Friday, April 29, 2022

What is Athletic.net... What is FAT Timing.... What is a PR?

 Wouldn't is be great if there was a place you could go to track the records you child has in their events?

Let me introduce you to Athletic.net.


But FIRST! What is F.A.T. timing?? Fully automated timing uses cameras to track official times, it means that the time is "legit" the automation companies are far more accurate than hand timing (a person with a stopwatch) 

FAT timing means there is a link where you can get updated times as soon as results are finalized. The link is usually posted by the meet host. These will be linked to the Athletic.net account your coach has set up for your athlete. You are able to go into athletic.net, create a free account and "claim" you child as an athlete to track their progress. Also you can check to see how kids their age are performing at a national level.

Athletic.net also has a page where you can track our Club and see schedules for upcoming meets and schedules. Link: https://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/School.aspx?SchoolID=32592




When you aren't sure what is going on there are resources but you have to know and ask!






Track your athlete's performances yourself! I keep a note on phone with PR's (personal record) in the events we run so we can keep up and so she knows her goals, how can someone reach and surpass a goal without know what it is?

Keep running!






It's meet day! What is going to happen?

 So meet day has finally come! Are you nervous? I am. EVERY. SINGLE. MEET. I'm not even competing but I still get meet day nerves, and that's okay.

Breakfast- this is a personal choice, our athlete can handle a breakfast taco but always fruit. Sometimes a bagel with cream cheese and lots of berries with orange juice. We try and limit dairy before races, I'm not actually sure why but our Coaches said so, and we listened. Most of the time we're scrambling and eating in the car, so please don't imagine a picture perfect morning. We have a playlist with some really upbeat music but usually don't start it until about 15 mins before we get there.

You should arrive 30-45 mins before the meet start time. You will arrive to some sort of a stadium and you are looking for a team representative either a coach or team mom hold a large envelope. That person will have the team bibs, (what is a bib?! that paper with the numbers that runners wear on their shirts, calm down, you're going to be okay).

Pin your bib on your athlete's shirt. To the front under their chest area, like more of a stomach area. Check out Kollin below. 



Make sure your athlete is drinking water, even if the morning is cool we want to be hydrated for the heat of the afternoon. 

Depending on the time your athlete is running you will have to decide if they need a snack or not. As a reminder, no stadium food before all events are done. 

Have a schedule handy and know the races before and after your events, most calls (when they start asking athletes for a particular race to come down) will happen at the beginning of the event prior to yours. Team Moms will do a good job of repeating the announcements via messenger. When it's time go down towards the starting line your athlete will need to go to the check in area- by themselves-  this area varies by meet and meet host. Just ask someone- literally anyone, and keep asking until you get an answer. 

When your athlete goes to check in, they will not need anything but their spike bag. 

When they check in they will be placed in heats, they will be put in lines and told to sit with the kids from their heats. It's important they stay in order.

Watch them run, yell loudly and they will come back to you after the times are recorded!

How to keep records coming soon!!


Monday, April 25, 2022

Stadium Food.....and other things that cause heartburn

Though having food trucks is becoming the norm for track meets in the great Houston area, it's really important to have fresh, healthy options for your athlete at the meet- and for you too! All of our Coaches stress, no stadium food until you have run all your races, this is hard to do without better options. 

Here are some screenshots of my list from my favorite place ever- HEB (still, not a sponsored spokesperson though... anyone got a plug for that? haha)

  • Plenty of cut up fruits, they help with hydration and are so tasty. When I'm having a slower week in my job I will order the whole fruit and diligently cut up what I like, and be very proud of myself. But normally I'll pay the upcharge and but it already cut up. Frozen fruit works well too, and says pretty cold, also it's generally cheaper than fresh cut fruit.
  • Peanut butter and jelly does the trick for our athlete for a mid morning snack, stay away from dairy, cheese and anything heavy. I've had parents tell me lunchmeat and bread only sandwiches work for there kids but it definitely will be up to you and what your child will eat. 
  • Crackers- and other things that end up being like an adult lunchable- my husband, son and I enjoy these during the meet and try to cut back on nachos and hot dogs, but definitely get those sometimes too. We also buy from the food trucks when we are really hungry. I use the sauna like conditions at meets to help me kick start my very late summer diet. haha 

----Also, the ice cream sandwiches are just because when I get home I treat my self and there's no better way to end a long hot day..... alas, also the reason for the lighter food during the day. Call me old fashioned but an ice cream sammy is always a win for me! 

Obviously we don't take all of this to every meet, we don't just sit around eating all day. But this is a sample portion of my grocery list during active track season, and I hope it gives you a good idea of types of things to have handy.


Happy Snacking,

RR









Track Meet Essentials by Karen!

 


Track Meet Essentials

2022 Spring/Summer season

By: Karen Miniex

This is NOT an ABSOLUTE list; you do not have to have/bring all of these items, but these are items I have found to be helpful for a long day at a track meet. You will not want to find and run to a store during the meet. 

Basic Essential Items to pack for Athletes

  • TRACK SPIKE SHOES, SPIKE TOOL, AND EXTRA SPIKES!!!

  • UNIFORM

  • SUNSCREEN (a sunscreen spray comes in clutch!)

  • Extra socks and tights/leggings; a Tshirt to wear over uniform when not competing; flat shoes (sneakers, Crocs, flip flops for when not competing)

  • Gel Ice Pack; Cooling towel (soak in icy or water before use); Lotion (no one wants to be ashy); Chapstick (no one wants dry lips); TigerBalm/BioFreeze/IcyHot for sore muscles

  • WATER and MORE WATER (also Gatorade or Pedialyte is good to have on hand IN ADDITION TO WATER)

    • A LARGE water bottle (i.e. bigger than standard 22 oz), preferably a stainless steel insulated bottle to keep water cool/cold. This bottle will be with your child even when they are not able to reach you in the stands, so that is why it should be larger.

