Sooo, I'm a little late getting week 3 up. We had another good week of running, we weren't able to go to Turtle River because of storms, but they had fun doing Fox -n -Hound speed working on Friday. Also both teams raised their total mileage, the girls broke 300 for the first time with a total of 306 miles for the week and the boys tallied 367 miles. The boys have now run a total of 962 miles this summer and the girls 842 miles. We are handing out camping information this week. The camping dates are July 22nd thru the 26th and is a month away! This week we are doing 3 or 4 mile build up and pony express for speed workouts.
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Why do you run? Why run? These are questions people ask me all the time. I think it's hard to explain to someone who doesn't run why you do it. The real question should be "When do you move from jogger to runner?" There is a difference from someone that is a "jogger" VS a "runner". A jogger is doing it to get in shape or lose weight. A runner has the underlying question "How fast and how far can I go?" There is a "feeling" a runner is striving to achieve, and once you do, it's like a drug, something you want again and again. The "feeling" occurs when you can easly run your normal training run and the whole time you feel like are floating, moving effortlessly over the ground. You're relaxed, at ease with your body. Afterward you know you could have run futher and you want to run futher to hold onto that feeling longer. That is the moment you have moved from jogger to RUNNER. It is a great feeling and I can still remember when I hit that point, when I became a runner. I was in high school, running on the bypass road in Williston. The hot blacktop road shimmered with heat as my teamates and I ran a steady pace, mile after mile, our legs in perfect cadence, floating over the pavement, the only sound was our breathing and feet hitting the pavement. It was so relaxing and felt like I could keep that pace up forever. I KNEW that I was experiencing something that many people would never feel and I wanted to feel it again as soon as it was done. That "feeling" is why I run, you don't get that feeling on every run, some days are struggles, but it only takes a one great run to erase several bad runs. That is why I run. Is there anyone out there, past runners, current runners, or parents that would like to write something for the blog? It can be about when you were on the team, races, fun times, or the challenges of running.
Please email me your blog at [email protected] Week 2 of summer running went well, we had our first speed workout on Tuesday. The new runners and more experienced got a chance to get a feel of where they are with their training by doing Elmo runs around University Park. We also went out to Turtle River State Park for the first time this summer on Thursday. We had our biggest group ever going out there, we had to have 6 vehicles to transport everyone! About 34 runners hit the trails to fight the mosquitos. Currently the majority of the boys and girls showing up are 10th grade and younger. The boys out ran the girls this week by running 321 miles, while the group of very young girls ran 280 miles. Several of our older runners are on family vactions but are still running and texting me their weekly mileage, so great job to Leif, Alex, and Jordyn.
This coming week we are going to do Hoof-n-Pedal workout with bikes and the new favorite speed workout Fox-n- Hound. I'm often asked why do you coach? The number one reason will always be having the chance to hopefully be a positive influence on a young person's life. If I can make just a little difference, a positive difference, in the high school years of someone growing up, then I feel that I was successful. Don't get me wrong, I love competition and winning. I'm always striving to make the most competitive teams we can each year. But I want to do in the right way, by showing young people that they can be successful by working hard and still having fun doing it. I look foward to every race, because its a chance to see our runners improve and let themselves see, no matter what level of runner they are, their hard work has paid off. Cross Country is special because we have young people of all ablitity levels out for a different reasons. The first group are those that are out to be competitive, their main goal to race, and the second group are those who join to be part of a team. It often is that second group that becomes the heart and soul of the team. They are the ones that make the team turn into a family. And that is what makes Cross Country special, it's a team that turns into a family! My favorite memory from coaching is not winning a state team title or individual state champions but the relationships that have been formed, between myself and the young people and between the teams. Many years ago we had a young man, Chris, who was not very athletically gifted, he was part of that "second" group. Chris came to practice everyday and worked hard, always postive. He knew he was important to the team, not because of where he would place in races but that he cheered, worked hard, and believed in our family. He never placed in any meets until his Senior year. His parents never came to any meets, the team was his family, and when Chris finally got to step up and recieve his first ribbon, his family cheered and yelled for him, met him with hugs afterward because they knew how special that moment was for him, and they wanted him to know that they were there for him! I use that moment, that feeling, to drive me forward and hopefully give that same type of moment to future young people who are members of our FAMILY. The first week of summer running has gone great! This summer we have the largest group of 7th grade Boys and Girls we have had with us during the summer. All of the new comers