Our 2023 XC season is around the corner! We start on the first day of school, Tuesday, August 8th at 2:45 pm! Please get registered on MySchoolBucks and get a physical from your physician or a walk-in clinic. Physicals are good for 365 days and must last through the season.
General Information: It's time to GET A PHYSICAL and GET REGISTERED for our 2023 season! Cross Country is open to all 7th and 8th graders, from seasoned runners to absolute beginners. Our coaching staff will help each and every athlete develop to their potential. This sport is great for meeting people and making new friends at the start of the school year. Practices are Monday-Friday and are arranged into workouts appropriate for all levels. If you want to get involved and are committed to learning to be a better runner and teammate, this is the place for you!
Parent Meeting: Meet the coaches, sign up to volunteer, team gear order, and optional events will be covered. Thursday, August 10th at 4:30 in the MRMS Commons. We will have you out quickly!
Registration: Please register on MySchoolBucks and get a current physical from your pediatrician or a walk-in clinic (cheap! easy! fast!) Then, drop your completed physical at MRMS before school starts on August 8th, OR at lunch on the first day. It takes some time to process paperwork and we want ALL runners to be able to run with us on day one! Physicals are good for one calendar year. DOWNLOAD PHYSICAL FORM HERE.
2023 First Day of Practice: Practice begins on Tuesday, August 8th at 2:45 and will end at 4:30. We will meet in the Commons on the first day of practice and get to know each other before we dress to run. Be sure you are registered and have all paperwork turned in for the first day. Please bring shorts, t-shirt, running shoes, a watch, and a water bottle. You can carry these items in your backpack or an additional bag labeled with your first and last name. Lockers are not available, but pod teachers may help you find a space to leave your gear during the day. During practice, bags will be stored in a classroom or pod. See you there!
Practices will be Monday through Friday, 2:45-4:30 from Aug. 8 through Sept. 8. Throughout our season, we will train for five to six 2-mile races against other DCSD schools during the school week. Please reserve the last Saturday of the season (9/9) for the DCSD Cross Country Championship! If possible, we will look for an outside invitational during the season that will be open to all athletes. One such option is the Q-Man Classic 5k on August 12th.
Event Schedule: All meets are after school. For home meets, the team will stay at school and warm-up together. If it is HOT, we will stay in the building until about 20 minutes before race time. For AWAY meets, parents are responsible for transporting athletes to the opposing school. All races will start between 3:45 and 4pm, with the 8th graders racing first. As soon as they clear the course, 7th graders take the line. Events listed in blue are optional.
Saturday, August 12, 9 am: Q-Man Classic 5k @Highlands Ranch HS. This is a wonderful community event in honor of a Highlands Ranch student and avid runner with special needs who passed away on a run years ago. Families will have the opportunity to register on their own. Extra fee: $18 with a small service fee, paid online when you register at the race link. Register here!
2023 Season calendar
(Optional) Saturday, August 12, 9 am: Q-Man Classic 5k @Highlands Ranch HS
Wednesday, August 16: AWAY @ Cresthill (CMS)
(Optional) Saturday, August 19, 9 am: Berthoud Distance Festival 2-mile, Berthoud HS
Tuesday, August 22: HOME vs. Sierra (SMS)
Saturday, August 26: VistaNation Two-Mile (spectator event)
Tuesday, August 29: Home vs. Rocky Heights (RHMS) and Cimarron (CIMS)
Thursday, August 31: Home vs. Mesa (MMS)
Wednesday, September 6: AWAY @ Ranch View (RVMS)
Friday, September 8: Open racers (those not qualifying for District) will have the option to race the Slavens Invitational at Harvard Gulch Park.
Saturday, September 9: AWAY @ Rocky Heights for DCSD XC Championship (Top 7 Runners for each grade and gender represent the team, but all are invited to spectate. Typically starts at 7am.)
MRMS XC Gear: TBA! We will offer t-shirts and hoodies!
The Bigger Picture: Who are we? The Mountain Ridge Middle School XC Team is just one small piece of a much larger puzzle. Cross Country is about running as a team. However, it is also about community, connections, and commitment to success on a personal level. Mountain Ridge provides the feeder program for Mountain Vista (Vista Nation XC), a stellar team that has won multiple State titles over the years, in addition to joining the very small number of programs to take the State title for girls and boys in the same year (2017). They have also been invited to compete on the National level. How do WE do it? It starts here with our program. In Cross Country, each member of the team is valued as an individual and contributing teammate. While some athletes may have incredible talent, uncanny dedication, or years of experience, the runners who are out for the first time or who are just developing their taste for long distance have just as much worth. Runners have the opportunity to train year-round with MRMS and MVHS.
Cross Country is also all about FUN! Running hurts. Running is hard! We all know that, and we take pride in the knowledge that practice is hard and races are painful, but we are out here doing it. So, our season is full of games and team-building. The connections are just as important as the workouts. Take a look at our sea of blue t-shirts and you will know who we are: We are RAM XC and we Fight the Pain!
During Cross Country, we encourage and welcome parent and family involvement--our runners need your support. Come run with the team on a Saturday, cheer at meets, follow the high school program, volunteer to help on the course, provide snacks, and become members of the Cross Country Vista Nation "Family." Welcome aboard!
Coaches' contacts:
Karen Sprafke [email protected]
Neil Reese [email protected]
Tanya Twete [email protected]
Running Club: As soon as the regular season ends, athletes are able to join us for post-season training in preparation for the Colorado Middle School State XC Championship, Saturday, October 21, 2022. This more competitive club trains a few days a week and runs in various invitationals around the state. Running Club is generally a step-up from Cross Country and it is helpful to complete the XC season first.
