Ambassador Christian School Cross Country Season Preview

Coach Thomas Morris, a former professional runner himself, has big aspirations for the Ambassador Christian School's cross-country team this season. His primary goal for the team is to instill a love of fitness as a lifestyle in his athletes, while also competing and winning. For Coach Morris, competition is not just about winning but using it as a means to grow and mature as individuals. But beyond winning, Coach Morris is focused on showing his athletes that they are strong and capable and that they should continue to lead an active and healthy lifestyle throughout their lives. With this mindset, Coach Morris and the team at Ambassador Christian School hope to reach new heights this season. One key to success for the team is the selection of team captains. Coach Morris looks for consistency and dedication in his captains. He believes that showing up each day, ready to work regardless of what else may be happening, is an important quality in a captain. Currently, the team is evaluating potential captains and seeing who rises to the challenge during practices and meets. Team chemistry and camaraderie are vital for any successful team. To build this, Coach Morris plans on introducing new challenges and workouts, such as CrossFit-style exercises, to the team's training regimen. Not only will this help with their physical conditioning, but it will also create a team bond through friendly competition. Motivating players to push themselves to their full potential is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Coach Morris believes in knowing and understanding his players on a personal level. This includes praying with them and understanding where they are in their lives. Whether it's running for conditioning or the love of the race, Coach Morris works to motivate each player individually. The biggest challenge for the team this season has been preparing for a new program with a new coaching staff. With changes made within the past year, there are a lot of new elements being added to the team's training and conditioning program. The team is set to compete in six different meets across Los Angeles this season. Each meeting presents its own challenges, and the team is prepared to face them head-on. For Coach Morris, the mental aspect of the game is the most crucial. As a runner, he knows that the mind is often the first to shut down before the body does. Therefore, he places an equal emphasis on training the mind as he does on training the body. In order to improve their overall conditioning, the team is incorporating interval and bodyweight circuit training in addition to their regular runs.