Preseason update

Current team members should have received a very lengthy email from me regarding the Preseason Plan. For alumni and others interested in what we are doing, here's a brief day-to-day breakdown of our preseason practice schedule.

Monday: Upperclassmen physicals and NCAA meeting for the entire team in the morning.

First practice, Monday: Afternoon first practice will be at Ogden Mills, the traditional first practice of the season. As I enter my 20th year as coach, I honestly cannot remember if we have done the Ogden Mills Hills every year. If we missed a year or two, that would be it. Some current men's team members are mildly annoyed at this workout, claiming it is "too easy." Tough. It's tradition, and we're doing it. Plus, I get to yell out annoying "vocabulary words" while everyone is sprinting up the hill. Some things never change ...

Tuesday: Minnewaska. Nuff said.

Wednesday: A Marist Preseason First! A track time trial at Vassar College. Note to team: IT WILL BE EARLY! We need to be off the Vassar track by 8:15 a.m., due to their preseason practice schedule. Coach James at Vassar was kind enough to squeeze us in there. No complaints. The time trial will consist of a 3,200-meter run. Given the size of the team, we will probably break it into two sections. More details later in the week.

Thursday: Minnewaska. Again. Why? Because we can.

Friday: 12-hour relay from Gartland, an excuse for the team's fundraising efforts for their fancy new Nike jackets.

Saturday/Sunday: Move-in weekend. Craziness. We will do one long run from campus (probably on Saturday) and a shorter easy run on Sunday.

Monday: Classes begin! Normal practice time.

Tuesday: Classes continue. Coach Pete gets a year older. Vess likes to call me "bitter old man." The bitter part, I dispute. Turning 46 on this date, the "old man" label is up for grabs.