Today marks the last day of track season. As a coach it’s nerve wracking to watch. You want so badly for your kids to run their best and when it doesn’t happen. It’s heartbreaking. You just have to believe you did all you could for them and hope they execute.

When things don’t go as planned I immediately question everything. Did we do enough? Did we do too much? What could we have done better. It all sometimes feels like a crap shoot.

Ultimately I know that we have done great work this year and that every year we get better than the year before. I know this. It doesn’t make it any easier.

My friend and fellow coach Lindsey and I were talking about getting f the best of of the kids and she said that she responded well to a coach who constantly criticized and pushed her buttons. It ultimately made her mad and motivated her. I am not that coach.

For me coaching, like life, is black and white. You provide consistent solid training and you work like hell on the mental game and then you do your best to help them figure it out. Ultimately they have to do it. Easier said than done.

I’m immensely proud of these kids and the coaches as well as the progress of the program. I wish there were magic workouts but there aren’t.

There’s only their minds, the track, and the clock.

#hugsandhi5s