Track is over and I get to come home right after school for the next few weeks! That was a pretty fun, but extremely exhausting month. Trying to coach the kids properly and train daily is a bit like burning a candle at both ends. For the next few weeks I plan on making it to the pool on a much more regular basis. Tour of the Gila is less then two weeks away, and the triathlon season is just around the corner! Good stuff on the horizon.
Track- We had a real legitimate shot at winning the city championship last Friday night for both the boys and girls team, but we fell a little short. On the boys side, I was able to include a couple of my students! James and Joseph each ran the open 800. James out sprinted the two kids at the end of the race....and continued to run half way around the track again, until I finally got his attention:) My other kid, Joseph, was pretty disappointed that he didn't get a ribbon last week so he decided he was going for broke in the 800 on Friday night. This kid exemplified what every coach wants out of his athletes on game night..to a point. Joseph always takes off way to fast (and always forgets to cut into the inside lane at the turn) and Friday was no different. I positioned myself at the turn to make him both slow down and cut in...to no avail. Joseph was so damn determined to get a ribbon that he continued run way too fast and in he 8th lane until the next time around when I got his arm and showed him where lane 1 was. By the time Joseph was on his final straight towards the finish line, the crowd was clapping, his teammates were yelling, and he was white as a ghost, but refused to quit! He finished (last), but never stopped running and more importantly never stopped trying his very best. After the race he made his way back to the infield. His parents, brother (a collegiate soccer star), and coaches were all very proud of him. What does Joseph do?? Has a seizure. Although I have seen many in my teaching career this one really got me. I picked my little buddy up and carried him to his mom's car and they took him to the hospital. He would be fine by later that night, but it shook me up pretty bad. I couldn't help but think of the out put Joseph gave for his team and especially for his teacher, coach and buddy. That's a big deal for a kid from my program to make the cross over to a regular sports team and he didn't want to go out without giving it his ALL! After that incident a little lull came over me and everything was put into perspective. I asked the kids to run with HEART on Friday night.. and that they did! On the girls side, the score last Saturday read Zia 114 (1st) Vista 44 (4th). That's a ton of points! On Friday night the score read Zia 98 (1st) Vista 89 (2nd)! Coach Reyes did an awesome job! As with everything I do, I managed a few Mikeisms at the meet, picture one at the top is a pair of shoes my buddy Paulo gave me for the kids to run in. I asked for an 8.5, knowing that is a popular size for 8th grade boys. After each event the shoes were used, the first thing the kid would do is take them off and pass them to the next kid who was planning on running in Vans or high tops.Those shoes were used for long jump, open 400, open 800, the mile run, 400 meter relay, 2 heats of the 800 relay, the 800 medley, and the 1600 meter relay!! Thanks again Paulo (and Danny for letting Paulo know we needed some). Funny thing about running in flats is that you run a bit faster then you are used to....hence a kid who wore them at the meet ran so darn fast he couldn't slow down and ended up biffing it a few meters past the finish line. The first thing he said when he got up, with a smile, was "These shoes are fast Coach"! I just laughed and took the shoes to the next kid waiting to find out for himself just how fast those Troy Lee Design Avia's really were:) FYI a kid who goes by the name of smurf was the final recipient of the shoes and ultimately took them home....He was very happy!
For those wondering...The streak lives, 118 days straight counting the trainer ride I just did (2 hrs):) Day 114 was a memorable one! I was fortunate enough to hook up with a fellow Trisports.com teammate, and professional triathlete, Ian Mikelson. It's not everyday I get the chance to ride with someone of the ability as Ian. He is one fast dude. I was stoked to have ridden with him to say the least. The Gila race has me a bit worried and I am trying to cut a little weight in preperation, but it's not an easy thing to do. I was trying to reach 165, but I am pretty sure that is not going to happen..I will settle for 170 (before the opening stage). Currently, I am at 175 and feel that is a little too big to get up some of those hills with lead pack, I guess we will find out soon enough. I must admit this streak of training everyday has been a good thing for me, and I am pleased with the side effects ;) ... Plus a friend of mine just e mailed me an article which detailed a study done in Spain which read "Beer beats water for hydration in endurance athletes"..... couldn't be happier!!!! BBQ & BEER tomorrow night! Take it EZ.
Peace Out!!!
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