I have the enviable position of being a high school running coach.  I get to influence and teach and encourage young people who are trying out running.  Some have a talent for it, most are just solid kids looking to be part of a team, get in shape for another sport, be part of something, or who knows the multitude of reasons why a person of any age takes up this seemingly ridiculous activity.

They look to me for guidance and support and quite frankly I don’t know what else.  But every time a season comes to an end, after each race I try to peak for, or maybe just on occasion during my run I reflect on what I have learned from this sport, from the perspective of a coach.

– BE CONSISTENT:  This means staying healthy and getting in the workouts whenever you can.  This means recovering and even running a few less miles.  This means getting something done even when the weather might suck (we learned this over the past track season).

-BE REALISTIC:  Focus on your end goal.  One, or two, or three or whatever crummy workouts does not make, or end, a training cycle.  Don’t flip out.  I remember laying in the Lincoln Zoo parking lot for 30 minutes after a workout once.  Went on to run a PR in a race that fall.

-CONTROL WHAT YOU CAN: Learned this one from my dad. Worry about the things you have control over, let everything else go.

-TRY AND ENJOY THE PROCESS:  My friend Levi used to quote his college coach (in a very flattering way).  “Guys, isn’t it fun to be FIT”.  Damn right it is, just hard to get there.

-BE OPEN TO NEW TRAINING METHODS, BUT HAVE FAITH IN WHAT YOU ARE DOING: Look, there are only so many ways to train for a particular distance.  Find what works for you, but always look to learn new things.