SimpleSoleProject

My racing seasons fall into two distinct categories, in season and out of season.  Come to think of it, most of my life could be described like that.  For those that don’t know I coach cross country and track at Lincoln North Star.  My mid-August through late October and March through May are committed to this endeavor.  While not impossible, the balancing of these commitments and my family with personal training usually does not let me commit 100% to a training plan.  At the very least, training takes a backseat to coaching and I squeeze in workouts where I can.

On the upside, running is very literally a part of my daily life for a good chunk of the year.  I get to work with runners of all abilities and desires.  I am inspired by them in my own training and racing.  But the off-season is where I get to commit training and racing without much worry about sweats checkout or results or riding a school bus somewhere.

Fall of 2016 was no exception.  State cross country was the 23rd of October, on the 25th I was painfully going through a rust-busting 16:52 5k at Lincoln’s Governor’s Cup.  From there my race schedule broke down like this

-Lincoln Halfsy on November 1st

-Nike Cross Regional 5k in Sioux Falls, SD on November 8th

-Living History Farms Off Road Race in Des Moines, IA on November 21st

-Lincoln Track Holiday Run on December 6th

-USATF Club Cross Country Championships in San Francisco, CA on December 12th

Some of my favorite photos are below and I hope to have some commentary over my vacation coming up here in a few days.  But in case I don’t get around to it, here are the highlights.

HALFSY- Struggled on a tougher than expected day weather wise.  But had a group late that included my buddies Ryan Regnier and Jason Zakaras.  Kept me motivated to 3rd place AG.

Nike Regional- My second best race of the season.  A course that is fast usually does not benefit me competitively.  Just not that speedy.  But decided to get out and mix it up best as I could.  If it went badly, well it was only a 5k and wouldn’t hurt THAT long.  Surprised myself with a 16:32, fastest 5k in quite some time.  3rd O/A

LHF- generally one of my favorite races of the year.  For not being a certified course and typically slow as heck, I still try to include it as a peak race.  This year the course was shortened by at least 2 miles due to night before snow.  Made the water crossings even more treacherous than they usually are.  Combined with ice and shin deep snow, there was no messing around.  Fought my way to a 12th OA, 1st Age Group, 4th Team (with an age average well over the top 3 teams though they don’t measure that. . .)

Holiday Run- Always fun, but way slower than I would have liked.  Pioneers is my home for cross country. I have been running there for 20 years now.  Would have loved to run a lifetime best there, and I was in shape to do it, but the stars did not align.

USATF Club Cross– When I was presented with the opportunity to run club cross for LRC-Racing  I jumped at it.  I don’t get this chance very often and what a way to cap off a year of running.  Sadly it did not go well for me.  Hard to take away even a highlight, but here goes.  Ran a 5:01 first mile, which is only slightly slower than an all out mile I ran earlier this year.  This might explain why the rest of my race did not go well.  Able to run with Olympian and World Championship Silver Medallist Nick Symmonds for the middle part of the race.  Hang out with a group of guys that provide me with an experience that never got in college.

I have found a mildly creative outlet in this site.  I don’t keep content as fresh as much as I would like.  But I write when I am inspired to.  I have learned a great deal about how to write both in editing and phrasing.  That being said, there are far more talented people than me out there (or maybe they just have more time) in regards to conveying their meaning or the spirit of something. So when I come across these items, I am hit by feelings of envy and inspiration.  Sometimes, it is better left to the pros:

Of Fells and Hills – Salomon Running TV S4 E02 from Salomon Running on Vimeo.

One of the greatest joys I have in coaching is to cheer my student-athletes on AND help them progress from possible non-runners to individuals that can complete a full, cross-country 5k within 8 weeks.  In high school we get all kinds of people on the team. . . hard-core runners, kids conditioning for other sports, being part of something, cut from other teams, people who wandered into the wrong room . . .

The point is, that as a high school coach I am compelled (gifted?) to work with all types of runners.  You try to build an inclusive culture.  A community of hard work, of passion for the sport, of caring about your performances and your teammates, of representing your school, your coaches, and yourself in a positive, competitive way.

