Saturday Long Run Thoughts: Beginning means closer to the End!

 ​Today was a very busy day but the best kind of busy. The day started at 6:00 AM running with my WAR Elite Athlete who is also my assistant coach then 3 miles into our run we met up with another WAR Elite runner and the WAR running club and run 10 more miles! Then we rushed over to the Cal High All-Comers meet for some track and field action. Our Cal High distance team was running their first preseason meet and its always an exciting day to see how the season will start. They ran the 1600 meters race and the races were packed. 7 heats of 1600 meters in total and I was in 7th heaven watching each one of them. It wasn't just the fact that fast times were run but that we were now on a head on collision course with the season to come. As one heat after the other went off all I can think of is of the season to come and how will it go. You see this is my last season at the high school level and it pains me to start it as I know the end draws closer. I've been at Cal High for 5 years with 5 X seasons and a 5th track season on its way now. As sad as I am to be leaving I will cherish this last season for all its worth. As I watched the races today they seem to pass in slow motion as I pondered the future and the past all at once. 

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 I thought about the kids that have come through Cal High over the last 5 years. Each one of them giving themselves to this program and in part to me as their coach. Some we got along right away others we struggled but in the end we found common ground in the love for our sport and the goals that we shared. Some were very fast runners others not as much. Some were very hard working runners others not as much. But each one of them taught me something new about coaching as all the athletes I have coached before them did. Each runners brings their unique personality and and perspective to our sport and from each I learn a little more how to bring out the best in them and future runners. In fact those that give me the most grey hair at the ones from which I learned the most. Every year I have a kid that wants to test me see how far they can push and seeing them grow and change year after year brings some much joy to my heart. You can see it the moment it "clicks" and they fully commit. The greatness is soon to follow and watching it is kind of magical! 

So the season is off to a great start with 4 boys 4:32 or better and 2 already under 4:30 for the 1600. 2 girls in the low 5:30's and all groups including freshman off to great starts this early on. As I type this article I realized looking up on the winter all-comers top list that our 1-2 boys are now 1-2 in the State in the 1600!!! The most exciting part if that we haven't even raced our bread and butter race the 3200! Or as I often tell the kids " the 3200 is our baby!" I can't wait to see how we do next week running our baby! We are going to make this last season one to remember! Thanks again for reading my Saturday ramblings! Best of luck with all your running goals! ​

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