Out With the Old

Well, we are in full swing with our summer training here in Central IL. It was a bit of a rough start as I have lost my 4 leaders from last year. I didnt know how much I depended on them, not just for leadership on the course, but for rides for those who are not able to make it to practice on their own. It was a is frustrating having kids who want to come to practice everyday but have other commitments (work, band, ect) or cannot get rides. We are starting to wrinkle those logistical problems out over the last week.

I have inherited 4 new freshmen, and with a little work, I truly believe we will have a top 10 team in the state of Illinois in 2009! Although it is a bit of work teaching everything over again, I believe it will be very nice to have a new core group to mold from day 1. We started this week with our first hill session, so there were some sore butts and a bunch of whining going the last few days. Today was our first trip away from the home course, where we do most of our practicing. We got a school van and drove out to the Rock Island Trail, an old railroad that was converted into a running trail of crushed cynder. The workout was a 2 mile warm up and then 6 miles of on/off mile repeats (3 hard and 3 easy continues in case you are wondering). Although the long straight ways of the trail can be a bit monotonous, the kids handled it pretty well, and I think really enjoyed going somewhere new to run.

We will also be getting a new volunteer coach starting next week which is ecspecially exciting for me as it can be real burden trying to chase 20 kids around, coach, worry about injury, logistics, ect. Most importantly, it will be nice to teach someone who wants to learn and continue what I started here down the road when it is time for me to step aside.

My running has been going pretty well, just plotting around doing my theraputic 5-10 miles. No foot problems as of yet, so cross your fingers, I may actually be running track this time next year! I have also decided to start volunteering at a local kids charity, The Neighborhood House, which mentors and gives shelter for inner city youth. Probably going to spread myself a little thin, but what the hey, I got the time.

Thats it for now. Happy running and Go Raiders!

tb