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FALL 2004 GIRL'S ROSTER

FALL 2004 BOY'S ROSTER

HOME COURSE

Located on the corner of Woodmere and Vernor highway is our home course, named after General George S. Patton. Within walking distance is the massive Ford Rouge assembly complex, home of the Ford Mustang.

Patton Park is 2.2 miles all the way around, and the course consists of several loops within the middle. It can be quite a challenge to navigate, since the City of Detroit only cuts the grass once or twice a summer and the course can be littered with abandoned cars, dumped building materials and deep car ruts. If you seek a course worthy of an Indiana Jones adventurer-type athlete, you've found it!

While the park and course often prove to be a challenge, they've proven to be a home for the team. The City of Detroit has planned several improvements to the park which should make it more pleasing for neighborhood residents and any visitors.

TRAINING

Running cross-country in an urban environment like Detroit presents several challenges. The foremost of these being, "where to run?" In answer to this, several alternate sites to Patton Park, our home course, have been developed.

Among the more popular of the distance runs is the infamous "stop and drop" workout from either Belle Isle Park or Fairlane Mall. First, the cross-country athletes get into the school van (affectionately known as the "Hebrew Hooptie") and drive to either Belle Isle or Fairlane. From these locations, the athletes make their way back to either Patton Park or Holy Redeemer High School.

The Belle Isle run is approximately 7 miles and the Fairlane run is about 5 miles. A recently added distance course involves running from Holy Redeemer High School to Belle Isle and back (a 13 mile run). So far the only athletes who have ever completed this massive 13 mile run are (drum roll please): Dave Gonzalez, Juan Serrata, Diego Gomez, Aztec Romero, Drazen Pecovic, Roberto Benitez, Patrick Herity and Coaches Ron Maynor, Pat Irwin and Erin Irwin.

During the cross-country season, the workouts are segmented into 4 equal lengths:

1. Quarter mile repeats &distance
2. Hill repeats & distance Mile repeats
3. 1/2 mile repeats & distance
4. Short speed work (dashes, quarters, Indian Trails) & distance

Additional methods may be employed throughout the season based on team cohesion and performance.