About the St. Louis Blazers Track Club


The St. Louis Blazers Track Club is an AAU/USATF sanctioned running club/team dedicated to teaching the sport of distance running (and racing) to kids ages 8-14 (3rd grade to 8th grade). We train and compete in track during the spring, and cross country during the fall.

Our mission is to help kids find improvement in our sport, and learn to love running along the way. We work with athletes of all abilities and experience levels, and are dedicated to helping them progress as runners in their time with the team. We look forward to helping new runners get started in the sport, helping current runners improve their abilities, and helping competitive runners compete at their highest level.

We do this with a focus on attitude and effort. We ask our athletes to bring a positive attitude and their best effort each time we are together. By doing so, athletes have fun with their Blazer teammates and coaches; learn the training process, running mechanics, and race strategy; and find personal improvement through each season.

For our dedicated coaching staff, it’s most gratifying when we see our athletes enjoying running, and when we can help athletes hit new PRs (personal records) that they are excited to share that news with coaches and teammates. PRs are just that - a personal best - and a mark of improvement. We look forward to celebrating PRs across a wide spectrum of times with all of our athletes!

We invite anyone ages 8-14 (3rd grade to 8th grade) with an interest in track or cross country to come give our program a try!

What it's all about:

  • Distance-focused running club, specializing in the 1500m for track season, and distances from 2k to 4k in XC season

  • Sanctioned by AAU, USATF & RRCA

  • Fun but challenging program for all abilities. A typical practice covers 3-5 miles, broken up into various manageable segments.

  • Track meets are usually scheduled on Sundays from April - May.

  • Cross Country meets are usually scheduled on Sundays from late Sept - Nov.

  • Meet participation is not required, but is highly encouraged.

  • The only equipment you really need is a good pair of running shoes! (Coaches can advise, just ask us!)

  • Whether you want to run for FUN or run for COMPETITION, the Blazers has a place for everyone. We welcome new families and encourage new runners to try a couple practices before joining!

  • Off-season training is not required, but is encouraged! We typically run 3-5 miles each practice, but don't be intimidated. Each practice is broken up into many smaller segments. Ask coaches for training advice if you are looking to run outside of practice!

FAQ

How do I register my athlete?

Each season, a registration link will be posted on the home page of our website. Clicking this link will lead you to the season registration on Chronotrack. We will keep the link open until our roster is at capacity (120 athletes).

Does my athlete need a uniform?

Yes, uniforms are available to purchase during the online registration.

Shirts and singlets are $25

Additional items may be offered (sweatshirts, hoodies, jackets).

Is practice ever cancelled for inclement weather?

We will run through most types of weather (rain, heat, etc.); however, if there is lightning in the vicinity (or storms are anticipated at practice time) we will cancel practice to be safe! We typically make the decision to cancel practice around 4pm, and will send out an email and RemindAp alert to notify of the cancellation. Join our Remind App! Just text @blazersx to 81010 and you'll always have the latest information.

More ways to communicate:

Follow us on Facebook for updates, pictures, and information - www.facebook.com/stlblazers

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Humble Beginnings


St. Louis Blazers Track Club was started in 1992 to provide running opportunities for youth in west St. Louis County. About a dozen kids from a handful of families were involved with Blazers during its inaugural year. Embracing the mission of teaching the sport of running to young people while making it fun, Blazers took off from there. Now in its second decade of existence, 1000+ kids from across the St. Louis Metropolitan Area have been a part of the Blazer family.

Core Principles


Needless to say, Blazers’ foundation is built around running. Some incredible athletes were part of the Blazers program when they were young. While it’s nice to boast that former Blazers have won AAU, USATF, CCCNYC national championships, set the US middle school national record in the mile, gone on to become high school State Qualifiers and State Champions, Olympic Trials qualifiers, members of the U.S. Olympic Triathlon team and so on, it’s more important that kids develop friendships and a love for running that continues long after Blazers as part of a healthy lifestyle. Blazers focuses on three principles to achieve its mission.

  • Have fun – Running can be fun! If kids can find the fun in running, they are more likely to continue this healthy habit throughout their lives.

  • Learn about running – Blazers strives to teach kids and their parents about the sport of running. Families involved with Blazers will come away with a wealth of knowledge about proper running form, running strategy and techniques, nutrition, stretching and the ins and outs of track and cross country meets, among other things.

  • Improve – Success is not measured by how many races you win. Instead, Blazers focuses on individual improvement. For some kids that may mean seeing their times drop in a particular race over the course of a season. For other kids, it may mean they felt stronger as they ran hard workouts at the end of the season than they did in the beginning of the season. Blazers celebrates the effort put into a race or workout, not just the time on a stopwatch.