-6 miles or swim/bike


Coach Van Arkel
xcountry@drury.edu

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Reminders

Important Reminders for all cross country runners:

PHYSICALS: Physicals for all runners(new and returning) will be given by Drury team doctors on Saturday, August 21, at 4 pm at the Fitness Center.

MEDICAL FORMS: All runners must have all medical forms, including insurance card(front & back) on file with the trainers BEFORE August 21. Signed forms can be returned to the athletic trainers or mailed to Jon Van Arkel @ Drury Athletics; 900 N. Benton; Springfield, MO 65802, or also faxed to Coach Van Arkel(fax# 303-362-7556). Links to the forms are on this blog and on the Drury Panthers Athletic Training web page.

ROSTER INFO: Please forward your biographies to me or to Eric Pannell as soon as possible so he can put together the cross country roster. Sports Information wants only cross country highlights, no track highlights, for use on the cross country roster web page.

TRAINING SHOES: We will be ordering training shoes soon so each runner on the team has a new pair of trainers in the fall. All runners need to contact Coach Van Arkel(xcountry@drury.edu) with their training shoe brand, model and size(no experimental or beta models; only tried and true). Drury will cover up to $100 of the purchase price.

GEAR: At the beginning of practice we will hand out the following gear: Training shoes, Asics backpacks/bookbags, large duffel bags, gym sacks, warmups, hooded sweatshirts, running tee's, racing shorts, racing singlets, socks and possibly other training/racing apparel. Runners are responsible for providing their own racing spikes.

FRESHMEN ELIGIBILITY: Freshmen need to be certain a final transcript is forwarded from your high school to the NCAA Eligibility Center to confirm academic eligibility. Also, in order to receive a "final" amateurism certification, you will need to revisit the Eligibility website, access your file and request a final decision for both DII cross country AND track. This MUST be done soon so rosters can be finalized.

T-SHIRTS: We will have Drury running t-shirts available for all runners on the team after practice starts and lots of extras for family/friends/boosters to purchase as part of our fundraising efforts for the team.

PRACTICES: Our first short team meeting for freshmen will be Saturday, August 21, at 1 pm at the Fitness Center. Our first running practice will be Sunday, August 22, at 7:00 am at the Fitness Center.

HOUSING: Runners will be able to move into campus housing as early as Friday, August 20.

Coach Van Arkel
xcountry@drury.edu

Sunday, July 4, 2010

XC Training: July 4

Happy Fourth!

One more week of consistent running. Mileage will go up next week.

Sunday Long Run(>60 minutes)

Monday 4-6 miles w/ strength training

Tuesday 6-8 miles

Wednesday 7-9 miles

Thursday 4-6 miles w/ strength training

Friday 6-8 miles w/ hill repeats

Saturday 5-7 miles or swim/bike

Coach Van Arkel
xcountry@drury.edu

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Off-Season Training Tips

-Run on soft surfaces(grass/trails) as much as you can.
-If you are sore, back off. Don’t run thru sharp pain. Ice areas that are sore. If soreness persists, contact a sports medicine clinic and inform Coach.
-Do sets of core strength work(crunches, planks, pushups, dips, etc.) at least twice each week.
-Run hilly courses as often as you can.
-Be sure you have good supportive running shoes with plenty of cushioning. We will also get new trainers when the fall season starts.
-Follow the hard/easy training cycle. Do recovery runs or cross train between harder runs or longer runs.
-Get lots of sleep and rest between workouts.
-Stay hydrated. Drink water during the day and drink some kind of sports drink/fruit juice after a run to immediately replace carbohydrates.

Coach Van Arkel
xcountry@drury.edu

Friday, June 25, 2010

XC Training: June 27

This week's training is basically the same as last week. Focus on consistency, hydration(drink lots of water before and after and, if you can, during your run) and extending the long run. Next week total mileage will increase a bit.