started with the standard 10 mins for their runs and are doing great. The more experienced runners started with anywhere with 4 to 5 miles. Everyone has been positive and having fun! The girls group ran a total of 255 miles and the boys ran 273 miles. This summer we are going to map how far the teams run. The goal is to have each team run from Hayward Field in Eugene, OR to Disneyland in Flordia, which is 3064 miles. I'm always looking for ways to inspire my runners. So with the help of Meghan and Betty we made a "Wall of Champions" in our garage for the summer runners to look at and hopefully inspire them to want to add their name to it. The "Wall of Champions" lists names of runners who have achieved either All -Conference or All-State honors and the years they reached those accomplishments. Already I have observed several runners looking and mentioning that they would like to see their names on it. I told them that everyone on that wall started in the same spot they are currently in; with10 mins a day for mileage, and running during the summer to improve. Hopefully the wall will keep growing and growing. Summer running is underway!! It is always exciting and also nerve racking as coach during the beginning of summer running. Who show ups? Who doesn't? How can I get more kids out? The number of girls during the last few years has really exploded!! The ups and downs always suprise me. A few years ago we barely had 5 or 6 girls showing up to run during the summer. On Monday we had 22, and that is not counting a couple from East Grand Forks. There are another 6 girls I know that are coming, but are out of town this week. It will be a lot of fun to watch this group over the next few years! There is a lot of talent in this young group of girls (only one senior on the team). The girls team has the talent to be a top 5 team in state, it will come down to if some of the younger girls are ready to be varsity runners. We had 18 boys show up the first day, which is great! The biggest concern for me is always how many freshman boys will we have. They are our future, currently there are 5 of them but 4 of them are between cross country and another fall sport. So what we have when the season actually starts will be the factor. The boys team is really going to surprise people this year. We have four proven runners for our top 5, how success full this team will be will comes down to how well the team trains this summer and if a few boys step up to be give us 6 to 8 quality runners. When we (Betty and I) first started purchasing doughnuts for Saturday's long runs it was six doughnuts in a single bag and a gallon of orange juice in our living room on Chestnut Street. To be honest I got the doughnuts because I wanted one and figured I better share. Now it's grown into a tradition of scrambling to make the selection of your favorite doughy sugar treat. I have had alumni runners return and join in on the Saturday long run, just so they can have a doughnut. They tell me they feel guilty if they don't run first. :) The first Saturday with a group of new runners is always fun. The look of astonishment of the newbies as I bring out the 5 boxes of doughnuts out for Saturday's practice. YES we go through 60 doughnuts now for a single Saturday practice during the season. The older runners, who are running farther and will be the last to return, are scrambling to put aside their favorite doughnuts to devour upon the completion of their run. This ritual of the doughnut selection has made me learn to observe what doughnuts go the fastest and which ones are the last ones picked. Hugo's should give me an award or a frequent buyer discount for the amount of doughnuts we have bought over the last 20 years. Sometimes I get a Hugo's worker who cringes when I show up, knowing that they will have to fill those 5 boxes and allow me to select which doughnuts are the most popular with the current team. Who would have thought that my desire for having a doughnut after a long run would turn into such popular thing. I have runners who come to Saturday practice JUST because they know they will get a doughnut after they do their 10 mile run. All for a 65 cent treat. Monday, June 3rd, is the start of summer running. The first day is a mixture of excitement and nervousness for me. It is like Christmas, opening up new gifts of runners. So many questions: Who will show up? How many new boys or girls? Who of the previous runners are showing up ready to work?
I really enjoy summer running, it is a great chance for me to slowly teach the new runners how to improve and increase their mileage. Summer allows me to start anyone new at 10 minutes a day until they tell me they are ready for more. That is when I know have them hooked, when they ask to run farther. If someone new comes out at the beginning of the actual season, I'm forced to hurry them along because I have to have them ready to run a race in 12 days. Summer is also the time to form those important bonds between myself, the athletes and their teammates. I get to know what their goals are and what motivates them. There are so many chances to spend important group time together during trips out to Turtle River, frisbee football, or our camping trip. During the season there just isn't the amount of time needed for me to get to know them as well. This is one of the secrets of our team's success over the years. This summer time of everyone bonding together and my chance to get to know them as a person not just an athlete. |
NEW Google drive to share pictures:
Parents please feel free to share. trade, and copy your Track & field pictures Google Drive AuthorVarious people will write about what is happening with the teams. Coach Allan and captains will be regular contributors. Alumni and parents are also welcome to submit entries. Archives
March 2024
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