As day number two of first official practices turns the page towards day number three today, the intensity level increases for pretty much every fall sport.

Just because the intensity increases doesn’t mean full boar at the moment. In fact similarly to the gradual ease into contact for high school football, Panorama’s head cross country coach Greg Thompson uses a gradual approach with his athletes as they start a new season.

Coach Thompson really institutes a team aspect with practices but at the same time allows each individual runner to ease into intensity levels at their own pace as he mentioned in a conversation with Raccoon Valley Radio.

“We build them up slowly, like for example we gave them a choice. You can either do this six mile run (or) you can do this four mile run where it’s going to be running and walking, for you kids who are feeling good and ready, you just go run the six miles so we give them options,” explained coach Thompson.

Coach Thompson also went on to state how the practice intensities will change once the season rolls along but will always keep gauging the readiness of the individual as well.

“Once the season really gets going we divide all that into three workouts per day. So they get their choice, as a coach obviously I’ll direct them which way I want them to go but we’re very aware of when a kid is not feeling 100% or not feeling quite right so we’ll adjust what we’re doing for that day,” explained coach Thompson.

The first competition of the season for both Panther cross country teams will begin Thursday, August 24th in Guthrie Center.