This year the NB3FIT XC program went virtual for the first time this fall. Due to the pandemic, Cross Country was postponed just like many other youth sports. However, we wanted the youth to be active during this time even if we couldn’t be there in person. Going virtual was not an easy decision, but we knew we wanted to provide a way for new and veteran runners to still participate in a XC program safely.
In preparation, curriculum was created and workout videos were recorded. These videos included a dynamic warm up, cool down stretches, and circuit training follow-along videos recorded by our own coaches and staff.
Forty youth registered from Santa Ana, Jemez, San Felipe, Santo Domingo,  Acoma Pueblos and Navajo Nation. For six weeks, parents received a workout plan for the runners to complete for the week. The runners were asked to practice three times a week, completing two runs, a circuit training and attend a check in with the coaches. These check in’s were a time for the coaches to interact with the athletes and do various fun activities such as running games, “Team Time”, meditation and other leadership activities. To assist in keeping track of the runners’ progress, each one received a FitBit. Coaches challenged the athletes to achieve 10,000 steps a day and because of this, the kids all together totaled over 9 million steps! Top 3 with the most steps were Julyssa Montoya, Sandia Pueblo with 468,984 steps; Quinton Begay, Jemez, San Felipe, Navajo, with 458,313 steps; and Lisa Leon, Santa Ana Pueblo, with 446,129 steps!
It is incredible what these runners achieved in six weeks and all the coaches are so proud of them.
It wouldn’t have worked how we imagined without the help and support from the parents. Thank you to them and their runners for being apart of this first Virtual XC experience. We hope next season will be in person!
