San Leandro Summer Practice

Todd Tokubo went out to San Leandro's summer practice, home of the Pirates! San Leandro is located in the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area. League: WACC (in the Foothill division with Berkeley, Castro Valley, Alameda, Bishop O'Dowd)

- Returning seniors are Jmel Tesfai and Violet Lau lead their team

Q&A - by Assistant Coach James Maes

How often does the team practice?

So as an organized group we practice three days a week. Three days a week and then many of these kids are doing stuff on the weekends as well. The three days a week we're on campus and then we're a mile away from Lake Chabot.

What are some of the special summer activities that you do as a group?

As a group, I know organized-wise we'll do runs down at Oyster Bay. We do organized runs there. Some kids get together and do individual camps.

The tough part really is with kids that are working and leading summer camps on their own. Getting everybody together on the weekends can be tough.

How do you build team culture?

The great thing about cross-country is it's inclusive, and everybody can show up and everybody has a place to be. Coach Doan is really good about building that team culture. Uou see we do stretches all together.  We try to finish at the same time. Even the top guys, we'll start them earlier so we finish as a group.

We do a fun run, a mid-season fun run, a glow run where the kids get to come out at night.  It's kind of almost like a disco party in the light sticks and dress up. Kids will show up in the fun run dressed up in costumes. And then a year-end picnic we'll have at a park somewhere where the coaches serve the kids.

What are some events that the team is looking forward to in the fall season?

We will be making a trip down to Mount Sac for sure. And that is a big goal for kids as they do the build into October. The local invitationals are great because it's a repeatable course and they can go for their PR. I saw one of the kids has an NCS shirt here.

So, what are some of the events that you guys normally go to?

All the NCS meets. Last year we did Ed Sias.  I think we'll do it again. We've done Scott Bauhs before, and that's a fun race as well.  We've done Woodbridge. We're trying to get in on that one this year. We're on a waitlist, but we're shooting for Mount Sac for sure.

Look for the photo gallery at Todd's Instagram account @todd.sports.photos