Coach Mikes Blog

in meets by coach mike on 30 Sep 2007

The Peoria Invitational is THE Meet of the year for Illinois High School cross country. York Elmhurst brings out the A team, Coach Newton is there sitting on his chair on the picnic table. The meet is set up to be ran just like the state meet. The race is so fast, the first mile is wicked. A young runner can get caught up in the speed of the start. The girls finished 26th out of 43 teams. Our best finisher was Meghan, she ran a great race for us, probably the top finisher for a Salem girl in a long time. Her time of 19:20 was the first time for any of the girls to be under 20 minutes this season. Mollie was just over 20 minutes. The plan had been for Kaity to run with Alyssa for as long as she could. That was a lot of pressure on a sophomore, both of them actually, they handled things very well. Kaity held on until about the last mile. So we are getting somewhere there. If the girls are going to be successful the rest of the way we need the 3,4,5 runners to pick things up. Meghan is looking strong, I still think Mollie will come around, Bolton will be there when needed. Kaity, Aylssa, Paige, Ellie, and Courtney are going to be the key.

The boys were 31st out of 49 teams. I thought we might be better, but in a race like this, you need a front runner, right now we are lacking there. Kubicki ran number 1 for us again with Jordan number 2. Big story might be Nix, he is getting stronger. Shetley raced hard, Goff is moving up toward the front group. Clark the freshman had a nice first varsity race, his 1st mile time is coming down. I’m worried about the mental state of the boys right now. This week will be a big week of practice for us. We just got though homecoming weekend. We need to focus, our most important part of the season is fast approaching us!!!

in meets by coach mike on 30 Sep 2007

We moved back our departure time on Friday to after the ceremony for the Brandon Jones score board. The trip was going well until we decided to stop for some food. The long running tradition has been to eat at a Cheddar’s by the motel in Peoria. The kids like the cookie monsters. Well that was going to change this year, because of the late start. So we decided to try a different spot in Champaign, well lo and behold next door to our stopping spot was a Cheddar’s. So there we stopped. Over an hour and twenty minutes later we were back on the road. Jaron tried to tell me not to stopped there, it would take to long. By the way a red arrow means not to make a left, even though there are a lot of green lights up there. No one was coming, honest mistake. We get to the Super 8 late and check in for some sleeping, then up before 8 to get ready to go to the park. No big surprises. Anyway that I know of. More later on the race and trip home. Oh one more thought, the youth of today for the most part, except for Kubicki, have no taste for good music!!!!!! Well Drew’s not too bad sometimes!

in meets by coach mike on 28 Sep 2007

Heading to the biggest meet, besides the state meet, of the year. I guess we will see what happens.

in Practice by coach mike on 26 Sep 2007

today’s practice was distance for most. Girls went about 4.5, the boys I’m not sure but they took for ever to get back!!!! Latest practice all year.  Kubicki ran distance this morning and then did 24-200′s on the track all around 34 seconds, finishing with a 28 on the last one. The groups finished at Franklin Park where they ran pullout at the start of the race  and the end of the race. Less than two weeks to the conference meet, time to be getting tough!  this weekend is the big Peoria  Invite, 50 teams!

in Practice by coach mike on 25 Sep 2007

Today-Tuesday-it rained, it poured! the skies opened finally. We were doing a track workout when started. The girls 4×400 at 90 seconds are better- they did it! 1600m under 7 minutes-they did it- 2×800 under 3:20 they did it!!! i told them best workout of the year. Meghan, Alyssa, Kaity were tough. Courtney handled thing well, Lindsay and Mollie (Moe and Larry) worked hard. The rest of the girls Ellie, Abby, and Tessa all had a good day. Two weeks until conference.

The boys- Kubicki went on 6 mile run. Jones 2 miles on the track 10:30 then 1 mile on the track 5:01.  Throw in a warm up, 2 miles between, cool down after. The rest of guys the 7 minute workout! Looking strong all of this in a pouring rain!

Good day of practice and a good day of rain!

in meets by coach mike on 24 Sep 2007

The team traveled to Springfield this past weekend, I went to Bloomington, IN for my daughter’s wedding. The longest 50 feet of my life- walking her down the aisle. The church was full, the weekend was great. A new son-law. Happy times. The father and daughter dance-Three Dog Night and Jeramiah was a bull-frog!

