With Winter Training beginning Monday, January 18, I’d like to share some general (and some new) information about the program, how it works, etc., particularly because we have so many new families involved in the program. This is truly an exciting time, and I’m delighted to have you aboard!

REGISTRATION

There are three options, which include the Runcard, the Full, and the Annual.

The Runcard offers an opportunity for runners to attend at their convenience and is a great option for kids who are multi-sport and have responsibilities on nights away from Whisper. For example, if your child has soccer (or other) on Monday’s and Thursday’s, they may join us for training on Wednesday’s or Saturday’s.
The Full offers athletes to participate in as much as the winter session has to offer – 6 weeks for HS runners, 9 weeks for MS/ES runners. The Full is more economical than the Runcard.
The Annual includes unlimited training for 365 days from the date of purchase, forgoing the Runcard or Winter/Summer (Full registration) purchase. The Annual is more economical than the Full or Runcard.

Once facility contracts have been secured, registration will open (around December 1).

If your child is currently using a Runcard, purchasing the Full registration will place their current Runcard on hold until after the Winter Training sessions, which is March 21, at which time their Runcard sessions resume. Visit the Winter Training page for details.

TRAINING DAYS (Tentative)

Monday nights we are at Hudson’s Bay HS, 5:30-7pm, with sprint and distance training being offered.
Tuesday night weightlifting (scheduled time TBD).
Wednesday nights we are at Hudson’s Bay HS or McKenzie Stadium, 5:30-7pm, with sprint and distance training being offered.
Thursday nights we are at Clark for mobility training, Propstra Pool for aqua jogging, or in Foster Auditorium for a seminar (dates TBD). These are FREE seminars - please share this with your children’s school coaches and teams!). Because Thursday includes three options, please see the Calendar to remain updated.
Saturday mornings, 8:45-11am, we begin at Clark on OSC219. If the weather is good, we will finish at the track (Hudson’s Bay HS track). If the weather is intolerable, we will finish in OSC218. If we finish in OSC218, we will bring all of the kids (being picked up) to the Red 1 (and Red 2) parking lot in front of the OSC building. Also, our Sports Medicine seminar is scheduled for Saturday, TBD, and all runners are expected to attend (with at least one parent).

WHEN YOUR CHILD ARRIVES AT PRACTICE

On Monday and Wednesday practices, upon arrival, your child will come to the canopy located at the high jump area of the track facility. Once at the canopy, they will sign-in, review the workout of the day (on a clipboard), note their training group (on a second clipboard), and their Pacer (Coach leading their group) for that workout. Once they are settled, they’ll be encouraged to jog a few laps, followed by team drills led by one of the coaches. Workouts will follow, along with a cooldown (usually).

On Tuesdays in the weight room, kids will sign-in, and there will be some instruction on room safety, spotting, form/lifting technique, and then an introduction to the program they will be following.

On Thursdays in OSC218, they’ll sign-in, then find a place in the gym for their mobility session. Please bring a Yoga mat for these sessions (there are some mats available if they forget). On Thursdays in the pool, athletes should come dressed ready for pool exercise, being sure to bring a towel, and extra set of clothes for changing into after aqua jogging. An aqua jogging belt will be provided for on the shorter side. There are changing rooms a Propstra.

On Saturdays, we will begin in OSC219 (Clark College) with instruction on the workout of the day, then venture to the track (sprinters) or roads (distance). Saturdays also provide a time to discuss some excellent Sport Psych topics, such as managing anxiety, focus and concentration, goal setting, self-talk, self-confidence, visualization, and more.

WEBSITE & RESOURCES

The Whisper Running website has a wealth of resources and information. Here are a few important pages:

Sports Physicals - includes a great blog post by Dr. Wos discussing Why Iron Matters for Youth Distance Runners, plus PowerPoint presentations from past presenters on topics including Stress, Nutrition, and Sleep. This page also includes a common sports physical form required by local school districts to screen and approve student athletes for sport participation.
Resources – includes local Physical Therapists options, nutrition specialists/dietitians, a college admissions specialist, and a local running shoe store.
Training Guide – includes training suggestions (calendar, schedule, mileage, etc.) for distance runners, as well as a cross-training (weightlifting) plan.
Coaches - these amazing humans volunteer their time to run alongside your children. Pacers are employees of the program who oversee safety and administer the workouts.

SPRING TRACK

Spring track is a fantastic opportunity to compete alongside track-minded athletes throughout the PNW. Our young runners will be encouraged to race in most or all running events (100m to the 3k). Coaches will be alongside them, helping them through self-doubts, sustaining focused, and gaining confidence in their skills. Track provides a great opportunity for all of this, with the long-term goal of developing a complete and confident runner. While our season schedule is still growing, see the Spring Track (Join the Team) page for details. Spring track registration is $99 and includes a uniform for the season. Most meets are $25.