Coach Mikes Blog

in Personal by coach mike on 09 Feb 2009

The second week of February is here. No turning back the clock. The weather has not been very good, until this week. We need to get some good practices under our belts or under our shoes.  Right now I’m not sure what we could do. Lots of the guys have been sick-lots of the flu bug going around. Oh well, do what you can, with what you have. We have some very interesting freshmen, Mr. Barringer can climb a rope and then he can rip his hands to shreds when he slides down it! Paul has never been out for track, not sure what he wants to do, but at least he’s trying. What about the Iuka boys-Heser the running machine, Albert looks very interesting to me, he might be able to do a lot of different things, Slover is high jumper (I think he is a Iuka boy). Then Bradly Davis pole vaulter and hurdler, we always need freshmen pole vaulters. There is the X man, Goosetree, the freshmen class looks strong. I hope we get some good weather to get some work in!

in Personal by coach mike on 30 Oct 2008

How do you measure success?  Wins, loses?  Should success be measured  by that instant in time when the game or event ends, by the final result?  Or should success be measured in the days and weeks and months that follow?  What is success?  Money in the bank? A big house? A nice car?  Not everyone can win the game, win the race, but can everyone be a success?

in Personal by coach mike on 15 Jun 2008

Whether its father’s day or mother’s day-they are  two of the most important people in your life-I have been lucky enough to have a great mother  and  father. I know now a days  a  lot  of  young  people  are  lucky  to  have  one  special  person in their lives. So if you are one of lucky ones make sure your parents or parent knows how much they mean to you. Gifts aren’t important, cards aren’t important, how about a big hug, a thank you and a “I love you!” If you haven’t talked to your dad for awhile for some reason or another, today is the day to change that! Give him a call, drop by and say hello, make the effort, sometimes thats all it takes, someone making the effort. Have a nice day and keep running, its time to build that base for the fall!

in Personal by coach mike on 09 May 2008

Corey Hopkins came by practice,  I had called him about helping me with the jumpers this week, the only problem was the weather, rain. So he spent some time with Sager talking about the high jump, and we talked some, Corey was always serious about his craft and has a wealth of knowledge about jumping, will make a great coach someday, I just wish his body had allow him to compete in college.  Then tonight my cell phone rang and Justin Helpingstine called he was on his way back from a meet in Indiana where several of the 800 meters guys went to try to make qualifier.  He ran his personal best 1:52  something,  I  can never remember the  .  somethings.   He was real  pumped up,  next week  they  are flying to  Georgia  to  race again  in the  800,  he might  pr  again.   It was nice  to  see and talk to  former  friends and athletes.

in Personal by coach mike on 27 Mar 2008

Seems in our area right now, there are a lot of insurance claims. I don’t understand this act of nature or they use to call it “an act of God.” I’m sure God is sitting up there saying “drop that tree there and drive that car through that house and let the wind blow that tree on your neighbor’s house.” If your tree falls on your neighbor’s house your insurance doesn’t have to pay and they won’t pay you to have the tree cut off the house, because its an “act of nature!” What about all those people that live close to big rivers, can’t get flood insurance. The insurance companies don’t mind taking your premiums, but you better read the fine print! I’m not sure what is covered? Back to the act of nature, if you are driving down the road and hit a patch of ice, loose control and wreck, you’re going to get a ticket for “driving to fast for conditions.” No matter how slow you were going. There almost needs to be a sign that tells you what speed to go for different conditions. 10 mph if there’s 10 inches of snow? If you have that wreck and get that ticket, guess what? Your insurance rates probably will go up. But isn’t that an “act of nature?” This has nothing to do with track or cross country, but hey its my site! Good luck and watch out for nature, if you’re in the woods and a bear eats you! Its an “act of nature!” I’m not sure your life insurance will pay off!

in Personal & Practice by coach mike on 09 Feb 2008

Practice was good today. Starting to see some things shape up a little. Some bad news a young jumper/hurdler torn up his ankle at basketball practice last week. Going to see a specialist. We are keeping our fingers crossed. I just liked the way the guys are working. I can’t wait to be able to go outside and get some real work in!

Jon Williams showed up today and will help the throwers a ton. Still waiting on some young runners to show, I pass the word that if you were going to the first indoor, it was time to start showing up. ( I run a loose ship at this time of year.)

Talked to Ryan Knapp or Kidnapp’s parents last night and he is getting better, he had come up with pneumonia and will be out a few weeks. Get well soon and get back on those hurdle drills.

