It's not too late to join the GTD Fall Session. Track sessions on Tuesday evenings. Weekly outline of training to meet your goal for the season.
Select a racing or maintenance goal.
For program information and sign-up steps, go here:
Sign-up Steps
Cross-Country and Speed & Conditioning Programs
Fernando Braz's summer training programs for scholastic athletes -- often called Braz Camp-- concluded in mid-August. The XC program in Peabody expanded to 8 weeks, with 6 onsite, and the All-Sports program provided 7 weeks of training, with 5 onsite. The Merrimack program in Andover combined xc and all-sports conditioning on 10 Monday evenings.
It was the most successful summer for all the programs, with the athletes responding to the progressive training model with increased effort and focus, week to week. The goal is to prepare each athlete for a competitive sports season coming up -- at the high school, collegiate, and middle school levels.
With the expansion of the XC program, participation sky-rocketed by 25%, drawing a very large group of talented North Shore and Merrimack Valley runners.
Cross-Country Program Report by Arianna Maida
After five summers of XC training with Going the Distance I can certainly say that I have become a better runner and stronger person thanks to the speed and conditioning program.
Coach Braz and his staff really believe in every athlete and will go above and beyond to make sure that they properly prepare you for a successful cross country season. Fernando always simply asked for nothing but our own personal best effort, and that's all that mattered as long as we gave it our all each morning.
I always left the session feeling proud of what I accomplished after each workout, knowing that I was gaining endurance and perseverance, two qualities that are helpful on and off the xc course. Each session was not only another workout or run, it was also educational. Over the years I learned a lot about myself, my running, and the sport that I will cherish forever. Thank you Going the Distance for a great run!
Arianna Maida was a 12-season distance runner for the Bishop Fenwick Crusaders. She holds the Fenwick 5k course record with a time of 19:07. In her senior year, she was captain of the xc, winter track, and spring track teams. She qualified for the xc All States meet in all four years of high school and finished 26th in the state in her senior year with a time of 18:11 on the 2.9 mile course. Arianna won the Catholic Central League championship in her senior year, and finished 5th at the Eastern Mass. Div. 6 race with a personal 5k best time of 19:02.
In winter track she was the Tri-County League champion in the 1000 meters with a personal best time of 3:11. She was 4th at the Div. 5 state meet in the mile with a personal best time of 5:20, and finished 20th in the mile at the All-State meet. Arianna went to the New Balance Nationals in her freshman year for the freshman mile, with a qualifying time of 5:21.
In spring track of her senior year, Arianna ran her personal best 2 miler, 11:42. She finished 4th in the mile at the Div. 4 State Meet, qualifying for the All-States meet, where she ran 5:25 to finish 23rd in the state.
The Salem News named Arianna an All-Star in seven seasons, and in 2014 they honored her as the Salem News Student-Athlete of the year for Bishop Fenwick. She won Outstanding Performer awards for Bishop Fenwick in 8 of 12 seasons and was voted by her teammates for the team award for three seasons. Arianna received an award in memory of an outstanding distance runner and first female runner at Fenwick, Margaret McNiff. Arianna held a 4.6 GPA at Fenwick, was a member of the National Honor Society for three years, and was class president for the class of 2014 in all four years of high school.
Arianna is attending the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in the fall of 2014.
Going the Distance is a coaching service for runners at all levels.
If you know someone who might benefit from the Going the Distance program,
tell them about us, and forward The Little Things to them.
Visit our website -- Going the Distance
Head Coach -- Fernando Braz
Assistant Coach -- Annie Starrett
Webmaster and Director -- Dave Smith
For more information, contact Dave at dave@goingthedistancefb.com
