in Practice by coach mike on 17 Aug 2008
Another LG in the books. Weather was very good. We stayed at the same place as past years but in a different building. We took 18 runners, 4 new to LG. Three freshmen and a new junior. The Makanda run was first event for the weekend. The kids handled it very well. Jordan and Jacob ran very well. I had the top group of boys run an extra 1.5 miles. Clark looked very good again, Goff and Nix are running together, which is ok, they both know what it takes. So we have JK and JJ in the front and then the freshman Jacob Hesser has been hanging around in the front. The girls are all over the place, Courtney and Alyssa are looking strong, Tif the new freshman has ran very well. The rest were pacing their self for the long weekend. Team meetings went well Friday night, the girls had some ideas and we as coaches will try to adjust to them. After the meetings the girls and I went to town for shopping and ice cream, (don’t tell the boys!) I went to bed early not sure about the rest of the crew. Want to say welcome to our newest assistance coach Doug Douger Jones, He will be a big help to me and I’m glad to have him on board. Doug is a former Wildcat runner, 800M being his best event.
Saturday morning we were up at 6:30 am and running by 7 am. 30 minute run. The girls started with their ab workout they ask for. Break for breakfast, then the first run the Red Cedar Trail. Years ago the thought was this was anywhere from 14 to 16 miles, the trail was reworked a couple years back and distance was found to be 12 miles. So we try to half it off and run 6 first go around. The problems begin with people getting lost and going off the trail, first 3 boys came through and then no one! We waited until we got a phone call from Mol and Geff (volunteer long time coach), everybody was lost. So what was around six miles ended up being over 7 miles and took over an hour and fifty minutes to over 2 hours! Every year someone gets lost but never over 90% of the team! You would of thought Travis Fredrick was leading the way!!!!! Final Geff got them all in and off we went to grill hot dogs! Can’t say much about the run as far as who did well besides JJ, JK and JH, everyone else was lost! But I told Mollie her new nick name was Mose! Because she lead the young ones out of the wilderness and it almost took 40 years!!!!! She showed great leadership!
The kids enjoyed the hot dogs and water mellow. Some went hiking and watching the repealers do their thing. The coaches decided to offer the girls the out option for the afternoon run on the trail. Reasons: lots of blisters, too much time on the first trail, and only two showers at the cabin and we had supper reservations at 5:30!!!!! Two did decide to run the 2nd half-Weed and Shet-and they ran it very well, as good as any had in the last several years. Not all the guys made the whole run, I held back 3 of the guys. Cameron Davis has continued to surprise me with his endurance, we just need to find some speed for him! (and a case of good toilet paper) Little Jake had another good run, of course Jordan was tough again. JK worked it hard as did Kolon.
The meal was great, I was very hunger and everything tasted great. I’m not sure if the kids always enjoy what is going on, maybe some day! I’m tired, didn’t get much sleep Saturday night and was up early Sunday for the trip home. Practice Monday will be a challenge! What do you do as a coach after a week end of almost 20 miles for some of runners on very difficult terrain! Back off a little????? I DON’T THINK SO! I THINK I’LL START THE DAY WITH A QUESTION-” HOW GOOD DO WE WANT TO BE?”