Coach Mikes Blog

in Kaskaskia College Cross Country &Uncategorized by coach mike on 31 Dec 2011

The eve before the end of the year. The end of 2011 and eve before the beginning of 2012. So what has 2011  left us with?  Met some cool people in 2011. Some new cool people. I notice that this Facebook thing is still going strong. I figured once I got a Facebook page the thing would shut down!  Did I ever tell you the time I bought the new big dish satellite thing. Was going to get to see HBO and all those pay for channels for free! Couldn’t wait, got it all set up and zeroed in on that big bird in the sky…………….and less than one month later everything was like eggs……….scrambled!  That’s my luck…..so at least Facebook is still going……..which is a good thing …………I think? People put a lot of weird stuff on there.  Back to the cool people………….coolest new person I have met so far and this is a no brainer is…………..drum roll  please…………….ta ta ta ta ta ….not sure that would be the sound of a drum roll?  Coolest new person Eliza Lynn Hargis Brown!  I had to add that Hargis in there for fun! For the one or two people that stumble on this blog site by accident (which brings our daily visits up to 4 when we get you two extra) is my first grand child, born September 18th, 2011 in NY,NY. Coolest new person.  Ok back to others? New? Lets think………..oh I guess some of those Altamont people would qualify………..(smiling)  So who is cooler? Mallory, Leslie or Mike?  Just seem like a cool family. Other cool people Keatyn is cool. So is Elizabeth.  Am going to go with Trisha as well. Just seem like a good cool bunch of new young ladies on the cross country team, just to stay out of trouble, they joined a group of cool ones as well. I would have to say Josh has cool family as well. Anybody that has a mother that sells wall paper is cool. Not sure how I got on this track ? I was going to say thought pattern but I didn’t want to confuse Mallory. I had  (really nothing to do with me) three girls that made straight A this semester and one guy, that was cool for 2011. Lets list the names……….Mallory, Keatyn, Elizabeth and Josh. Also Chelsea, Trisha and Thomas had real strong semesters. So we should have a All American Academic team on the women side and at least two individual men and those 3 straight A cool girls. How many times can I use cool in this post? Is there blog police?  Some good things happen 2011 and at least one great thing!  That trip to New Mexico went to fast, we needed to be down there an extra day, I think with the proper rest, we might of, we could of……………no we couldn’t of, no way. (I was going to say win the whole thing!)

Greatest musical group of all time?  Three Dog Night or Chicago?

The Cardinals won the 2011 World Series that was cool!  Albert Pujols   left the team for the sunshine of Southern California, not a cool 2011 thing.

What about that Arab Spring?

Well I have rambled enough for now…………2011 is almost in the books, in truth, 2011 has been a rough year on a lot of Americans. Employment is high, foreclosures are high. When will things get better?  When will the “club” in Washington, DC figure anything out?  When will they focus on what is for the good of the people of this great country? If I remember, seems to me that were elected to serve, to serve the people. Maybe they should look up the word serve and read how Webster defines the term. But they probably won’t have time, too busy trying to get reelected or to make sure they have a good pension and health coverage.

Sorry not sure where that came from………..

Learn from 2011 and strive to make 2012 the best ever! Have a kind word for all you meet.

in Kaskaskia College Cross Country by coach mike on 25 Nov 2011

http://www.gostlouis.org/

in Kaskaskia College Cross Country by coach mike on 22 Nov 2011

In my humble opinion one of the most important parts of your college “experience” is the new relationships you form. I’m not talking about a boy girl thing. But those friendships. Some of my best friends I met at college. And in two short years became lasting friendships. I have been able to keep in contact with a few and some I have lost contact with. Emerson Reynolds, had a great time with him at KC, last I knew he was in Springfield, MO teaching. Stan Huels, have not seem Stan for ever. I believe he works at Altamont, he is a veterinarian. Terry Hoksrtea  (might of mis spelled his last name).  Best friend I made is Dale Ford, we had every class together at KC the first semester. So we started car pooling. Of coarse in those days we didn’t have all the duel credits, so you had to take all your classes at KC. So you were there more. The point I’m trying to get at, is the sports allow you to make bonds and make new lasting relationships and friends that will last forever. So take advantage of your short time at KC, to learn, to make friends and then keep in touch. I’m starting to sound like an old man, trying to share what few lessons he has learn in life.  Sort of makes me feel like I need to throw up! Getting old sucks, so I guess another lessons is enjoy your youth, don’t waste anytime!