The boys had a great race as a team-32 second pack time. The only thing that needs to be better, once again the pack needs to move up! The front has to get out and lead! Because if the front leads the back will follow! Kubicki ran 1 for the first time all year, with Jones right behind him. This is good for the team, competition amongst the team can make the team tougher. Look like Nix and Shetley had good races, and this not an easy course, plus just like the highways, construction had change the course some. Goff our number 5 is moving up also.

The girls were without Owen, Rakers had a nice race, Shetley was as hard nosed as ever. Look like Mattmiller raced well. Still trying to put things together here, only problem time is running out! We will see. I know the girls will get up for the two big races coming up.

Practice today- 7 miles boys-4 miles girls- 10×100 stride outs. Kubicki ran distance in the Am, then did 3 sets of 4×400 on the track. He hit them very good. i know the boys ran their 7 miles hard.

in Practice by coach mike on 20 Sep 2007

Another day of practice.  Distance day for both groups.  Then 300′s on the track. Working on some heads- Thomas, sophomore, he could be the most important part of the team. Without a strong number 5, you will get nowhere as a team. After making threats about running more Thomas moved up with the top in the 300′s.  So many young  athletes fear failure, yet if you never fail, you are probably not giving it your all.  You have run to pain and then run through the pain to get to the other side.  Once you reach the other side and realize you can handle it then next time its no big deal. The fear has been defeated. But this comes back to training, you have to prepare yourself to look pain straight in the eye and more or less tell pain to step aside because here you are and you are coming through. Sounds weird, then you have probably never ran through the pain. I’m not talking about like a side stitch, I’m speaking of the pain of failure. “I don’t want to run hard at first because I won’t be able to finish hard and I’ don’t want to look bad at the end of the race!”  When I see someone in the bottom half of the race come sprinting in and everybody cheering because they are passing people left and right I just smile to myself.  Give me someone who has busted their backside the whole race and comes dragging to the finish with nothing left, that runner makes me cheer.  This weekend the team will have to race on some hills, we really have not trained for hill, but we will be ok.  Just work hard up the hill and then take off when you get to the top, so many relax after getting to the top, thats when you make a move and pass some people.  I’ll be at my daughter wedding this weekend, I’m very excited about the weekend, lots of family and friends. Good luck to team, my thoughts will be with you.

in Practice by coach mike on 19 Sep 2007

Four of the guys came in this morning and ran 7 miles.  This afternoon’s  practice was a hodge podge.  Sent Meghan (sore shins) and Courtney sore hip on a short run.  Mollie went to the trainer, she has a sore calf muscle.  Jaron was on the bike with a sore back.  Lindsay ran short distance on her own, her feet are blistered still.  Now for the workout. Kaity, Ellie, Pagie and Alyssa ran 3×1000.  They ran very well. Average around 4 minutes.  The boys ran 5×1000 around 3:28, that is except for Jordan he ran 7 I think?  Some think he is doing to much, I think, if he can handle it, let him go for it. Worst place not to be the first week of November is Peoria!  And there is only one way to get there and its a lot of HARD WORK!!!!!!

in Practice by coach mike on 18 Sep 2007

Long distance day. The days after the meets are tough, kids are tired, legs are sore, but you have to continue, its not time for rest yet.  Part of the problem is the weather, its staying a little to warm, upper 80′s. But you have to keep working. At the same time this is when you have to take of care of your body.  Today’s workout was around 4 miles for the girls then 3×300 on the track. The boys around 5 then 4×300 on the track. Am run for some of the boys in the morning, I told the girls not to come.  Good news, Courtney ran today, bad news Jaron is still having problems, Mollie’s leg is sore and Lindsay was home sick.

in meets by coach mike on 17 Sep 2007

This is a tough meet to get up for. All three teams had a meet on Saturday, so the legs had to be a little tired. The minds were tired for sure. The reason for the meet years ago  was because one of the three teams would host a regional later in the year. Anyway we lined up and raced. We raced both girls and boys together.  We hosted the meet, first time in at least four years or more since we have ran a meet at home.  Things went fine, I had a lot of good help from the parents and some of the kids that were hurt or sick. The boys looked tired, Nix raced well, he is getting better. The girls top three was right in the mix, we just need to move up 4 and 5.  Rakers looked strong for the 2nd race in a row. Next up the hills of Springfield!  We need to stay focused and keep working toward conference and the post season.