Building a culture around running is hard.  Really hard.  Especially when working with young people. But encouraging people to do something as challenging as running has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Whether it is putting a medal around the neck of a state champion or giving a high-5 to a young lady who simply didn’t walk during a 5k the upside of coaching is incredible.  Developing a philosophy of training and coaching and experimenting with both is one of those processes that is frustrating and gratifying at the same. I would argue that this same definition applies to learning.  That is what life is about.  Well, partly about.  By partly about, I mean the two experiences of encouraging others to be their best and learning.  So to those looking to meet a goal or those who have been helped by someone along the way, props to you and props to them.  Rise to it.

JUST ANOTHER REMINDER ABOUT THE EVENT.  THERE WILL BE NO TICKETS AVAILABLE DAY OF.  YOU NEED TO PRE-ORDER.

FACEBOOK EVENT PAGE

TICKET INFO

SPONSORS UPDATE:

Hey folks, I am proud to present something pretty unique to our part of the state.  I am brining in the Trails In Motion film tour to Eastern Nebraska.  You can check out the registration page at ULTRA SIGN-UP.  But here are the big deets:

-Friday, October 16th.

-Doors at 530pm, Movie at 6pm

-Tickets at $10 and limited to 105 and people.  $10 will get you the movie, pizza, and hopefully some beer (I am working on that one still)

-Profits will all go towards Schramm State Park Aquarium and Trails.

-Sponsors for raffle prizes are below.  Raffle tickets will be $5 (cash only).  Highlights include race entries from Lincoln Track Club, clothing from Oiselle, hats and a pair of shoes from Hoka One One, gift cards from Taco Bell, Lincoln Running Company, and Red Dirt Running Company. Hope to add a few more sponsors over the next few weeks.

So pass the word to your friends.  Mark this community event on your calendar.  Hope to see you there!!!

Recently I made some observations about the importance of places.  Reading back, I cannot believe I forgot to at least give some recognition to a locale that has been as important to my life as a runner as maybe any place else.  Pioneers Park in the western section of Lincoln, NE.

This fall marks the 20th year I have been dealing with the turns, dips, trees, hills, and challenges of this stalwart course of high school running.  A course that can be crazy fast in dry weather and squishy, energy sucking mess in wet conditions.  My first attempt in an actual race was the Nebraska Wesleyan Invite August, 1995.  I was a JV member of the Lincoln Southeast Knights.  Since that late summer morning, I have followed that white line for more workouts than just about any other route on my menu.  Running through driving rain, 90s and humid, shin deep snow, and perfect racing days.  That course has shaped me as a runner and a coach.

Continue reading →

I have always been an open spaces kind of guy. The vast majority of my best memories are where the buildings, if there are any, are less than one story tall.  Learning the ways of the mountains with my Boy Scout group in Camp Ben Delatour outside of Ft. Collins.  My dad teaching me to spin cast on a farm lake near Lincoln.  My uncle (and dad) teaching me to fly fish and surf in Montauk. Suffering up the talus of a 14er with Devin.  Scared out my mind on a run-out pitch in the Garden of the Gods with Jon.  Splashing through thigh deep water with my Lincoln Running Company buddies at Living History Farms race. . .

All of them different.  All of them special.  I have been incredibly lucky in my life so far to have been exposed to some of the best landscapes our country has to offer.  There are many, many more to be seen.  This is a celebration of those places that are near and dear to you and your soul.  Not that soul that you might talk about in church, though that might be accurate here as well.  But this is that part of you that has the sense that despite the sheer luck of you simply being in existence you have some way to connect this world. That there are places where you feel utterly, completely at home.  In spite of your personality traits, your outward appearance, your abilities; you simply belong.  Many people have been fortunate enough to have found these places.  For some, they are elusive and maybe impossible to discover.

Of course I can’t speak for everyone. But pay attention.  That person at the café with their feet propped up sipping a cup of coffee or glass of wine.  An individual at the bar watching a game.  Someone reading a book in the corner of a park.  The guy I met near Winfield, CO in his camper his wife gave him just hanging out for a weekend.  The artist spending hours in their studio.  The photographer in the darkroom (or computer as tech dictates).  Everyone can have a place, no better, no worse.  Just theirs.

For me, it is through the physical realm.  The world of movement.  I am most at home with my feet in the water, dirt on my hands, spikes on a cross country course.  My heart rate pounding in the last quarter of race. Maybe my pulse is low with the rhythm of my cast.  Solo is fine.  Family and friends nearby?  That is the best.  Sweating dripping into random patterns as I bend to the effort.  Wondering if I will make it through.  The warmth of just sitting there and looking.  Just being.  Every chance I get, I make my way to these places.  These are my important places.