From Gold Winner to Gold Finder

Here is a story about a running mentor of mine that really inspires me. I decided he should be my first story about how just because you can't run competitively doesn't mean you can't coach competitively.

"It was 1985 on a chilly Saturday morning, I was waking up for the state qualifier meet later that day. I knew that this was the day that i have been training for. being a top contender in the district i knew there was a strong chance from me to make it to the state meet. I got up had the normal breakfast i have always had in hopes my stomach wouldn't get upset due to my nerves, but it was no use. After getting dropped off at school I immediately went to the bathrooms and got sick, I didn't know why I was so nervous I had raced these same athletes prior that year running 16:05 beating them by a margin of 20 seconds for a 5000 m race. I remained a nervous wreck until my coach came up to me after my warm up and looked me dead in the eye and said "This is your day. This is your race. Tuck in early and then drop them the last mile and you'll be fine." I proceeded to the starting line did my run outs eyeing up my competition from about 50 meters out. I thought of what my coach said, It seemed so simple almost too simple but it really was just that simple."

He later went on to win that meet race by 15 seconds moving on to state finishing top 5 that year and received a full ride to a Division 1 college.

25 years later and a torn ACL later Coach Bracket aka Brack accepted a job at a local high school. With a struggling program and barely enough runners to fill a team to compete he went to the physical education teacher for a quick meeting. He discussed having a 1 mile time trail with a prize of 15 dollars on the line for the winner. The teacher accepted the proposal and later that week the time trial was held. There he witnessed 4 athletes that dropped sub 5:10 miles with no training prior to that trial. Greg, Danial, Mark, and James were all sophomores and Juniors at the school. Later that week they were called to the main office for a proposal that Brack had worked out with the school board and principle. In exchange for joining the track and cross country team they would receive an A in the class and not have to partake in class. The students accepted the offer and come out for track that spring. Being that they were all similarly talented the were ideal training partners. Greg Danial, Mark, and James competed in the mile, and half mile that year dropping their times to by 30 seconds and the following year by another 10. These 4 boys in exchange an A in gym ended their high school career by running in the state meet in the 4x800 meter relay, 2 in the 800, and 2 in the 1600. At the meet they took 3 in the relay running 7:48, with half mile times of 1:55 and 1:54, and mile times of 4:10 and 4:12. This coach with a 15 dollar incentive just a year prior turned these slightly above average runners into top in the state competition.

Due to his initial success he was able to grow this school's program to a large successful group. He has since coached the team to consistent state meet appearances and medal winners. This just goes to show that just because he isn't able to compete on the track and course doesn't mean your running career has to end. It can live on through helping other's achieve huge things in their careers.