The temps have fallen and the action is heating up as cross country runners across the state head into the postseason.

The Region 1A and Region 1B meets will take place today in Webster with a trip to next week’s state meet in Rapid City at stake.

Athletes in other sports talk about the intensity amping up during the playoffs, and cross country runners feel the same way.

“You can definitely tell a different intensity,” said Ipswich coach Todd Thorson. “You get to the conference meet and everybody in the field is stepping it up a notch. You can just tell. It’s called a conference championship for a reason.”

Thorson said meets gain in importance as the season progresses and culminates with the conference, region, and state events.

“We use every meet as building blocks, different strategies, and learning how to race, but then when we get to the conference meet it’s just time to execute what we’ve learned and step it up,” Thorson said, “and then you try to step up the intensity just a little bit more, and then you step it up even more for the state meet.”

While the meets take on new meaning, the warmups remain the same, according to Thorson.

“That being said, because you know it’s heightened and you see those kids have that intensity and the parents and the community, and everybody involved, then you fall back on your daily warmup … that you do the same warm up at every meet,” Thorson said.

Thorson said maintaining that familiarity is important, especially at the state meet where so many things are different.

“Routine is everything,” Thorson said, “then your mind, body prepares the same for everything, and it kind of gets ready for competition the same way.”

One thing that won’t be the same today are the conditions from last week’s conference meets. Gone are the temps in the upper 70s, and present are temps that will likely feel around 30 degrees cooler.

Thorson, who is known for his meticulous attention to detail, has everything mapped out from weather conditions to course terrain and plans accordingly.

“I change strategy. I find that a lot of people don’t, but I do,” Thorson said. “It all kind of depends on the coach and their philosophy.”

Thorson said the runners not only like cooler conditions, it can also impact their breathing.

“You won’t spike your heart rate as bad when it’s cooler. … If it’s extreme cold your heart rate can spike, too,” he said.

Thorson said studies have been done that show ideal temps to compete in go from the upper 30s to 60 degrees.

“That’s a pretty good range when you think about it,” Thorson said.

Then there are the courses themselves. With no two completely alike, Thorson pays close attention to that as well.

“Knowledge of courses is huge, the weather and coming up with a game plan,” Thorson said. “I’m not saying I’m right, but I change strategies from course to course, in fact from state meet to state meet.”

Today will be a special occasion as Thorson’s son, Taylor, will be coaching Aberdeen Roncalli in the Region 1A meet which starts at 2 this afternoon. The recent Northern State graduate has helped the Ipswich program in recent years.

“It’s so rewarding,” Thorson said. “He’s helped us write our workouts for the last three years.”

The veteran Ipswich coach has also received some assistance from past state champion Macy Heinz.

“Between the three of us, we’ve been around a lot,” Thorson said. “Since I coached both of them, they probably understand me more than I understand me.”

Today’s Region 1B meet which starts at 11 this morning will feature some of the top girls’ squads in the state. In addition to defending state champion Ipswich, Deubrook Area and Northwestern also have strong teams.

Ipswich is led by a group of runners that is still in middle school. Thorson tries not to put too much emphasis on postseason expectations.

“You really want to miminize that too, because you don’t want them to have too much pressure early in their careers,” Thorson said. “I want them to focus on daily improvement.”

Thorson said he feels blessed to be able to coach in Ipswich, where everyone from the administration to fans to runners have bought into the program.

“That’s really what it’s all about. It’s not just about trying to go out there and win, it’s just about enjoying the journey and being in each other’s company and teaching kids to work hard to achieve, and hopefully that carries over for the rest of their life,” Thorson said. “That’s really the blessing that we get to do as coaches, and it’s not just cross country. It’s every sport.”