Sunday Long Run(>60 minutes)

Monday 4-6 miles w/ strength training

Tuesday 6-8 miles

Wednesday 7-9 miles

Thursday 4-6 miles w/ strength training

Friday 6-8 miles w/ hill repeats

Saturday 5-7 miles or swim/bike

Coach Van Arkel

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Important XC Dates & Info

-Our first short(15 minutes) team meeting for freshmen will be Saturday, August 21, at 1:00 pm at the Fitness Center. Physicals by the Drury team physician(required for all runners, new and returning) are tentatively scheduled for late Saturday afternoon that weekend. Our first running practice for all cross country runners will be Sunday, August 22, at 7:00 am at the Fitness Center.

-All runners must have ALL medical forms, including a consent form and a copy of an insurance card(front & back), on file with the trainers BY August 21. Signed forms can be mailed to Jon Van Arkel at Drury Athletics; 900 N. Benton; Springfield, MO 65802, or also faxed to Coach Van Arkel(fax# 303-362-7556) or delivered to the training room.

-Housing will be open and runners can move in as early as August 20.

-Please forward your biographies to Eric Pannell or to me as soon as possible so Eric can put together our fall cross country roster.

-I will be at the Fitness Center at 1 pm on Saturday, August 21 if anyone has forms to turn in or has questions.

-During the fall cross country season plan on practicing between 6 am and 8:30 am and between 4:30 pm and 6:30 pm during the week, and early most mornings on the weekends. Do not schedule work, etc, during those times until we have set a practice schedule. If you can avoid it, do NOT schedule class for any weekday morning at 8 am. We will be competing or practicing each weekend until the NCAA meet in late November. The only extended 48 hour breaks will be September 5 & 6(Labor Day weekend) and October 22 &23(Fall Break).

-All runners must be at all practices, unless you are in class. Plan to travel with the team to & from all meets unless permission to travel separately with your family is granted one week prior to the meet by the Athletic Director.

-I will be ordering each cross country runner(37 of us!) with training shoes(I'll cover up to $100 & try to find the least expensive vendor) on July 12. Please forward to me your brand, model & size of training shoe by this date so I can order a pair for you and have them available when practice starts.

Coach Van Arkel

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

XC Runner's Bio's Needed

XC Roster: All runners, including returning runners, need to forward to me(xcountry@drury.edu) or Eric Pannell(epannell@drury.edu) answers to the following questions so the Sports Information Office can begin compiling cross country rosters and include this information about each runner. The sooner we get this done the sooner our online rosters will be completed.


Name: ___________________

Birthdate: ______________________

Height: ___________________

Parents' Names_________________________

Hometown: ___________________________

High School: __________________________

High School Coach's Name:____________________________

High School G.P.A.:_____________________

High School Academic Honors:_____________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

Intended or Declared Major:_____________________________


If you are an incoming freshman, please list your top high school athletic performances(up to three), any all-state awards, place and time at the state meet, any team, conference, district and academic honors.

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

If you are a returning runner, please list your recent accomplishments or what you feel are your best two or three athletic performances from the past year.

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________


YOUR FAVORITES:

Food: _____________________________________

Restaurant: ________________________________

Musical Artist: ______________________________

Movie/TV Show: _________________________________

Book/Magazine: ________________________________

Hobbies(besides running)_________________________

Pro athlete: _________________________________

Dream job: _________________________________

Saturday, June 19, 2010

XC Training: June 20

XC Training for the week of June 20:

Now is the time to seriously start our off-season training and running with a goal of being aerobically fit and strong by the end of the summer. We need to build our distance base, with weekly mileage of at least 45-65 miles for the women by the time practice starts and 60-80 miles/week for the guys. 6K-10K races are 80-90% aerobic and no amount of speed work alone, without a good distance base, will enable you to run your fastest as a cross country runner and help your team.

I'm asking for consistent running(6/days week) and three specific weekly workouts. One long run(>60 minutes for now) during the week is the most important workout, with a set of 6-8 hill repeats a close second. Hill repeats should consist of 6-8 uphills run moderately hard on a gradual hill with exaggerated knee lift and arm swing. All other running can be relatively easy(conversational pace). Strength work should include 2-3 sets of pushups, crunches and planks(front & back), all of which can be done without going to a fitness center. You can also lift weights and do other exercises(curls,presses,dips and pullups), but they should not interfere with your running or other workouts. For the next two weeks mileage should be at least 40/week for the women and at least 50/week for the guys.

