Ocean State Running Camp to Offer Two Summer Sessions
After watching too many kids show up for the high school cross country season in late August without the proper base training, many times simply because they didn’t know how to establish that base, high school cross country coach Clem Soscia and a couple of his colleagues decided to do something about it, establishing the Ocean State Running Camp.
The camp will be held again this summer at Goddard Park in Warwick (directly across from the golf course parking area), but this time it will start later and be broken up into two 2-week sessions _ July 17-28 and Aug. 7-18 _ instead of one 4-week camp.
``This is a change from our first year and was a result of a suggestion from coaches who felt it would be best to offer two shorter sessions with the last session running up to the start of the high school season,’’ said Soscia, adding that runners will need to sign up for one or both sessions separately. ``We do recommend that serious runners consider both.’’
Click here to learn more about the camp.
Open to both high school- and middle school-age boys and girls, the camp will provide instruction on every aspect of distance running. Runners will receive form evaluation through video analysis and learn about proper stretching, strength training and running techniques, as well as information about proper nutrition.
``There is little information out there for the novice runners, and as most kids don’t `play’ town league track, they come into our sport unprepared for the rigor and intensity of it all and wind up either injured, under trained or over trained,’’ said Soscia. ``We thought a summer camp would be a valuable resource, offering new runners an intro to cross country and experienced runners a chance to improve.’’
Each camp will run from 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. In addition, a series of Tuesday Night Fun Runs of 2K, 3K and 5K – which are also open to non-campers for a $5 fee – will be held beginning at 6:30 p.m.
At Goddard Park, the campers will have the benefit of running along shady wooded trails and rolling hills, which is great terrain _ not to mention a safe environment _ for cross country training.
In addition to Soscia, the camp staff will include Cranston West running coach Sheila Lagasse and Coventry coach Michaela Thompson.
Camp counselors will include former high school standouts Audrey Hawkins, who is now competing for George Washington, Becky Webber (Connecticut College) and Alex Sherry (University of Rhode Island), as well as current high school standouts Caroline Ward, of Exeter-West Greenwich, Marissa Hayward of North Kingstown and Samantha Eagleson, Eryn Wheeler and Kaitlin Grimshaw, all of Coventry High School.
The camp costs $125 per session or $250 for both. For information, contact Soscia by e-mail at coachsoscia@yahoo.com or by phone at 401-595-7501.