in Kaskaskia College Cross Country by coach mike on 22 Nov 2011

This is for all travelers.

When leaving your motel rooms you need to check your rooms for items that you need to take home with you. Like items that belong to you. What comes to my mind? Maybe shoes, socks, little things like that. Maybe water bottles or Gatorade bottles. Or maybe your SUIT CASE!  Just saying. Just a little travel tip for the future!

in Kaskaskia College Cross Country by coach mike on 21 Nov 2011

Mike,
    We are hosting two meets and you are more than welcome to bring some kids, as long as your numbers are minimal and they are all distance runners. I'm trying to keep the meets small in number to allow us to complete them in about two hours. They are tri-meets and very low key. We will not have a full schedule of events, nor will we have fully automatic timing. Just good, low key competition. The meets will be very athlete friendly.
    Our dates are Tuesday, March 20 (possible Wed, March 21 if the weather is bad) and either Tues or Wed, April 10th or 11th.
    Let me know if this will work for you. I can send more info later. Hope you have a great Thanksgiving.

Neal West
MCK Track

in Kaskaskia College Cross Country by coach mike on 19 Nov 2011

This is for you Mallory.

There is an old saying that when you have not been to church in a long time, that you fear to go because the ceiling might fall in. Sort of a raft of God thing. Similar to being struck down by lighting by God. So that was the pun I was trying to get to you about you finally getting to go to church. Of coarse I realize that the roof will not fall in on you. Just joking with you.

For Dustin and Josh.

I guess we know who the big game hunter is now. Josh bagged the 11 pointer. Dustin got shut out.

For Trisha.

You are a hard worker and will go far. A very hard worker and a great person.

For Keatyn.

How are you feeling? Is the pain getting easier for you? I hope so. You were a beast with the heart of a lion!

For The Legend.

Peoria-ISHA State Track Meet-Hobbs NJCAA Nationals-North Centrals Nationals somewhere up north. You are the traveling man!

For Toni.

You are the woman of Facebook. Pictures all the time. And a great, caring person.

For Elizabeth.

Get your back pack back, its yours to keep. I enjoyed your toughness. I enjoyed getting to know you…………

For Leslie.

Thank you and next year will be an even better year………we might even have a spot for you to run on the team.

For Chelsea.

Thank you for being yourself. As a coach to see someone improve as much as you did makes coaching worthwhile.

For Thomas

Thanks for working your butt off. Trying to get back to where you wanted to be. Most people would of given up.

For Cory

Sometimes adversity is thrust on  us to make us a better person in the long run.

For Brandon.

Rough way to end the year. A man is not judged by how many times he gets knocked down, but by how many times he gets up!

For Josh

I’m really looking forward to see how you come back next season. I know you can do the work and I know you will do the work.

For Dustin

Thank you Dirty. You always gave your all.

For Steven

Good luck with your air force commitment. Get ready for next fall.

For Janelle

Always remember this very important piece of advice from the dark caves of the high priest in the holy mountains of the Alps.  You can not bring full water bottles through airport security!