Sunday Long Run(>60 minutes)

Monday 4-6 miles w/ strength training

Tuesday 6-8 miles

Wednesday 7-9 miles

Thursday 4-6 miles w/ strength training

Friday 6-8 miles w/ hill repeats

Saturday 5-7 miles or swim/bike

Coach Van Arkel
417-873-7567

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Summer Training

Summer training is what will make us faster and better in the fall. You cannot be a competitive collegiate cross country runner without serious summer running. The idea is to start developing the different systems we rely on during races. Three key components make up the off-season training plan:

1. Aerobic Fitness-Volume and mileage, not too hard, to improve endurance and efficiency.
2. Leg Strength-Hill running to increase the strength of leg muscles, tendons and ligaments and improve form.
3. Core Strength-Resistance exercises designed to strengthen and stabilize the core/trunk/upper body.

Notice we do not yet start running fast intervals until we have developed these other systems and until we are ready to start peaking for cross country races. Anaerobic fitness and speed will come later during the fall season.

Hopefully, everyone has recovered from the track season and can now begin to increase weekly mileage. We will add a weekly long run to improve aerobic capacity. We will also add core strength training and, soon hill repeats. While these increases in mileage and training need to be gradual, they also need to happen relatively early in the summer so conditioning can be consistent and productive for the 8-10 weeks before the cross country season starts.

The more volume you can do during the summer, the better you will be in races in the fall.

Coach Van Arkel
417-873-7567
xcountry@drury.edu

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Summer Training/First team meeting 8/21 at 1 pm

Our first Drury cross country team meeting for freshmen will be Saturday, August 21, at 1 pm for 15 minutes at the Fitness Center. All other returning runners need to be on campus by August 21 with medical forms on file with the Athletic Training Office. Physicals will possibly be given Saturday, August 21, and are required before any runner can participate in practice. Our first running practice is August 22 at 7 am at the Fitness Center. Medical forms are available and can be downloaded on the Drury Athletics web page under Athletic Training and on this blog under Medical Forms. Also, the NCAA has the discretion and authority to conduct random drug tests at any time. All student athletes on the roster should be able to be located and are subject to being tested year round.

I will make specific suggestions regarding workouts starting June 20. This gives us eight full weeks of training prior to August 21 to increase mileage, develop aerobic fitness and add some other strength/hill workouts. By June 20 we should be running consistently(six days/week), be in a summer fitness routine, become acclimated to the heat, and be doing a couple of core strength workouts(crunches, planks, pushups and dips) each week.

Eventually, I will be asking runners to forward biographical information for the Drury web site and to also forward training shoe details so I can get everyone a pair of new training shoes by the beginning of practice.

Coach Van Arkel
417-873-7567

Sunday, May 23, 2010

2010 Fall Cross Country Schedule

2010 Drury Panthers Fall Cross Country Schedule


Saturday 9/4 @ 9 am SBU Invitational/Bolivar, MO


Saturday 9/18 @ 9 am Southern Stampede/Joplin, MO


Saturday 10/2 @ 9 am Sean Earle Lakefront/Chicago, IL


Saturday 11/6 @ 9 am GLVC Conf. XC Champs/WI-Parkside


Saturday 11/20 @ 9 am NCAA Midwest Regional/Louisville, KY


Saturday 12/4 @ 9 am NCAA Nationals/Louisville, KY


Coach Van Arkel
417-873-7567

Sunday, May 2, 2010

Track Training: Week of May 2

Track Training: Week of May 2

Sun(5/2) 7:15 am 8-10 miles

Mon(5/3) OYO/6-8 miles

Tue(5/4) 4:20 pm 4-6 miles

Wed(5/5) OYO/4-6 miles
4:45 pm Team Meeting @ Track

Thu(5/6) 4:20 pm 4-6 miles

Fri(5/7) 12:30 pm Leave Drury for Missouri S&T

Sat(5/8) 11:00 am leave Drury for Missouri S&T

Sun(5/9) 5:30 pm Team Picnic @ Phelps Grove

Coach Van Arkel
417-873-7567

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Track Training: Week of April 25

