New practice venue

We have a new home for our Wednesday, 11 a.m., practices: Vassar College and its beautiful new track.

Coach James McCowan was a great runner back in the day at Vassar, battling with Mike Melfi back in the late 1990s. Now, he is an excellent coach and good friend of the Marist Running program.

To say he has been accommodating to us would be an understatement. He's always welcoming to our use of Vassar Farms during cross country. And now, he has gone out of his way to advocate for our usage of the Vassar track. Right now, we are only permitted there on Wednesdays but we are hoping those hours are expanded.

For now, we will enjoy and make good use of this time. Already, our steeplers are ahead of the game by getting over barriers for the first time on March 25. The form was a bit ragged and rocky. But imagine if the first barrier hurdling were at a meet, as has been in the past? This is a good thing!

For team members, a few reminders of the rules of usage for the Vassar track:

1. No spitting on the track. I don't want to hear snickers on this one. They asked. We'll comply.
2. Enter the track through the sidewalks/driveways, NOT on the grass. And no hopping over the fence. Walk through the gates.
3. No Gatorade/sports drinks on the turf field or inside the track facility. Outside the fence is fine. Water inside the fence is fine.
4. Any hurdles/barriers we use, we must return to where we found them.
5. No garbage of any kind left behind, which is obvious. But especially, no plastic wrappers, etc., on the turf field because it will burn up on there because of the warmth of the field in the sun.

That's about it. First outdoor meet is at West Point on Saturday. The weather is actually looking passable for March 28.