PTCC Banquet Sunday, November 1st!

Turn back your clocks overnight tonight, so you don't miss all the fun at the PTCC Annual Banquet at 1:00 p.m., Sunday, November 1st at St. Benedict the Abbot Church - O'Brien Hall. Buffet dinner served at 1:00 p.m. with program to follow.

Just a reminder that Ryan Moore has produced an awesome DVD presentation of the 2009 Cross Country Season. This will be presented at the banquet and will also be for sale at the banquet for $5.00. (Seniors receive theirs at no charge)

We encourage you to support this sale as Ryan has been very generous with his time and efforts, sorting through thousands of pictures and creating a very well presented show. He is donating all the proceeds to the team.

If you are a team member and did not receive your invitation, please contact Shari De Nardo ASAP at 724.986.5127.

Results from WPIAL Cross Country Championships

Click here for the results from today's championship meet at Cooper's Lake Park.

Great job, runners! We are so proud of you!

UPDATED -WPIAL Cross Country Championships

Varsity runners - here are your race times for the WPIAL Championships at Cooper's Lake Park on the Thursday, October 29:

Dismiss at 11:00 a.m. Bus leaves at 11:15 a.m.

AAA Girls Varsity 2:30 p.m.

AAA Boys Varsity 4:00 p.m.

Click here for more details about the Cross-Country Chsmpionships from the WPIAL.

Results from Tri-State Track Coach's Assn XC Meet

Click here for the results of Thursday's Tri-State Track Coach's Association meet at Coopers Lake Park. What a beautiful day it was!

Hoodie Orders due Monday, Oct. 26!

Hurry! Hurry! Hurry! If you want a PTCC hoodie, get that order form completed and turned in with your payment by Monday, October 26.

Lost your order form? Click on the image at the left, print it, and complete! Cooler weather is here...your PTCC hoodie will keep you warm with all the memories of your terrific cross country season!

Pictures! Pictures! Last call for Pictures!

Pictures from parents or team members for the DVD presentation at the banquet need to be delivered to Ryan Moore (on a disk or flash drive) by Friday October 23rd. Thank you!

Turn in Your Uniforms

Runners - if you are not competing on Thursday, please turn in your uniforms and warm-ups on Tuesday, October 27th RIGHT after school to Mrs. Bakers room. Thank you!

Tri-State Coaches Association Meet

These are the details for our students participating in the Tri-State Coaches Association Meet at Coopers Lake Park on Thursday, October 22, 2009:

Dismissal 1:15 p.m.
Bus departs 1:30 p.m.
Varsity Boys run at 4:00 p.m.
Varsity Girls run at 4:30 p.m.
JV Boys and Girls run at 5:00

Directions to the meet, courtesy of Coach Barr:
From Route 79, get off New Castle/Butler exit 99. At the end of the ramp turn left and go West on Route 422. Travel about 3/10 of a mile and turn right onto Currie Road. Go about 1 mile on Currie Rd and you will be at the campground. This route is the fastest unless there is a tie up on the one lane bridge.

Here is a link to a map if you would like further driving directions.

GO PTCC!!

Running DOES make you smarter!

Coach Barr was right all along....

See this blog post from the New York Times for the scientific evidence.

Run harder, think better!

Washington County Coaches Meet

PTCC returns again to Mingo Creek Park for the Washington County Coaches meet on Monday, October 19, 2009. This will be the last meet of the season for many of our students, so please come out and offer your support!

Times for the races from Coach Barr are:
Girls varsity at 3:00 p.m.
Boys varsity at 3:30 p.m.
Combined JV race will follow at approximately 4:00 p.m.

Directions to Mingo Creek Park are posted below. See you there!

PTCC Homecoming Float - 1st Prize!

Congrats to PTCC for their prize-winning 2009 Homecoming Float! The Moore Family would like to thank all the kids that came to their home and worked so hard to build the float, the kids who came to the parade to walk with the float, and the parents who donated money to make the float happen!

Pasta! Pasta! Pasta!

Hey PTCC Runner!

Get your carbs before the Mingo Classic Meet at a Pasta Party hosted by the Mullans and the Spindlers! The party starts right after practice on Wednesday, October 14 at the Mullan's House at 150 Hemlock Drive.

Directions:
Take WEST McMurray Rd. to bottom of hill and make right onto Oakwood Dr.
Make 1st left onto Hemlock Drive.
We are 2 blocks up on right at corner of Hemlock Drive and Cheshire Lane.

Mingo Classic Meet this week!

Enjoy an autumn afternoon watching PTCC runners at Mingo Creek Park on Thursday, October 15 beginning at 3 p.m. This is one of the most beautiful courses to watch our runners compete - you can enjoy the spectacular fall leaves and see our athletes for most of the course!

