I've decided that I have too many stories from Division I Nationals about meeting people. I'm starting this week with Vin Lanana, next week Meb, then the next post, Chris Derrick.

Meeting* Vin Lanana

If you haven't noticed the apostrophe yet, notice it now. This is why it is there. I am a Sophomore in High School, so basically this means, I can not meet Division I or II coaches, other than saying hi for a brief moment, untill September 1st of 2011. So, me not being a top runner, wouldn't want to randomly walk up to the Oregon Head Coach either, so we decided I wouldn't meet him, but still get a picture with him. My mom's dad was a crazy man, and my mom said his spirit was with us through meeting everyone there. She had the camera, so I casually walk next to Coach Lanana, then he notices, and TURNS to look at me. Where as me, what do you think I do? Kept looking forward act like nothing unusual is going on. My mom got the money shot, which was a picture of us looking at the women's results, and the one of him looking at me. I was next to the Cornell coach as well. It was quite hilarious. Check out the pictures and then remember what kind of things he's done at Stanford and Oregon. (It just makes it funnier.) Next D-1 story next week will be MEB.

Getting Back to Training

I started running again on Monday. First run was in the pouring rain, which was quite a shock to my running. Then the next day I was afraid oh freezing my butt off for lack of sweats so I ran on the dreadmill. Unfortunantely, my feet have become baby soft over my 3 weeks of little running, so blisters baby. They are slowly getting back to the tough hide they were before but it's not so fun. The next few days I ran outside, which was nice. I accidently went on a long run, simply because I was feeling great and the sprinkling of snow felt good. Sadly, running outside will be a lot harder now, it has snowed quite a bit.

Run the Edge

I encourage anyone looking for something to do on Sunday at 11am Central, listen to Run the Edge, hosted by Adam Goucher and Tim Catalano. This week's topic is "$#*! My Coach Says", talking about things our coaches and mentors have said. Check it out at http://www.blog.runtheedge.com/. Feel free to write in. Here's what I wrote:

"I am very blessed to have a great coach, who is very straight forward when it comes to what we need to do. But I remember clearly what he said last year at the first meeting of summer running. "Most days won't be easy. A lot of days you're going to have to push it to the brink." This year, he went over what we had to do enough that during all the State Series Meets he simply told us "You know what to do. You know what's at stake. Go get it." He's very simple and direct with what he says, never beating around the bush to make epic quotes.
I am also very blessed to have a great mentor, Matt Peharda (author of Running With a Vengance [READ IT!!]). He told me once, "Good is the enemy of great." It's such a great attitude to stick with.
I also have attended UW-Stevens Point Running Camp for a few years and their Head Coach Rick Witt has said two things that have stuck with me. First, "The truth is you can run faster... The truth hurts." The next year he sad, "If you do what you have always done, you will always be what you always have been.""

Thanks for reading if you got all the way here!! Comment below what you think, or if you have any questions.