Pre-Track Banquet Info

Athletes,

Prior to the Track Banquet on Sunday, May 21st at 1:00, we will be meeting at Belle's house (2436 Avenida Mastil) to have a short get-together to celebrate the season. Our pre-party will begin at 11:45 with appetizers. Please be prompt, since we need to be at the HS by 1:00. 

We will be implementing a new tradition this season, so for those that are attending the pre-party please read the information below:

As stated in the contract you guys signed at the beginning of track, one of the goals and expectations of this training group is to look outside of yourself and think about how you can have a positive impact on your team and in your community. With this in mind, I would like each of you to prepare a short letter/reflection about one of your teammates. I have chosen names out of a hat and I will let you know who you will be writing about. In your reflection, you may include any thoughts that you deem appropriate, but I have provided ideas below to get you started. Your reflections should be in the form of a letter that you will share at our pre-party and then be able to give to your teammate.

Reflections on a Teammate:

• How did this teammate have a positive impact on you and the team?
• Why are you happy to have this person as a teammate?
• What did they do this season that made you proud of them?
• What has this teammate done to inspire you?
• What is a funny story about this teammate?
• What quirks does this teammate have?

Keep running,

Coach Horton

CIF Prelims Training Plan

Athletes,

For those who are running CIF Prelims, please see the training plan below.

I'll have a season recap when the CIF runners have completed their "run".

Keep running,
Coach Horton

Training Plan

Training Plan

Athletes,

Stay focused and keep running strong. Please make sure you are completing the core/strength/hurdle routine!

Keep running,
Coach Horton

Training Plan
5/3 Core

Upcoming Meet Infor & Training Plan

Athletes,

We have a busy schedule this week with the dual meet on Thursday and OC Champs on Saturday. Due to the limited number of entries allowed each school for OC Champs, you'll see on the training plan that some of you will be racing the dual meet on Thursday and others will be racing at OC Champs on Saturday. If you have any questions, please let me know.

Keep running,
Coach Horton

Training Plan
CORE

Training Plan 4/10-16

Athletes,

As I mentioned before, I was very impressed with the strong attendance and efforts during practice over spring break. We have three weeks until League Prelims, and maintaining your focus will be paramount to attaining your goals for the season. Keep up the great work!

See the links below for core and training this week.

Keep running,
Coach Horton

Training Plan
Core

Spring Break Training

Training Plan

Trabuco Dual & Meet of Champions Recap

Athletes,

Coach Eisele and I are so proud of the hard work this training group puts in each day, and it is rewarding for you to have excellent performances to show for all of that hard work!

On Thursday at the Trabuco Dual Meet, we had many wonderful story lines, but I have to begin with Amy S in the 1600. As you all know, Amy is one of our toughest runners. She regularly demonstrates what it means to be a super teammate and hard worker, and she was rewarded with a huge PR of 5:50! Way to go Amy!

Yareli is another integral part of our team, and she has now shattered her goal of breaking 6:00 twice in one week! New goals (sub 5:50) are on order for both of these ladies!

For the rest of the crew in the Varsity 1600, there was a lot going on! Belle and Nicole got back into the 5:30s after working well together throughout the race. Sub 5:30 by the end of the season? Amy V got down to 5:51 and will be gunning for sub 5:50 with Amy S and Yareli. Finally, Chandler's goal was to run within herself to save something for Saturday night, and she ran a controlled 5:14 for the win.

In the Frosh/Soph 1600, MaKenna and Renee gained more experience at pushing through the pain and racing hard in the four lap event. It doesn't hurt that they both scored PRs!

In the Varsity 800, Hana and Rylee went 1-2 with excellent racing tactics that resulted in PRs for both. Hana shaved about 1/2 a second off of hers, while Rylee lowered her best by close to a full 2 seconds.

I want to reserve special notice for the progress Rylee has made as an 800 runner. About four weeks ago, she struggled to run 2:22 pace for 600 meters, yet she is now doing a full 800 meters at that pace, and doing it strongly! Sub 2:20 in the future for both athletes?

In the 3200, most tempo'd the race for training purposes, but Belle (12:06 for 3rd) and Nicole (12:33 for 5th) ran excellent races after posting solid times earlier in the 1600. You guys are getting strong!

On Saturday night at the Azusa Meet of Champions, Hana and Chandler were honored with entries into the Invitational 1600 (Hana) and the Rated 3200 (Chandler). In the 1600, Hana was the only freshman running against much more experienced runners. It was a tough race, with a fast pace from the start, but she once again demonstrated her incredible toughness and ran 5:05 for the full mile (5:03 for 1600). This experience provides Hana with one more piece of the puzzle as she cements her place among the state's elite runners. In the 3200, Chandler's goal was to break 11:00 (this year's mark for elite status in California), and she was under, or on pace until one lap to go, when she fell a bit behind. With a great kick over the last lap, she gained back the time she needed and finished a strong 5th place at 10:58!