Meet schedule:
Dismissal 1:15 p.m.; Bus leaves at 1:30 p.m.
Girls varsity runs at 3:00. Boys varsity runs at 3:30.
Girls jv runs at 4:00. Boys jv runs at 4:30

Here are directions to the meet provided by Shari DeNardo:
1. Take Bebout Road to the intersection with Venetia Road.
2. Make a left at the stop sign onto Venetia Road.
3. Take the first right onto Sugar Run Road and stay on Sugar Run.
4. Travel approx. 2 ½ miles and make left onto Little Mingo Creek Road (to the right it’s Barr Road). At that left you will see 2 landmarks - a large watering can and a small wooden Christmas Tree sign that says Mingo Creek County Park.
5. Travel approx. 2 miles and make a right on Mingo Creek Road.
6. Go approx. 1 mile and look for a covered bridge on left and a road that goes up the hill. Take the right for the road that goes up the hill.
7. Travel ½ mile and make a left where you see a sign that says Ballfield-Historical Bldg. and Playground.
8. Travel and you will arrive in the parking lot with the Cross Country course on right.

Click here for a map of the park.

PTCC Banquet Volunteer Opportunities

Banquet will be held Sunday November 1st at 1:00 at St Benedict the Abbot Church hall.

Thank you in advance for assisting in the preparation for the PTCC annual banquet. As you know, we try to make this a very special day for all the students and reward them for their dedication and hard work. If we all work together with this event it will make it very easy on everyone involved. Please take a minute and review the list below to see if there is anything you might like to assist with. FYI NO STEELER GAME THIS DAY!

COMMITTEES
Invitations and Programs – Shari DeNardo (no others needed)

DVD Presentation – Ryan Moore and seniors team members
WE NEED PICTURES ASAP! Pictures can be on a disc or flash drive and given to Ryan Moore. This is important so that your child’s picture be included in the video we play during the banquet. If you include your name and address the disc or flash drive can be returned if needed. Email questions to Ryan or Teri Moore.

DVD’S and cases for video presentation – donated by Halo family

Senior Picture Boards- Belle Stasenko will provide completed boards. Two volunteers needed to set boards up at banquet as Belle is unable to attend.

Centerpieces – VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Set up at St. Benedicts at 12:00 noon – VOLUNTEERS NEEDED, ESPECIALLY MEN FOR THE TABLES - set up tables, chairs,tablecloths and banquet buffet tables.

Break down when complete – VOLUNTEERS NEEDED, ESPECIALLY MEN FOR THE TABLES – usually takes no more than 30 minutes if we get a team. (NO STEELER GAME THAT DAY)

Check in tables – 3 VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Senior gifts and team gifts –Chris Dinger (team), Mary Liz LaRosa (Senior)

Gift wrapping – VOLUNTEER NEEDED

Coaches gifts – $10 donation needs to be given to team manager, Joy

Pick up Balloons – VOLUNTEER NEEDED – Pick up 18 red and 6 white. Balloons and bring to banquet for set up

Please contact Shari DeNardo if you would like to assist at 724.986.5127 or email her WITHIN 7 DAYS. If you are interested in volunteering for an officer position of the PTCC for next year please let us know.

Runners - You have a day off!

Coach Barr is giving our runners a day off from practice today so they can enjoy this weekend's homecoming activities, BUT he has requested you do run one day over the weekend to continue to prepare for Thursday's Mingo Classic meet! Do it!!

PTCC Banquet is Coming...Save the Date!

Plans are underway for this year's PTCC Banquet to be held on Sunday, November 1, 2009 at 1 p.m. at St. Benedict the Abbot Church. Please mark the date on your calendar - more details will be coming soon!

Homecoming P-Rade Thursday, Oct. 8

PTCC Runners!
Great job today vs. Mt Lebanon!

Please be at Pleasant Valley Elementary School at 6:15 p.m. on Thursday, October 8! The Homecoming P-Rade parade begins at 7 p.m. sharp!

Please wear your red and white warm-ups to show your team spirit. Even if you couldn't help make the PTCC float, we would like the entire team to participate in this event and march in the parade.

Plan on staying after the parade for the bonfire and pep rally so you can bid on our cross country senior slaves.

Donations are still welcome to help cover the float expenses. Any questions contact me.

Shari DeNardo
724.986.5127

PTCC vs. Mount Lebanon today

Buses depart from the school at 2:35 p.m. for Mount Lebanon High School.

Race start time is 4 p.m.

Directions are listed below in the posting from October 5. See you there!

Results from 10.03.09 Invitational

PennTrackXC has posted the results from the Central Catholic Invitational.

