Coach Mikes Blog

in Kaskaskia College Cross Country by coach mike on 28 Oct 2011

Its 12:51 am. Can’t sleep. Been a whirl wind of excitement. First was the big cross country meet. The one we have been talking about. Still not sure everybody got what was going on. Just funny how some are focused and some have no idea. Oh well. Can’t control that unless I want to be a real jerk. Which I don’t, I will just keep my evil twin in check, not worth an appearance from Mr Hyde or is it Mr Rogers? Anyway I was disappointed in the out come of the races, there I said it. “Disappointed”  Not in the effort of most, I would have to say in some, and I would hope there would be some disappointed as well, because if you are any kind of athlete, you should care how well you perform, otherwise you are just ……………….not an athlete. Caring is important. Anyway I was disappointed for the most part for you. Not at you. For you. Its my job, our job as coaches to have you ready, have you prepare. I not sure we did. Actually we didn’t. But that is the hindsight thing. Danville was ready, they ran their best race as a team of their season. Give them credit. Lincoln has those two top runners, going 1 and 2, was tough for us to do much with that. But Danville was very good today. What I need to remember is this is just our 3rd season and we are so much better, than we have been, we have made big improvements in several areas, but we still have a lot of improvement to make. The Blue Angels as a team has made big strides and the base is there to get even better.   We had two ladies make All Region and just missed having three. The Blue Devils, I believe this is where we have dropped the ball. Josh had been sick all week and it showed, the flu will knock you back. We have had some other injuries that we are just know showing some improvement from. The only probably is you can only do so much, can’t build up the base miles down. I would just like to see some times drop at the Nationals and I know, we are going to hear about the higher altitude and how we will be slow because of that, ok we can play that game, we can give you those seconds, but the true cold facts is this time of the year you should be at your fastest. If we don’t have all six of you guys under 30 minutes, then we ………………………well………we need to be there, no reason, no excuses. On the women side, I except at less three of you under 21 minutes. If we can’t get there at the Nationals, then we need to rethink what we are doing for the future.  We have until the 12th of November, we will be loosing day light, it is going to get colder, but right now our season is still going on. So lets show some personal pride and I know we will and lets finish this out like true athletes.  Ok its now 1:19 and I have to be up in 5 hours, so I’m going to try to go to sleep. Oh by the way the Cardinals won!  Also I’m not totally sure what I just typed so I might need to edit it later!!!!!  Please don’t take any of this wrong, I love everyone of you and I know you gave your best efforts, I’m just want the best for you and I could see on some of your faces disappointment, so that just makes me want to work harder for you!

in Uncategorized by coach mike on 27 Oct 2011

9th Mallory Wendling 21:03.8- 10th  Elizabeth Williams  21:23.4-11th Keatyn Kujawa 21:35.8-17th Toni Huff 22:30.6-18th Chelsea Miller 23:22.0-19th Trisha Bach 23:36.9-22nd Janelle Jankowski 24:16.1

Team score-  Danville 28 pts-  Lincoln 48pts- Kaskaskia 51 pts

23 total runners-Hannah Singelton  Lincoln 19:15.7-Natalie Hamilton Lincoln 20:09.8

in Uncategorized by coach mike on 27 Oct 2011

After over 30 plus years of coaching (and  years of  playing games) and I still get nervous and sick at my stomach before the big events! What the heck………..get a grip! I love it!

in Kaskaskia College Cross Country &Uncategorized by coach mike on 26 Oct 2011

Tis the night before……………………..never mind not going to do that. Here we are, the season just seem to have started yesterday and we are down to two races. Seems like we have not raced in months. Well its been weeks and some of you have not race since Louisville. The weather should be ok.  The course is flat and fast but with a bunch of turns.  The women race at 4:15 and the men at 4:40.  Good luck to all. Lets have a great race. I think we have had some good workouts, you just have to believe in and trust your training.  Tomorrows race is about beating people and its not beating them in the first mile. You have to be tough during the middle miles. The women tough in that second mile, the men the middle two miles. Once again its about beating people. As I have told you, everybody is important, 1 through 7 (6 on the men side).  On the women side we have to pack in front of some the other teams number 3 runners, but its about beating everybody you can. There is no pressure on us, no excepts us to do anything. Just race to beat people. Remember ladies, we are not looking for angels! Men we need to race like devils. Its been fun and we still have fun in front of us! Remember just race……………………………………to beat people!

in Uncategorized by coach mike on 18 Oct 2011

in Uncategorized by coach mike on 17 Oct 2011

in Uncategorized by coach mike on 17 Oct 2011

in Kaskaskia College Cross Country by coach mike on 17 Oct 2011

Today we wanted some fast 1000′s. We got some. Then we got some not so fast. Its all about attitude this time of the year. You have to feel the pain to get the gain! To those of you who felt the pain  Good Job…..

in Kaskaskia College Cross Country by coach mike on 16 Oct 2011

Big game today…………Cardinals trying to put the Brewers away on their own home field. A very tough task. The Rams are in Wisconsin as well trying to shut down the Packers, not sure that is going to happen. So a big day for St Louis sports. Kaskaskia cross country’s big day is coming up in 13 more days. Fun time of the year. Here’s a deal for you KC cross country runners if the Cardinals or Rams (don’t hold your breath on this one) win today, then we will cut your work out in half for Monday! And don’t forget your uniforms because if one of you forgets their uniform all bets are off and the work out might get doubled!  See you. Also one other side bet, if I get  comments  from ten different people on this blog post I will cut 25% off your Monday workout. Just saying! Let the games begin! You know what is so cool about being the administrater on your blog is…..you can go in and change things!   Nice try Thomas!  Insert BIG LAUGH! HAHAHAHAHA! Rule number 26 never beat the coach in a game of basketball, it will only come back and bite you in your_____!

in Kaskaskia College Cross Country by coach mike on 15 Oct 2011

Went to the small grade school state meet today. It was fun watching the young kids run. Fun watching the parents and friends yelling and encouraging their kids. Some of the coaches get a little crazy! I’m glad I never acted that way when I was coaching at Selmaville! Sure….. I never acted nuts!  Another cool thing-I’m starting to see runners I coached with kids running!  But the coolest of all things is seeing some of the kids I coached now coaching!  Grace and Doug were both there. Grace coaches at Odin and Doug coaches at Selmaville (he doesn’t coach cross country) Odin had a good day, their boys almost brought home a team trophy. Great job Grace!   After the races the college runners came over to my house for a cook out….had a lot fun with that.  Just hung around hanging out!  Played a little two on two basketball….seems that some members of the team like to cheat when its comes to basketball…. girls painted up some real cool pumpkins………….I think Nel took home some silverware. Thomas and Mal played pumpkin toss and didn’t break the pumpkin. Chelsea was bringing back her basketball shooting days. Toni did some fine grilling. Trisha was sporting a new hair color. Brandon decided to get out of bed about 1 o’clock. Josh was all about craving some thing with the big knife he carries.  He had to get home to run and shoot something. Nix was my teammate in the 2 on 2 basketball game, sorry Cory. Jackson and Bruce were comparing turbos or something to do with cars.  I’m working real hard to get everybody’s name in this blog. Keatyn, bundled up and slept.  And Dustin had to work at the basketball games and Liz had to work the late shift at her job and could not make it. Did I leave anybody out? If so…………….Josh, Cory, Thomas, Steven, Dustin, Brandon, Chelsea, Toni, Janelle, Elizabeth, Mallory, Keatyn, Trisha,  and Bruce!   One last thing after Josh left I had 6 coyotes show up, looking for a hurt rabbit!