Track Training: Week of April 25

Sun(4/25) 7:15 am 8-14 miles

Mon(4/26) 6:30 am 6-8 miles

Tue(4/27) 7:00 am 4-5 miles
4:20 pm 4-6 miles

Wed(4/28) 7:00 am 6-8 miles

Thu(4/29) 4:20 pm 5-7 miles

Fri(4/30) 7:00 am 6-8 miles @ Phelps Grove
12:00 pm Leave Drury for Northwest Missouri State

Sat(5/1) Off

Sun(5/2) 7:15 am 8-10 miles @ Lake Springfield

Coach Van Arkel
417-873-7567

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Track Training: Week of April 18

Track Training: Week of April 18

Sun(4/18) 7:15 am 10-14 miles

Mon(4/19) 6:30 am 6-8 miles

Tue(4/20) 7:00 am 4-5 miles
4:20 pm 4-6 miles w/ strength training

Wed(4/21) 6:20 am 7-9 miles

Thu(4/22) 7:00 am 4-5 miles

Fri(4/23) 1:00 pm Leave Drury for MSSU

Sat(4/24) Off/10 am Harrison Stadium

Sun(4/25) 7:15 am 8-14 miles @ Bread Co.(E. Battlefield)

Coach Van Arkel
417-873-7567

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Track Training: Week of April 11

Track Training: Week of April 11

Sun(4/11) Off

Mon(4/12) 6:30 am 10-14 miles

Tue(4/13) 7:00 am 4-5 miles
4:20 pm 4-6 miles w/ strength training

Wed(4/14) 6:20 am 7-9 miles

Thu(4/15) 7:00 am 4-5 miles
OYO/4-6 miles w/ strength training

Fri(4/16) 7:00 am 6-10 miles @ Phelps Grove

Sat(4/17) 9:30 am Leave Drury for Missouri S&T

Sun(4/18) 7:15 am 10-14 miles @ Bread Co.(Elm & Nat.)

Coach Van Arkel
417-873-7567

Friday, April 2, 2010

Track Training: Week of April 4

Track Training: Week of April 4

Sun(4/4) 1500m: Off
5000m: OYO/10-14 miles

Mon(4/5) 6:30 am 5-7 miles

Tue(4/6) 7:00 am 4-5 miles
4:20 pm 4-6 miles w/ strength training

Wed(4/7) 6:20 am 7-9 miles

Thu(4/8) 7:00 am 4-5 miles
4:20 pm 4-6 miles w/ strength training

Fri(4/9) OYO/4-6 miles

Sat(4/10) 8:30 am Leave Drury for Pitt State

Sun(4/11) Off

Coach Van Arkel
417-873-7567

Friday, March 26, 2010

Track Training: Week of March 28

Track Training: Week of March 28

Sun(3/28) 1500m: Off
3000m/5000m: OYO/10-14 miles

Mon(3/29) 6:30 am 7-9 miles
7:30 pm Career Athletics @ FSC

Tue(3/30) 7:00 am 4-5 miles
4:20 pm 4-6 miles w/ strength training

Wed(3/31) 6:20 am 7-9 miles

Thu(4/1) 7:00 am 4-5 miles
4:20 pm 4-6 miles w/ strength training

Fri(4/2) 7:30 am 4-6 miles

Sat(4/3) 6:00 am Leave Drury for Harding University

Sun(4/4) Off

Coach Van Arkel
417-873-7567

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Track Training: Week of March 21

Track Training: Week of March 21

Sun(3/21) OYO/10-14 miles

Mon(3/22) OYO/7-9 miles

Tue(3/23) OYO/6-8 miles w/ strength training
1500m: 3x300;2x400;600;2x400;3x300
3000m/5000m: 2x600;2x800;2x600

Wed(3/24) OYO/7-9 miles

Thu(3/25) OYO/6-8 miles w/ strength training
1500m: 15:00 tempo

Fri(3/26) 1500m: OYO/5-7 miles
12:30 pm Leave Drury(3000m/5000m @ Mizzou)