Watch video of the Boys Varsity A race posted on PennTrackXC!

Watch video of the Girls Varsity A race posted on PennTrackXC!

Meet vs. Mt Lebanon on Tuesday, Oct. 6

This just in from Coach Barr regarding the meet:
He thinks (and this can change) s will run at 4:00 and boys after that at 4:30. We start the race behind Mt. Lebanon High School by the community pool.

Here are directions to get you to parking by the race area:
From the South Hills take Rt. 19 North into Mt. Lebanon. Continue on Rt. 19 (Washington Rd. in Mt. Lebanon) to Cochran Rd. Make a left onto Cochran Rd. Mt. Lebanon High School will be on your left. Proceed down the hill and turn left onto Cedar Blvd. The tennis courts will be on your left. You will make the first left turn past the tennis courts into Mt. Lebanon Park. Park either in the Municipal Recreation Center lot or up the hill in the high school lot.

At the time of this posting, Coach Barr did not have a dismissal time for the runners. He will give the students that information today.

Today's weather: Mostly sunny and 65 degrees - perfect day to race! GO PTCC!!

The Perfect Post-run Drink!

From Fitness magazine:

Got Milk? Try Chocolate After Your Workout
Downing chocolate milk after a tough workout can help replenish exhausted muscles and significantly aid exercise recovery, new research shows.
By Kelly L. Phillips

Post-Workout Drinks
When it's time to choose a liquid chug after a long, tough workout, there's a slew of options out there. Water? Gatorade, POWERade, or All Sport? Endurox R4? Physiologist Joel Stager, director of the Human Performance laboratory at Indiana University, has even one more potential workout recovery drink to add to the list: chocolate milk. His latest study, published in this month's International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, names this kids' favorite an optimal post-exercise recovery aid.

Before your stomach recoils, take a look at chocolate milk's ingredient list. For a high-endurance athlete, Stager's team sees it as a catch-all workout recovery drink. Compared to plain milk, water, or most sports drinks, it has double the carbohydrate and protein content, perfect for replenishing tired muscles. Its high water content replaces fluids lost as sweat, preventing dehydration. Plus it packs a nutritional bonus of calcium, and includes just a little sodium and sugar -- additives that help recovering athletes retain water and regain energy.

Drinking plain water after exercise replaces sweat losses -- and that's it. "Chocolate milk provides carbohydrate replenishment to your muscles -- something they can metabolize," said Jason Karp, MS, another researcher for this study. "There's nothing to metabolize in water."

Stager's assessment of chocolate milk is even simpler. "It's water plus a whole lot more," he said.

The Case for Carbs
Ready to switch your bottled water for chocolate milk? Assess your workout level first. Downing a post-workout beverage chock-full of carbohydrates isn't just for the weekend tennis player, said Stager -- and that's key. A drink like chocolate milk is most useful to a cyclist, swimmer, or long-distance runner. These sports stress high endurance levels and constant, sustained movement. Competing athletes need high levels of calories, carbs, and protein to sustain that level of performance.

Stager tested out chocolate milk's performance as a workout recovery drink on nine cyclists. In his lab, each athlete biked until exhaustion, and then rested for four hours. During this break, each consumed low-fat chocolate milk, Gatorade, or the high-carbohydrate sports drink Endurox R4. Afterward, they cycled to exhaustion again.

The results were positive. His research team concluded that the athletes who consumed chocolate milk performed just as well or better as those who drank the other beverages. The high carb and protein content in milk make it an incredibly effective recovery drink, Stager said -- even though it's never been marketed as one.
Originally published on FitnessMagazine.com, February, 2006.

Central Catholic Invitational 10.03.09

Here are the details for Saturday's meet from Coach Barr:

The bus is scheduled to leave at 7:30 a.m.

The freshmen boys race at 9:00 a.m.
Varsity s 9:30 a.m.
Varsity boys 10:00 a.m.
JV s 11:30 a.m.
JV boys 12:00 a.m.

The race is at the Schenley Oval, the Central Catholic course.
Click here for a map and directions to the Oval.
They will be selling shirts and snacks at the meet.

GO PTCC!!

Results from 9.29.09 XC Meet

Boys' Cross Country WPIAL Class AAA Section 6
Canon-McMillan 22..........Peters Township 35
Peters Township 28.........Upper St. Clair 31
Canon-McMillan 18..........Upper St. Clair 31

Girls' Cross Country WPIAL Class AAA Section 6
Peters Township 27..........Canon-McMillan 30
Upper St. Clair 24.........Peters Township 37
Upper St. Clair 23..........Canon-McMillan 34

Results from Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 9.30.09

Pasta Party Cancellation for Friday, Oct. 2

The pasta party scheduled for this Friday has been cancelled due to illness.
If anyone else would like to step up and host a party before this Saturday's big Central Catholic Invitational, please email Shari or call her for details on how to hold a pasta party at your home. We will help you get the word out via this blog.