As I stated above, we are so proud and honored to work with such a wonderful group of student athletes. Each of you is truly an important member of this training group. You support each other, and make each other better athletes and human beings. None of you would be achieving the things you are without your sisters in speed!

What a great week and keep running!

Coach Horton

Training Plan
Monday Core 
Meet Schedule (Updated)

Training Plan (Triton recap to come)

Athletes,

Please see the training plan and Monday Core/Strength linked below.

Keep running,
Coach Horton

Training Plan
Revised Monday Core

South County Classic Recap. Aliso Practice Meet and the Triton Invite

Athletes,

We’ll I think it is safe to say that the South County Classic was a resounding success! The high level of competition brought out the best in the athletes that raced, and our team can be very proud of their efforts!

The 3200 got things started off with a bang. After coming through the first lap at 5:20 pace, and the mile at sub 6:00, it would have been very easy for Belle to “crater” over the last mile, but instead, she ran 6:14 for the second mile and a very impressive 12:13 for her very first 3200. I see sub 12:00 in the near future!

The 1600 was a “barn-burner” from the gun. Hana jumped right onto the shoulder of El Toro’s Hannah Tobin, one of the best distance runners in the state, while Chandler had a poor start, almost fell, and found herself in last place half way through the first lap. 100m into the race, Hana lost a shoe, yet never wavered in her position as the laps clicked by. Chandler worked her way back toward the front pack as she recovered from the troubled first lap. With 300m to go, Hana decided that it was time to move and quickly put a 10m gap on Tobin. The El Toro runner battled back and pulled even with 75m to go, and was able to eek out a 2 second win with Hana coming in 2nd at 5:01 (a state of California elite mark). Chandler soon followed in 5:10 (a 6-second pr). Gutsy running from both of our athletes, which bodes well for the future!

In the 800m, Rylee had a tough first lap, but as you have heard me say time and time again, mental toughness goes a long way in distance running. As she came through 400m, Rylee saw that the first lap was slow (75) and she was out of contention, which are two things that could crush the confidence of a lesser runner. In addition, she was being jostled and almost crashed to the track. Did she give up? No way! She battled for position and ran a 69 second last lap to score a 1-second pr and a 5th place. Gutsy running again! To top things off, Rylee came back and ran 60-flat as the anchor for the 4x400 team!

The night would not have been complete if it were not for the teammates that showed up to support their sisters. Giving up a Friday night to hang out at a track meet is a pretty big sacrifice, but that’s what teammates do! In addition to competing, being on a team is about creating memories, supporting each other, and developing friendships that can last a lifetime. Thank you to Brittany, Katelyn, Nicole, Renee, and Sara B. for helping make it a great night!

Please see the training schedule for info about this week's meets.

Keep running,

Coach Horton

Training Plan

Practice Meet Recap & Looking Forward

Athletes,

Let me begin by saying how impressed I am with the hard work and dedication you have invested in the season so far. It never ceases to amazing me that you guys show up day after day with smiles on your faces ready to train hard!

As with all meets, there were races to be celebrated, lessons to be learned and challenges to overcome. From Belle's solo win, to our group dominating the 800 and 1600, we had many successes. As we move forward, I challenge you all to find it within yourselves to push through the pain of racing. You are all fit right now, and with the proper mental approach, each of you can unlock the speed and endurance necessary to set PRs and attain goals. You must believe in yourself, your teammates, and your coaches!

I'm still waiting on the schedule for Friday night and Saturday. As soon as they are available, I'll post them here.

Below you'll find the link to Monday's CORE/STRENGTH workout. Please complete it before leaving on your run. at 2:40. I'll meet you on Pico by Pico Park.

Keep running,
Coach Horton


Training Plan
Monday's CORE

Mustang Roundup Recap & Training Plan

Athletes,

Overall, the Mustang Roundup meet at Trabuco Hills was a success! We had PRs, big gains, and super competition! TRACK IS BACK!!!!

As we discussed, each race you participate in is like an investment into your running experience account. Racing well requires that you come to the start line physically prepared to clash with your competition, but it also demands that you are mentally prepared as well. This is the aspect that most commonly keeps runners from reaching their full potential. When the going gets rough, remember to focus on the workouts and hard work you have completed, the strength you have developed, and the fact that your competition is hurting too! As we move on to our  next races, keep this in mind and use this knowledge and experience to dig deep and compete on the last lap.

The Huntington Beach meet on Thursday is a practice meet and we will not be tapering for it. We have much bigger and more important goals later in the season, so we will be training through this meet. We will discuss what races each of you will be doing on Tuesday.