For Mallory

You get two. You had a great season. But I except more out of you for next fall. We are going to break that 20 minute mark. So all I have to say is “Be Ready!”

in Kaskaskia College Cross Country by coach mike on 18 Nov 2011

After supper on Saturday,  Josh, Mallory and myself were hanging around talking and decided to go to the movies.  So we ended up with Steven, Toni, and Elizabeth going also. Josh wanted to see The Immortals.  When we get to the movie theater, its one that you pay outside. We are standing in line and here comes two police cars.One of them  pulls right up next to us……..Josh thinks we are getting busted because we didn’t show ID for R rated movie. Mr Policeman gets out and says “Did you see the fight!” Most of us answer “no we just got here” Mallory responds with a “I wish I had!” She doesn’t get out much! We go into the movie theater and the place is a mess, garbage everywhere, liquid all over the floors, my seat is soaking wet.  I’m thinking the fight took place in the theater! The movie was good, oh did I say it was 3D?  It was 3D! Little slow at first and then the heads started to fly off! Ended pretty good. I kept giving Josh crap that Pus n Boots would of been better in 3D! It was a good time. I must say a good bunch of young people!

in Kaskaskia College Cross Country by coach mike on 18 Nov 2011

Yes that was my uncle at the airport in St Louis! He has worked there for ever and a day.  Old enough to retire but still working. My grandma Hargis or Meme as we have called her forever! She is going to be 96 or 97 in December. Has 5 kids. There is Christine, my dad JD or John Durre, Don, Ron or James, and Dick. None of the men have hardly any hair! I know I might tell a tale once in awhile, so I could understand the mistrust when I said “thats my uncle Ron!”   Sorry I will do better!………………………….

in Kaskaskia College Cross Country by coach mike on 18 Nov 2011

Ok-we keep learning as well, we should of been there on Thursday! We needed that extra day. To say we were wipe out Friday is an understatement. We left the school at 3 am, drove for over an hour and a half to St Louis. To be honest, I have traveled some, but usually my wife tells me what to do and how to get the tickets and what line to get in. So when we got inside the terminal and first thing we see is Continental’s check in area closed, my heart stopped for a second! Believe it said “Sorry we want to confuse you folks go to the United check in area!” Anyway we sent The Legend over first, with just his driver’s license, that was all he needed, made sense to me…………he is The Legend!  Well luckily some  nice lady showed up and started printing out our boarding passes and show us how to use the machines to print the passes out. Next up check in some bags, only Toni and myself had bags to check. Which proves a point…………..Janelle can pack light if its going to cost her money!  My bag was full of shoes with spikes in them, figured we would not be able to get pointed spikes through security. Next off to security, the line was long. There was a lot of people there that morning. So we were in line for a while but we made it through without any problems. I was worried about Josh, was not sure what he might be trying to get through. But we seem to make it.  What I learn is you don’t want patted down don’t wear a sweat shirt! The plane ride was a little shaky. We landed in Houston and had a bit of a layover. Guess what …. no $1 menu in the McDonald’s in the airport. That was surprising………………to some.  The ear popping is one thing I do not enjoy about flying. I know Toni had a real rough time with it. I have tried chewing gum, hold my nose, nothing works for me. I noticed Toni was trying the water in the ear thing. I thought she was going to break her neck.  We landed in Hobbs and lets just say, the airport is not very big. But doesn’t need to be.  I have been working on this post for a couple of days, so I’m going to just post it.

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

Thanks to the greatest parents in the world. We had a great gathering that traveled over two thousand miles round trip to watch us run! Lets see-M/M Bach, M/M Kujawa/M/M Wendling and son plus girl friend, M/M Huff. Thanks so much! We will miss the Huffs!

Also thank you to my “seniors” or I guess sophomores-Thomas, Cory and Dirty on the men side and Chelsea, Janelle, Toni and Elizabeth. Elizabeth is not a sophomore but since she ran a year at SIU-E she had only one year with us. Thanks for everything. Great bunch of young people-hoping to get some All Academic Americans out of the group but we have to wait until the end of the semester.  Also an outside chance we can get an All Academic American team as well, the ladies have a chance, but we need for  a couple to pick up a little…………..and you know who you are!!!!!