Directions to XC Meet vs. USC

All you PTCC Boosters, come to the meet on Tuesday, September 29th, to cheer on our boys' and s' teams! The team will walk the course at 3pm, so Coach Barr estimates the races will begin after that, around 3:30pm.

USC's home XC Course is now located at the USC Township Recreation Center.
The course is 5,000 meters with 2 hills. The terrain is about 1/2 grass and trail and 1/2 concrete. Spikes are optional.


FROM NORTH
Rt 19 North
Turn Right onto Boyce Road and stay on Boyce Road for approx. 1.5 miles.
Turn right on Mayview, stay on for approx. 1.2 miles.
The Recreation Center will be on your right. When you turn into the Rec Center, bear to the left.


FROM SOUTH
Rt 19 North
Turn Left onto Boyce Road and stay on Boyce Road for approx. 1.5 miles.
Turn right on Mayview, stay on for approx. 1.2 miles.
The Recreation Center will be on your right. When you turn into the Rec Center, bear to the left.

Once you enter the USC Recreation Center from the above directions...

Continue on this road (you will pass the parking lots) and do not turn until you reach a "T".
At the "T", there will be a sign that says something about the R E E C Center - make a left there.
Your bus can drop your team off and park in one of the upper lots on the far left-hand side.
If your bus is only doing a drop-off, they can circle through the upper lots around the rec center and back onto Mayview Road (a large loop).
If you walk the trails down toward the left you will see a big covered pavilion. You team can place their bags, etc. in this pavilion.
There are bathroom facilities there, and a covered roof to keep you dry if it rains.

The course begins near the grassy soccer/football fields - this is where the walk through will start. Please plan on arriving at 3pm so your team will have time to walk the course before the race.

Pasta Party Today!

HOSTED BY THE CRALL, BLANK, AND CZAJKOWSKI FAMILIES
WHEN: MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2009
TIME: RIGHT AFTER PRACTICE
PLACE: THE CRALLS
117 GREEN VALLEY LANE
MCMURRAY, PA

DIRECTIONS:
Coming from the East: (Peters Township Recreation Center)
Take right onto Bebout Road and go .4 miles
At stop sign, take left onto Valley Brook and go .6 miles
At traffic signal, take left onto East McMurray Road and go 1.5 miles
Take a left onto Center Church Road and go .3 miles
Bear left onto Johnston Road and go .2 miles
Take first right onto Green Valley Lane
House is .2 miles on left
White mailbox marked with black and red balloons

Coming from the West: (Peters Township High School)
Take right out of Parking Lot and proceed .6 miles
Take right onto Center Church Road and go .3 miles
Bear left onto Johnston Road and go .2 miles
Take first right onto Green Valley Lane
House is .2 miles on left
White mailbox marked with black and red balloons

PTCC Homecoming Float Construction

Float volunteers needed on September 27th, 11:00 am at Ryan and Amanda Moore's house! A supply list is on the flyer shown on the left. Click on it to enlarge. We are asking for a $5.00 donation to help pay for the cost of the float. We won the last two years thanks to the team and the Moore family lets keep it up!

FOOD DONATIONS needed to help feed the volunteers working on the float. Please email me or call and let me know what you would like to do. Choose from these items please: paper plates and napkins, cases of water bottles, ice tea individual bottles or other bottled or can drink. Donate $5.00 for the pizza that will be served. Expecting between 30 - 40 volunteers. We tried to make it simple for you. It is a big job for the Moore family, so we want to help out!

Shari DeNardo 724.986.5127

Peters Township 4K Race July 1st!

On Wednesday, July 1st at 7:00 p.m., the Peters Township Parks and Recreation Center and the Peters Township Cross Country Boosters will sponsor a 4K race with the start line at St. Benedict the Abbot Church, 120 Abington Drive, McMurray, Pa.

There are several categories of runners: husband/wife, parent/child, siblings under 19 years, and several age groups also from 10 and under to over 60. Prizes will be given for the top 3 male and top 3 female runners overall and top 2 runners in each age group. T-shirts will be given to runners on race day.

Entry fee is $20 if postmarked before June 24th. After June 24th, the entry fee is $25. Join us for some fitness fun, or come and cheer your favorite runner! Register at the Peters Township Recreation Center or prior to the race on race day. The registration form is available online.

For more information, call the Peters Township Parks and Recreation Center at 724-942-5000.