TWR
Middle School Programs
The TWR Middle School Program has three seasonal components:
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All of the TWR Middle School programs are intended for Wilde Lake, Harper's Choice, and Dunloggin Middle School students who are considering running distance events in high school. New members who register for this program will be joining the current team of TWR Middle School runners from WLMS, HCMS, and Dunloggin.
Information for Parents and Guardians
The TWR middle school programs meet year round. The Fall Cross Country program runs from September through November. The Winter Running program picks up right after the Fall Cross Country season and runs through mid-March and the Spring/Summer Track program runs from mid-March through the summer. There is considerable overlap among the programs and athletes are welcome to join at any time. All of the programs focus on distance running and both the Winter Running and Spring/Summer Track programs include elements of track and field with cross country running.
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Joining the team does not mean you are committing to participate in every program throughout the year. Participation in only one or two seasons during any given year is acceptable. Some of our athletes will participate in the Fall XC season and sit out the Winter Running season, for example. We don't mind: it's all good. While we believe consistency is important for becoming an accomplished distance runner, our program is focused on learning about distance running and having fun doing it.
The middle school team meets two or three times per week. On weekdays, the practices will start at 4:00pm or 5:00pm, depending on the season. Saturday practices typically begin at 3:00pm. We usually run on the Wilde Lake High School campus, on the grass practice fields or the track. Occasionally, we go off campus for a run at Wilde Lake Park or in the surrounding neighborhoods.
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There will be opportunities for athletes, who are interested, to compete in youth cross country races and track meets. Participation in races and meets is not required, but for those thinking about running in high school, the races and meets can serve as a good introduction to competition.
Registration for the middle school program is $35 and covers participation in the TWR programs for the entire calendar year. The registration fee is used to sign the athlete up for a USATF membership.
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To reserve your child's spot in the TWR middle school program, click on the Registration button below. After you have reserved a spot, Coach Griffiths will be in contact to welcome you to the team and to explain payment and participation details.
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Program Goals
To provide a chance for middle school students who are interested in running at the high school level to learn about and train for high school cross country and distance track running and to become familiar with the training routine they will follow in high school.
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To form bonds with future teammates; to allow middle school students to run together as a team and to get to know one another socially before moving on to run at the high school level; to ease the transition to high school by establishing a cohort of friends who will move together to the high school level.
​To help students find where running, fun, and appreciation of athletics intersect in their lives.
​To help athletes understand how goal-setting can help them get the most enjoyment out of running.
To help athletes begin to set short- and long-term goals to improve their enjoyment of physical activities.
To help athletes assess and understand their physical abilities.