Keep running!
Coach Horton

Training Plan
Dual Meet Order of Events

Training Plan 2/20-26 & Mustang Roundup Schedule

Athletes,

For the meet on Saturday, please try to arrive no later than 1.5 hours before your scheduled race. For the 1600 runners, I'm sure your teammates who are running the 800 would love to have you  there to cheer them on!

Trabuco Hills High School
8:18am 3200 Varsity (Chandler)
11:17am 800 Frosh/Soph (McKenna)
11:25am 800 Varsity (Chandler/Rylee)
12:46pm 1600 Frosh/Soph (Belle/Renee
1:01pm 1600 Varsity (Hana/Nicole/Yareli)

Keep running!
Coach Horton






Training Plan

El Toro Recap & Training Plan

Athletes,

Coach Eisele and I were happy with the "rust buster" races this weekend at the El Toro meet. The first race back is always a shock to the system, but you all ran well! Some equaled or set new pr's, while others were at or near the front competing. TRACK IS BACK!

Please make sure that you are eating well, hydrating, and getting enough rest as we get closer and closer to the regular season. You guys are working hard, and these things are important to your success. Also, we'd like you to reflect on the goals you have set for yourselves this season. Racing is difficult, and you need to work on preparing yourself for the physical and mental challenges you'll be facing during the season as you strife to achieve your goals.

Keep running,
Coach Horton

Training Plan
Track Meet Schedule

Pre-Season Training Assessment & El Toro All-Comers

Athletes,

Your recent training has indicated that you guys are getting both physically and mentally strong! We am really impressed with your positive attitudes toward the hard work and the teamwork you have been exhibiting during practice. Keep up the great work!

On Saturday the 11th, we'll be running the E Toro All-Comers meet as a fitness test. Most will be running the 1600 (the first event of the day after the toddler dash) and then getting a little workout after your race. Amy S. and Rylee will be running the 800 a little later in the morning. Please bring a towel or blanket to sit on and a lunch. If you  can't stay for the 800 (11:00ish), we can possibly set up a carpool. Please remember to bring $5 cash for the entry fee.

I also wanted to give you a reminder about safety on the road. Coach Eisele and I do our best to plan training runs with as little "on road" time as possible, but the rain has made it difficult, so please keep your eyes on the road!

Keep running,
Coach Horton

Training Plan
El Toro Registration

Getting Closer & Getting Stronger

Athletes,

We are now five weeks into preseason base training and you are getting stronger each day. Please remember that consistency is the #1 variable in getting faster and staying healthy. With this in mind, it is important that you make every effort to attend practice, and if you can't, please communicate the reason for your absence to Coach Horton or Eisele before the workout. You owe it to yourself, your teammates and your coaches.

I also wanted to remind you about the content of the contract you signed at the beginning of preseason training.  It is imperative that the athletes in our group set a good example for the other girls. This means that you take your training seriously, arrive to attendance on time, be respectful to all coaches and athletes on the track team, and simply exhibit behavior that others can look up to and emulate. We want to make our school and community a better place.

Please see the training plan link below and put the El Toro All-Comers meet taking place on  February 11 on your calendar.

Keep running,
Coach Horton

Training Plan
Goal Setting & Contract

Back to School

Athletes,

You've all put in strong and committed efforts over Winter Break to begin building your base for track season. As we roll into a new year and semester, it will be important for you to stay focused on both your academics and athletics. Remember to stay in communication with your coaches about aches or pains and any times that you will be missing practice.

I have included links below to the next two weeks of training (please not the all-comers meet in Huntington Beach on the 21st) and the schedule of meets. Please take a moment to share these dates with your parents so you can plan accordingly. Also, for most athletes, we will continue to have Friday and Sundays as rest days. Mondays (occasionally), Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays will generally be quality workout days, so please attempt to schedule appointments on Wednesdays or Fridays when possible.

Finally, the Joshua Tree highlight video is linked below.

Keep running,
Coach Horton

Training Plan
Track Schedule
Goal Setting & Contract
Joshua Tree Video

Joshua Tree Recap & WInter Break Training

Athletes,

Our Second Annual Joshua Tree Mini-Camp was a great success! We completed some great training, did some rock climbing, and didn't get frostbite! I firmly believe that our group is a "sisterhood" and our trip has forged/strengthened a bond between you that will bind you together through fond memories and fun adventures. 

The week's training plan is also linked below.

Keep running,
Coach Horton

Training Plan 
Hip Strengthening and Stretching #1
Hip Strengthening and Stretching #2
Hip Strengthening and Stretching #3
Hip Strengthening and Stretching #4

J Tree Video
Track Meet Calendar