Parents, you can help

As one ex-XC runner put it so well: "I believe that it is worth all the time and effort to run Cross Country, and it's one of the best things in the world to run a great race and to have had your mom or dad there to see you do it." A great race is a race they have given all they have by the finish line.

Parents are a big part of the success of the MV XC team. Students are NOT allowed to drive to meets, carpools driven by parents are the only transportation to get all the runners to the various meets. Driving to the meets also provides the great opportunity for you to witness your sons or daughters challenging themselves and be proud of their accomplishments. These students put in a lot of efforts for XC and having the parents cheering for them at the meets will be a great reward for them.

We need all parents to get involved and support the team to make this a great experience for your students! It's awesome to see all these kids come out and run their hearts out. As parents are needed to provide carpools to meets, many parents also establish friendship through this sport their students love and are connected with the runners on the team. It is the Monta Vista spirit at its highest seeing all the runners suited in purple and white uniforms, one after another passing in front of the cheering parents and teammates. It's just a great experience for the students and families alike.

Since we'd need to coordinate about 30 carpools for each meet, we need EVERY parent's support. If each family can drive at least 3 meets, we'd have the season covered. If possible, we prefer to not fill the car to its full capacity so the kids can ride more comfortably, especially on out-of-town meets. However, it all depends on how many drivers we get for each meet.

When driving carpools, drivers will meet the students at the MV bus circle before the designated time listed in the schedule page. We have a simple first-come-first-served system. When the car pulls up, the runners will already be suited in the MV uniforms and waiting for the ride. Your son or daughter can help get the MV runners loaded in your car. Once your car is full, you are ready to take off for the meet. Please come prepared with the directions to the meets (see schedule page for links to maps & directions). We are pretty much on time and usually all cars leave the bus circle within 5 minutes of the designated time.

The students are advised to remember their carpool parents so they'd return in the same car. The drivers will make sure their riders are accounted for on return trips (students, if you have a separate ride home, you need to tell your driver who took you there. This is common courtesy!)

Parents, please Come out and Watch: Come to the meets to cheer for your students. These students put in a lot of efforts for XC and having the parents present at the meets cheering for them will be such great reward for them, (and the experience is equally rewarding for the parents.) Nothing compares to finishing a hard race and have your parents witnessing it and be there for you.

Bring Treats for the athletes: On the day of the meet, the students will eat a light breakfast before the run, pack their own water and lunch for after the run. Kids really appreciate it if you can provide snacks for after the race as treats for the MV runners. This is totally voluntary and you can bring whatever is convenient for you if you choose to participate. Things people brought for the after-race snacks included: bagels, donuts, cookies, cut up watermelon, cut up oranges, grapes, banana, power bars, etc.

Recommendation for the meets:
For student: In addition to their uniforms, running shoes, water bottles windbreaker/sweats, the students are recommended to bring or have access to: T-shirt to change (for after the race), sunblock, towel, toilet paper (many times, the restrooms run out of them), extra pair of socks (many meets are in early morning, on grassy fields and the shoes & socks tend to get wet).