Thumbs Up for Coach Allman's quick recovery!

                             We miss you Coach Allman, get well soon!

                          Bulldog Cross Country 2014 - Record Setting year with 63 runners!

Uniform Day at practice!

The racing season draws near and the excitement grows! Tomorrow we will be handing out the uniforms for our Bulldog harriers.  Please have your harrier or harriers try on the uniforms soon and we will do our best to adjust sizes if at all possible.

We also have the first shipment of  "The Shirt" in and ready to go.  We have received 77 of the 111 shirts that we have ordered.  We ordered early based on registration and we had a bunch more kids register, yehaa!!  With that in mind, there is a back order for more recent registrations and a couple of sizes as well.  There are no extra small sizes and no adult large sizes yet, but they will be in soon. Please remind your kids, if their shirt is not yet in, it will not be long.  The adult shirts are $7 each, but for the XXLs, which are $8.50. (checks can be made out to the school - restricted sports)

NUTS AND BOLTS and Meet Day Volunteers
*Please make sure your registration paperwork is all set with the office before practice tomorrow.  The kids will not be able to practice going forward without their completed paperwork on file.

*Please send your child with a bottle of water.  It is very hot and we do not have enough extra bottles to go around for all the kiddos.

* Meet Day Coaches - First, thank you all for helping with practice and the treats for the kids.  This experience for the kids could not happen with out all of us coming together.  With that in mind, we have a few volunteer options for meet days.  Please see Laura Gibala at practice for sign ups.
    - Meet day tent organization including check in and numbering as well as after race popsicles
    - Transition coaches for getting kids from the tent to the warm up area on the track
    - Warm up coaches for last minute pep talks, stretching and strides
    - Course coaches (everyone who is not doing something else :))  We number each runner and all
       parents will have a list so you can cheer each Bulldog on by name
    - Finish line coaches - in charge of timing and place keeping

Thanks again to you all - See you soon

"Run for Fun and Personal Bests"

Coach Donnelly

PS - If you ever have any questions please do not hesitate to comment here, email, text or call

A message from Coach Allman, Tailgate Day and some nuts and bolts

Good morning St. Joseph Harriers!

I have been in touch with Coach Allman and he wanted me to make sure that all the and kids knew that he missed them tremendously and can't wait to get back out to practice.  He is working on his own recovery as fast as he can and is looking forward to getting his running shoes back on and getting the big kids up and down those hills!

St. Joseph Tailgate is tonight at 6pm at the St. Joseph practice field and cafeteria.  Please come out with your lawn chairs and coolers, it will be a great time and our varsity runners will be introduced! K through 7th will bring a side dish or appetizer and 8th grade will be bringing condiments for burgers and hot dogs, which will be provided.  

Congrats to many years of great running to our Varsity kids, Annabelle Leddy, Jake Shaver, Rebecca Lydon, Hayley Bennett, Luke Kroeger and Ethan Donnelly.

** Important Cross Country NUTS & BOLTS:  First, it is still very hot so please make sure your kids are drinking plenty of water the day before practice and also send them to school with a water bottle for practice days.

Second - * Paperwork is due *  The registration form, physical and fee are due to the school office before practice on Tuesday 8/26.

Two more weeks until our first meet September 7th!

"Run for fun and personal bests" Al Carius

Find Your Greatness

Prayer request for Coach Allman

Good evening All,  I write tonight to ask for your prayers for coach Allman and his family.  Coach was involved in a serious car accident today when he was struck by a driver who was texting while driving. Thank you Lord, Coach is home and recovering.  We all are hoping and praying for a quick recovery.

Prayers reaching out to you and your family tonight Coach Allman - Your Cross Country Family

Coming soon... "The Shirt 2014"

Why do we run ..... ramblings from coach Donnelly

We all have those people in our lives that we look up to for guidance, inspiration or motivation.  For me in running, it all started when I was seven years old in Peoria, Illinois.  It was a mile race around the mall.  My first race.  I was running because my older brother was also running that day and it was a pretty cool thing to do (be like my big brother).  Years later, I think back very fondly of that early moment in my running life.