Sat(3/27) 7 am Leave Drury(1500m @ Mizzou)
3000m/5000m: Off

Sun(3/28) 1500m: Off
3000m/5000m: OYO/10-14 miles

Mon(3/29) 6:30 am 6-8 miles

Coach Van Arkel
417-873-7567

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Track Training: Week of March 14

Track Training: Week of March 14

Sun(3/14) 7:30 am 10-14 miles @ Lake Springfield

Mon(3/15) 6:30 am 7-9 miles

Tue(3/16) 7:00 am 4-5 miles
4:20 pm 4-6 miles w/ strength training

Wed(3/17) 6:20 am 7-9 miles

Thu(3/18) 7:00 am 4-5 miles
4:20 pm 4-6 miles w/ strength training

Fri(3/19) 6:30 am 7-10 miles

Sat(3/20) off

Sun(3/21) OYO/10-14 miles

Coach Van Arkel
417-873-7567

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Track Training: Week of March 7

Track Training: Week of March 7

Sun(3/7) 7:15 am 10-14 miles @ Bread Co.(Elm & Nat.)

Mon(3/8) 6:30 am 7-9 miles

Tue(3/9) 7:00 am 4-5 miles
4:20 pm 4-6 miles w/ strength training

Wed(3/10) 6:30 am 7-9 miles

Thu(3/11) 7:00 am 4-5 miles
4:20 pm 4-6 miles w/ strength training

Fri(3/12) 6:30 am 7-10 miles

Sat(3/13) off Clocks Forward!

Sun(3/14) 7:30 am 10-14 miles @ Lake Springfield

Coach Van Arkel
417-873-7567

Sunday, February 28, 2010

Track Training: Week of February 28

Track Training: Week of February 28

Sun(2/28) off

Mon(3/1) OYO/7-9 miles

Tue(3/2) 4:20 pm 6-8 miles w/ strength training

Wed(3/3) 6:30 am 7-9 miles

Thu(3/4) 4:20 pm 6-8 miles w/ strength training

Fri(3/5) 6:30 am 7-12 miles

Sat(3/6) off

Sun(3/7) 7:15 am 10-14 miles @ Bread Co.(Elm & Nat.)

Coach Van Arkel
417-873-7567

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Track Training: Week of February 21

Track Training: Week of February 21:

Sun(2/21) 7:15 am 8-12 miles @ Bread Co.(Elm. & Nat.)

Mon(2/22) 6:30 am 6-8 miles

Tue(2/23) 4:20 pm 7-9 miles & strength training

Wed(2/24) 6:30 am 7-9 miles

Thu(2/25) 6:30 am 5-7 miles
3:00 pm Leave Drury for Springfield, IL(Pear Tree Inn)

Fri(2/26) GLVC Indoor T&F Meet @ Kenosha, WI(LaQuinta Inn)

Sat(2/27) GLVC Indoor T&F Meet(Kenosha, WI)

Sun(2/28) Off

Coach Van Arkel
417-873-7567

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Track Training: Week of February 14

Track Training: Week of February 14:

Sun(2/14) 7:15 am 10-14 miles @ Bread Co.(Elm. & Nat.)

Mon(2/15) 6:20 am PICTURES & 6-8 miles

Tue(2/16) 4:20 pm 7-9 miles & strength training

Wed(2/17) 6:30 am 7-9 miles

Thu(2/18) 4:20 pm 7-9 miles & strength training

Fri(2/19) 6:30 am 8-10 miles

Sat(2/20) Off

Sun(2/21) 7:15 am 10-14 miles @

Coach Van Arkel
417-873-7567

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Track Training: Week of February 7

Track Training: Week of Feb. 7:

Sun(2/7) Off

Mon(2/8) Men: 6:20 am 8-12 miles
Women: 6:30 am 8-12 miles

Tue(2/9) 4:20 pm 6-9 miles & strength training

Wed(2/10) 6:20 am 7-10 miles

Thu(2/11) 4:20 pm 6-9 miles & strength training

Fri(2/12) 2:00 pm Leave Drury for PSU Indoor Meet

Sat(2/13) Off

Sun(2/14) 10-12 miles @ Bread Co.(Elm & Nat.)

Coach Van Arkel
417-873-7567