In the third week of school, we start running to (or at) the boathouse.  We do it for the rest of the year, except perhaps in the week leading to State Championships.  The run has two simple purposes:

1. Get to the boathouse safely and efficiently. Some of our students can only reach practice via run/walk/bike.  Therefore, it must be safe and efficient.
2. Train our cardio. Do not push yourself too hard; this is blue/green (UT2/1) work.  Do not lollygag.  Your teammates are training in this time block, you will too.

The pre-practice run/cardio can take one of three forms.

1. Run/walk from the Granby High School study hall to the boathouse.
2. Stay near the boathouse after being dropped off or parking your car in the park.  Run/walk around the ball field and/or do calisthenics next to the boathouse.
3. Obtain written permission to reach the boathouse by bike or on-foot from a different starting point.

The run/cardio will have a specific structure.

1. Each athlete’s pre-practice cardio must comply with the practice arrival policy.
2. Every student owes at least 15min of cardio before going on the water, unless told otherwise that day by a coach.  If running is not an option, do something else to challenge your lungs/heart/mitochondria.
3. We cannot force you to run to/at practice.  But members of the team run because it makes us faster.  If you walk instead of run, you are either incapable of running (signed note from family required), you are making the choice not to work hard to improve, or you just got injured.  If a fourth reason keeps you from running, this must be fully discussed with the Head Coach so the Study Hall Coach can then expect your special circumstances.
4. Those doing cardio near the boathouse will only do so after at least one other student is present.  Until then, that student is to remain in their car at the park.
   1. Cals next to the boathouse must be done in view of those running the field.
   2. Arrival at 1510 is ideal to ensure completion with the rest of the team.
5. Cardio will be done on public property, using legal crossings and safe surfaces.
6. Students running from study hall must run in groups.  The minimum group size is two.  Groups must stay together.  No individual can be more than 30ft away from another in their group.  Once departing in a group, students remain in that group.
   1. Each of the groups leaving study hall will be released at times that should result in everyone reaching the end of the run together.
   2. The pace of each group is set by the slowest person in that group; not that person’s maximum speed, but their efficient pace.  That can be a brisk walk.
   3. Should a member of a group be injured during the run and need to slow/stop, the group will remain together.
   4. Students arriving too late to study hall to run with their pace group will not be allowed to join a faster group. The school office has a place students can wait to be picked up.  They will be sent there, with the expectation that they will get a ride home, or to the boathouse (see the arrival policy).
   5. Students unable to meet these standards will be sent to the office so they can be picked up to go home.
7. Physical therapy on the same day as practice will meet the cardio requirement.  Personal training or school PE completed more than 1hr before practice does not.
8. If you’re unable to do any form of cardio (minimum of a vigorous walk or equivalent calisthenics), you probably should not row that day.  Keep that in mind.

— Note 1:  The team does not have the resources to deviate from the established run structure.  Students who cannot (due to injury/other reason) or choose not to adhere to these standards will be required to get to practice by other means.

— Note 2:  The team does not have the resources at practice to monitor students unable to fully participate.  Under most circumstances, carrying students in the coaching launch reduces the capacity of that boat to act in emergencies.  We don’t have extra coaches to stay on land.  Students that cannot complete the run (as defined above) should not be at practice.

— With regards to inconsistent cardio participation, we approach this with an appropriate degree of caution, but also a necessary amount of skepticism.  We recognize that unforeseen circumstances may affect your ability to meet standards.  When that is the case, notify the coaches immediately.  Fail to do so often enough, and the “boy who cried wolf” paradigm will apply.  If your run participation is suspect, we will notify you.  One additional warning will be provided before corrective action is taken.