I am thinking tonight about all the kids that will be having their first race of their lives soon, and or the first race of this season. I ponder all the many reasons why they are all coming out to run cross country this season and hope they too will someday look back fondly on these days as some of the first steps in their running lives.  The memories are sweet!

So we have the chance to let our children know their gifts (running being one of them) and create memories of a lifetime.  God has given us all an amazing opportunity this season to impact these kids for the better and possibly the rest of their lives.  You see, running can evolve into a life style, and something you can always fall back on during your life.

Quotes from two of my favorites.  These are two other runners that have greatly influenced me along the way.

  "Run for Fun and Personal Bests"  Al Carius

 "To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift"   Steve Prefontaine

Go get em Bulldogs - Coach Donnelly

See you all at practice tomorrow after school!

A quick Reminder - The first after school practice is tomorrow!

Have your kids bring shirts, shorts, shoes and a water bottle.  The kids will go direct from their class rooms to the gym to change clothes in their respective dressing areas.  We will then move to the grass field around 3:30 and have some fun in the sun until 5pm.

See you soon!   GO BULLDOGS!

Happy Summer, Bull Dog Nation!

It is that time of year again…. Yes, Cross Country time!  Cross Country at St. Joseph is open to Kindergarten through 8^th grade.  The only sport for K through 2^nd grade!  So, this is your opportunity to join the team and suit up for your St. Joseph Bull Dogs.  No prior experience required and parents are encouraged to come get fit with their kids at practice and carry it on during off days at home.

The season has begun and the next practice will be TOMORROW Tuesday August 5th at 4:30 PM until 6 PM.  Even though practice has started you have plenty of time to sign your Bulldog or Dogs up!  We will not have practice Thursday this week due to round up day.  When school begins, practice will shift to directly after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays until 5 PM.  We ask that the kids please bring a water bottle, as it will be hot.

More VOLUNTEER Coaches also NEEDED - Thank you to all of those who have already helped and have signed up to help with popsicles.  There are just a few open dates left. (see the line up to the right)

We will also be in need of any and all parents to help at practice and during the meets.  Practice help will include being a motivator and helping the team mom.  Meet day coaching help will include timers at the finish line, tent coaches to help organize the kids getting ready to go to the course, and coaches to help in prerace warm up and stretching at the start line.  (no experience needed just a great attitude!) There will be more to come and please feel to reach out with any questions. 

The season schedule is not yet out from the Diocesan Athletic Council (DAC) but we expect the 4 meets to be each of the 4 Sundays in September just like last year.  We will be watching for updates and get them out as soon as possible.  Please feel free to check the Diocesan Athletic Council website for updates as well.  http://www.nashvilledac.com/home

The regular meet format is as follows, grouping and distances for each age group will be:

 1^st, 2^nd & 3^rd races                   K Boys and Girls, 1-2 G,  1-2 B Race             3/4 mile                                     4^th, 5^th, 6^th & 7^th races           3-4 G, 3-4 B, 5-6 G, 5-6 B                       1 mile                              

 8th & 9^th races                         7-8 G  & 7-8 Boys                                     1 1/2 miles                                            

We are still working to get the order ready for Cross Country T-shirts.  Thank you to those who have already sent in your information.  We are doing this now so that the kids can wear their shirts for special days at school and wear them to practice during the season, too.  The kids shirts will be provided at no cost.  

We are also looking to include adult sizes in the order so we can all support the team with some Blue and Gold!   If you are interested please contact us with your sizes.  Pricing for the T-Shirts for the parents is still being worked out and we expect the range to be from $7 to $10.  (deadline and pricing to be updated ASAP)

Please also see the following link for your sign up and medical forms.  We need to try to have these turned into the office for all Student Athlete’s as soon as possible.

http://www.stjosephnashville.org/images/SJ_School/PDF_Files/ATHLETIC_REG_FORM_revised_8_17_11.pdf

Thank you all for helping this year - Coach Donnelly and Coach Allman!

Coach Donnelly – sntdonnelly@gmail.com   615-596-5057

Coach Allman – allman429@hotmail.com 615-260-8589