Food 

  • Cooler backpack (or a wheeled cooler) to keep food cool

  • For athletes, lighter foods/snacks are best during meets

    • Fruit (e.g bananas, apples, oranges, watermelon)

    • Pretzels, SmartPop popcorn, NutriGrain bars

    • Carrots

    • Fruit snacks

  • Families can bring food (FYI many track meets have food vendors but it can get pricey!)

  • WATER and other drinks (juice, soda, Gatorade) *A few disposable water bottles filled with water FROZEN beforehand are good to keep on hand*

Family essentials (In addition to items listed above)

  • TicketLeap App on your phone to easily pull up your purchased Spectator Tickets

  • Phone charger or battery pack (track meets are long!! You don’t want a dead phone.)

  • Cushioned stadium seat for bleachers and/or a portable canopy chair for sitting in grassy areas *Get a carrying bag for either! Trust me! You can find these easily at Academy, Amazon, or Walmart*

  • Hand sanitizer

  • A large umbrella to block sun if sitting in bleacher stands

  • A poncho, in case it rains (the track meets do NOT stop because of rain)

  • Tylenol/ibuprofen and band-aids (FYI there are certified athletic trainers at each track meet to take care of the athletes, but it’s good idea to have these items on deck for your family) 

  • Sunglasses

  • Binoculars

  • Gum

  • If you have little ones in tow, you may want to bring an iPad/tablet or other items to keep them entertained

  • If you will prefer to sit in the grassy areas instead of the bleacher stands, you will want to get an outdoor wagon cart to haul and store all of your items. *You can easily find these collapsible outdoor wheeled carts at Academy, Amazon, and Walmart–get the kind that has the rugged thick outdoor wheels instead of the thin wheels.*

NOTE: I have a 9 yr old son in Track, so there are other items to consider if you have a girl, a long-haired child, or an older child. competing. Some of those items include: Deodorant, hair ties/scrunchies, headbands, headphones, etc.


Friday, April 22, 2022

We've got the MEETS

This is definitely more team specific but if you are in the greater HTX area it probably applies to you and your team too!-- we are picking up from the part after your athlete is registered for the meet via their Coach.

Purchase your spectator tickets at the host team's website. Most USATF meets in our area use Ticketleap, for our team we post the link to our Google Calendar.

I created a video on our youtube channel so check that out but here's a summary of things that are really helpful to have- in my opinion.

  1. Bag or backpack to hold all these things
  2. Sunscreen, chapstick with SPF, sunglasses and a hat; umbrella or sunshade situation
  3. A Printed copy of the meet schedule, most meets are on a rolling schedule meaning that once one event is over they continue onto the next event. 
  4. Coolers and Water, cooling towels! (see previous post regarding other preparation items)
  5. Snacks- healthy ones. Stadium food seldom offers cut fruit or deli sandwiches, usually your options are limited to hot dogs, popcorn and chips. None of these salty items are suggested for an athlete before a race. We pack cut fruit, our kids like berries, watermelon, cantaloupe and grapes. A couple of pb&j sandwiches too. Stay away from heavy meats, dairy or spicy foods. It's really hard to run a race on a heavy stomach... or so I'm told
  6. Emergency items like tums, aspirin, bandaids, hair ties
  7. Portable chargers & cords
  8. Cash- if needed for stadium food, most meets have a selection of food trucks these days. That snowcone one is really hard to pass up on a hot day.

Let me know in the comments something you like or dislike to have with you!


Wednesday, April 20, 2022

Welcome to Track Season, don't forget your sunblock

In Houston, Texas Track seasons can be brutal
I'm not talking about school track season, where the meets are awesome and short and you get in and out and carry on with your life.
 
Summer track season is where the crowd thins and you see gorgeous bronzed parents yelling after kids to get out of the sun and their calls of "hydrate!!" can be music to your ears!

This is year 4 for us, 3 if you remember the year COVID stole from us. 

I digress, I'm here to discuss how to prepare yourself and your athletes for a summer track meet. First year parents, take notes. 

1. Get a very good cooler, or 2 if you don't mind a trip to the car to refill. We have a Rtic Backpack cooler and a Rtic softpack Larger Cooler. The backpack cooler comes to the stands, we take a trip sometime before the 4x100 to refill from the larger cooler, sometimes several times. 

2. Seat cushions "oh I don't need those" after 6 hours, your booty will be so mad at you. I got mine from Walmart, they were about $15 and worth their weight in gold! Link to Walmart Cushions

3. Sun protection, umbrella, sunglasses, sunblock, you name it. You need it. Even the most melanin blessed individuals fall victim to the treacherous Texas Sun! We have options here but a sportsbrella is on of our favorites. Academy link to Sportbrella do we get paid for this? no, will you thank us? yes. for sure.

4. Water- anyway you can get it, frozen waterbottles, regular waterbottles, hydroflask, cut up fruit. however you can get it in you and your athletes do that. Heat exhaustion is real, and hydration does not start during the meet, it's the night before, the morning of, the way to and during the meet. This goes for parents and spectators too! 

Your athlete is not always going to be able to float between you and the track, so having a smaller cooler  and water that fits in their track bag is essential! 

More later.

RR



What's for Dinner?

  The night before a meet there are several important things to consider, packing supplies, resting, and being mentally prepared. But the mo...