PARKING ALERT!  Because the Herndon Optimist Youth Football Association will be going on during our session, parking will be extremely limited tomorrow night.  Please try to arrive early and please park closer to the school and away from the track.

Thank you for your cooperation!!!

Next week (August 3), we will have our final set of time trials.  Again, depending on the age group, participants will be running 50 meters to 800 meters and timed by electronic clock.  All of our runners will receive a ribbon with their event and their time.

We’re winding down and even though next week will be our last week on the track, the fun doesn’t end there!  We’ll celebrate the season with a pizza party at Lake Fairfax on August 10^th!

Jumping rope, single leg/double leg hopping, skipping, side skipping, jumping jacks, high knees, and butt kicks – these are all examples of little ways you can improve your running!  That’s why we like to include these activities during YIM and they’re officially called “plyometrics”.

In fact, plyometrics are a natural part of most movements.  Plyometrics are exercises that link strength and speed of movement to help build your running power and speed.  They may also help decrease the risk of sports-related injuries by strengthening the little muscles in your legs and feet.

The heat has been crazy, going on 40+ days of heat over 90 with no real end in sight.  During the hottest parts of the day I think it is actually too hot to go outside.  It makes me feel like we are in the middle of a severe storm and stuck inside.  To keep the cabin fever away my kids and I like to cook.  We try to find healthy and yummy ideas to try.  One of our favorites is this simple homemade granola.  We hope that you will try it, add in whatever your family likes, but keep it natural.

Nutty Granola

3 cups rolled oats

½ cup chopped pecans

½ cup chopped almonds

½ cup chopped walnuts

½ cup raisins or other dried fruit

½ cup maple syrup

¼ teaspoon cinnamon

¼ teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 300, line cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Mix all ingredients in large bowl.  Spread evenly on parchment paper.  Cook 30 minutes, mixing ½ way through.  Remove from oven and let cool.  Eat plain or serve with your favorite berries or add yogurt.  (Ellie Krieger)

I would love to hear from you, what is your family’s favorite healthy recipe?  What do you like to make together in the kitchen?  Did you make the granola?  What great ideas did you use to make it your own? Email me and we will post your ideas in a future YIM newsletter.

Brought to you by certified Health Coach and owner of Leafy Greens, Caroline LeCount.  Through simple, small changes you can drastically impact the health of your family.  Let the ripple begin with you.

Please help a local group with the planning and organization of a children's triathlon here in Reston by taking a few seconds to respond to this survey by clicking HERE.

Bit by the running bug?  Do know of youngsters who are interested in running but were not able to get into this summer’s YIM program? If so, Potomac River Running is offering a Summer Youth Track Program, beginning on Sunday, July 11 continuing through August 29. The group will meet from 5:00 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. at South Lakes High School and is open to anyone in grades K-8. For more information or to register, please  click HERE.

Just a reminder:  we hold the session rain or shine.  However, we will not meet if there is lightning in the area or if the temperature is over 100 degrees.  If lightning occurs in the middle of the session, we will cancel for that evening.  When the session has to be canceled due to lightning, everyone will have to leave the area immediately!

We still have some YIM T-shirts (youth Large) and insulated lunchbags for sale at the registration table.  They are 1 for $3 and 2 for $5.

See you all for another great session tomorrow evening!

Mary & Mij