One final thought, and this is for my good friend and co-coach Kevin and his wife Pam. Pam has a type of cancer, that is rare and slow moving. They have been in Texas all week at research center, our thoughts and prayers continue to be with them. Be safe.

The world some days seems to be spinning out of control, keep your family and friends close, so we will have more hands to hang on with!

in Personal by coach mike on 09 Feb 2008

Went to Andy’s visitation last night. Lots of young people there. Andy was in (will always be) a group of good friends, several of them worked with him at Austin’s Restaurant. Guys like Nick, Tim, Jordan, and Linder just to name a few. I told his dad that Andy always made me smile.

in Personal by coach mike on 05 Feb 2008

Received some bad news today, actually started hearing the news yesterday. A former trackster, former employee , and a friend was killed in a car accident. The weather has been really weird, snow, rain, cold , hot and then a lot of fog. Twenty-three year Andy was driving in the fog, missed his turn, was backing tracking and was hit by a truck. Andy was a real favorite. He always had a good outlook on life, always had a smile and a firm handshake. He worked for my family at the restaurant, my mother just adored him. On the track, he was a sprinter for the Wildcats, always giving his best. My favorite memories of Andy took place at Harrisburg. He had ran the premli’s of the 200M, didn’t race real well. Later he was in the 4×200, he lined up on top of the exchange triangle, instead of using the acceleration zone. This was a freshman mistake, problem with that was Andy was a upper class man, of course this messed up the whole relay, messed up the hand offs. I gave him a good chewing. He went on his way, back to camp, took his shoes off, took his jersey top off, was playing cards. They announce the finals of the 200’s, guess who made the finals? Andy, he had no idea, wasn’t ready. It was a funny sight seeing him come running out of the stands, trying to put his shoes on, his top on, while the starter held up the race. I couldn’t chew on him again, the sight of him, falling to start, was just to funny. Thanks Andy for all the good times you gave us. Thanks for always having a smile on your face, thanks for always taking time to talk to your old coach. The world lost some of its positive energy! Love you man.

in Personal by coach mike on 22 Dec 2007

Right now its between, between cross and track. Time on my mind, too much time. But a runner gets very little break. A good runner that is takes very little time off, maybe 2 weeks and then its time to get back with it. This time of the year, weather permitting, is good for base, building base. To get faster, you need base miles, not real fast miles, but good solid miles. Some lines of thinking, don’t even want you to worry about miles, run minutes. I like that approach. For example: Jordan and Tyler aren’t going to run 5 miles in the same time. Tyler may take 35 minutes while Jordan 30 minutes. Since we are trying to build an aerobic base, we need time more than distance. So let Jordan and Tyler both run 35 minutes and see what they can do. Of course if they run together you get the same results. That why sometimes you just need that run on your own. Distance runners are lonely sorts, if they want to be good, better, best, they have to hit the road and put in their time. So get out there and hit the roads, run lots of minutes, get ready for that 2 mile and 1 mile race in track. You do the time or miles and then we will bust your butts on the track to get that needed speed. Happy Holidays! What the heck Merry Christmas!

in Personal by coach mike on 16 Sep 2007

My little girl is getting married this weekend, so the team will travel without me to Springfield. Audrey is 25 years old and has been away from home for several years now but it just seems like yesterday that she was cheer leading, playing basketball and running. She ran in high school, was on a regional championship and sectional championship team. And one year in college. She was a solid runner and good leader. I got to coach her one year, her 8th grade year at Selmaville. That was my first year coaching cross country.  I don’t really remember much about that year, just a lot of kids, noisy  bus rides.  I do remember winning 4th place at state, the excitement of the ride home. We would always get the fire truck treatment when we got back into town to the school and then a pizza party. The meet was held at Clay City High School. We drove the kids over because we didn’t want to take a bus for reason I can’t talk about! The race started, up close to the building, the kids had to run over the curve of a old track to a small bush and make a 90 degree turn. It was a very tricky start, I saw races where whole teams would be wiped out trying to make that turn. Then you ran along the street and made another 90 degree turn by some temporary  building with concrete steps  in the path of the runners.  The Selmaville parents started  moving those steps out of the way. One year we forgot to put them back, the next year the meet director put us in charge of moving them and putting them back. Seems he had to move them himself.  This race was something to watch, lots of kids and parents.  Some real tough finishes, some real knock down action at the end of the race.  Neat place to race. Anyway that team won 4th, so thats a memory  for  my daughter and I to share for ever.

She’s getting married in Bloomington, Indiana at IU. Where they met. Its going to be a great day. She is a great person and her husband to be a great young man. I very happy for them.  My little girl!