September 13, 2026
The New Normal and Coaching Abundance
With no meet to recap this week, Coach’s Corner takes a different direction—one that touches on perspective, reflection, gratitude, and an important health topic that every distance-running family should understand. A meet rundown will go out midweek with information on the upcoming Katie Caples Invitational.
We have been slowly building mileage all season long. Along with that increase in base we’ve added more intense workout days. When we are not having a cutback week, each weekly training plan is harder than the one before it. Athletes may think there’s no way they can handle the volume and intensity, but they show up, put in the work and get through the plan. What once felt impossible is now just an ordinary Tuesday. – That’s The New Normal.
We have a deep and talented coaching staff. Besides Coach Speed and I, we have Coach Lydia, Coach Vad, Coach Seese, Coach Bella, Coach Coy and our newest, Coach Sean. Eight Coaches! Each coach brings different experiences, perspectives, and strengths to the program, and together they make us better than any one of us could be individually. If you as a parent haven’t met them all, I encourage you to reach out and do so. Last week, we had inspirational words on 9/11, both spoken and written, as well as a new post-run stadium workout with a 9/11 acknowledgement - from just a few of these coaches. Others are often behind the scenes – setting up meets, ordering equipment, writing and participating in post-run workouts. We are fortunate to have each and every one of them.
Even collectively, we coaches do not have all the answers, so we reach out to others when it can help our athletes. We have many parents making contributions, both seen and unseen. All contribute to not only the largest XC program in Florida but the best supported as well.
As examples, we have Mike Ryan, an NFL Hall of Fame member whose daughter will be joining us next year, as well as Tiffany Lommel, a registered dietitian and mother of two current XC athletes. Over the summer training sessions Mrs. Lommel spoke to the team as a whole about nutrition and followed up by providing one-on-one guidance. Countless other parents contribute their time, expertise, resources, encouragement and support in ways that are often unseen.
That spirit of shared knowledge brings us to this week’s health topic: nutrition, specifically iron deficiency in runners. This is more than a minor concern, as a substantial amount of both female and male runners are deficient in their iron needs. Iron deficiency can negatively affect performance and recovery, and significant or prolonged deficiency can have broader consequences for an athlete’s health.
Iron deficiency is an important, and often overlooked, cause of declining performance in endurance runners, particularly but not just female high-school distance runners. Low iron can reduce hemoglobin and oxygen transport, while low ferritin can cause symptoms such as unusual fatigue, heavy legs, slow recovery, declining performance, loss of motivation, and potentially increased injury risk. Comprehensive blood testing that includes serum ferritin, not just hemoglobin, can help with this. The good news is that while it takes time to correct a deficiency, that path is well charted. You as a parent can reach out to your pediatrician/family doctor or ask for the help of a registered dietitian.
In the coming weeks we will be talking to the team about this specific issue. We strongly urge parents to think about their children’s nutrition. In addition to this iron specific deficiency, we know that the body borrows from recovery and development to cover basic needs when undernourished. That is why, as parents of athletes, one of the most important things you can do is make sure your runners are adequately fueled—not just for the workout in front of them, but for recovery, growth, development, and the demands of the entire season. Training builds the athlete, but the athlete can only adapt to that training if the body has the resources it needs.
And on the subject of helping as a parent …
CRAIG SPEZIALE HOME MEET
We are less than 3 weeks away from hosting the 13th annual Craig Speziale Invite!! The success of this meet depends on our volunteers, and there are over 70 volunteer positions still to be filled!!!! No matter what station you sign up for, you will get to see your athlete running. If you have any questions about the different roles, please reach out to Stephanie Marciani - 203-623-2502 or [email protected].
Please click to sign up here:
PASTA PARTY INFO
Reminder! This Friday, September 18th, The Carrouth Family will be hosting our first team pasta party! Runners - please remember to bring your own hydration, an appetite and your best behavior. Please and Thank You’s go a long way, and cleaning up after yourselves is appreciated even more! These dinners are for athletes only, unless you are a parent volunteer.
September 18th, 2025 5:30pm-7pm
Sawmill Lakes Clubhouse - 225 N Mill View Way, PVB
For athletes driving, please carpool as there is limited parking at the clubhouse. Street parking is also allowed, but please be mindful of resident’s properties (don’t block their driveways, don’t park on their grass…you get the gist.)
A sincere thank you to Heather Carrouth for hosting! Special shoutouts to Holli Lawrence, Bridget Barket, Katie Yoder, Anne Rubocki, Stephanie Chatraw and Ryan Busch for lending a helping hand. Please note that all pasta parties are catered and fully funded by PVXC thanks to our business and family sponsors.
We are still in need of parent volunteers for the remaining pasta parties on September 25th and October 2nd. Please signup here:
Coming Soon: “Sunday Reset and Restore”
We’re excited to offer an optional recovery class for our runners at Momentum
Fitness. Sunday Reset will be a relaxed session focused on stretching,
mobility, recovery, and giving your body a chance to recharge.
More details—including dates and times—are coming soon. This is completely
optional, but a great opportunity to take care of your body and support your
training.
SAVE THE DATE!
END OF YEAR BANQUET - TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1ST, EVENING - PONTE VEDRA HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM - DETAILS TO FOLLOW
