I’ve been up since 3:30 thinking about running. Not me running. About kids running. About what kids can run and how that best gives the teams the best chance to finish the season on the highest of notes. I’ve been awake knowing I can’t do a damn thing for them but remind. Remind. Refocus and hopefully remind again. Louisiana XC State meet or “States” as my kids will argue about is tomorrow. I mean shit. If I’m up at 3:30 on the day before, I may not sleep until Tuesday night. 

I started coaching a few years back because my son was running and I was never the soccer or basketball coach but running. Well that’s my wheelhouse and the program needed it. In my sons 6th grade year there was barely enough kids to round out a HS roster (5 boys and 5 girls) and the middle school wasn’t too much better. 3 years later we have 30 high school kids and another 40 middle schoolers. It’s a lot. But this is what the program needed. 

Last year both the girls and boys won second in the state meet. This year the boys have a chance to win despite injuries. The girls, just 6 months after losing 4 seniors have a chance at second again. This is why I can’t sleep. While I know there’s nothing left to do, I also know how hard they have all worked and to close out the year this way would be beyond great. 

The bigger win is the group. I don’t know anything about football kids or soccer kids or baseball and I’m sure all of them have bonds, but running 400’s In 96 deg heat has a way of bringing you together. Long runs spent laughing and sharing time create a “I’ll do anything for you.” bond that transcends grade and gender. Seeing new kids at the school accepted and embraced reinforces the same things I know about running with my friends as an adult. Simply. There’s not much a good run can’t bring back into focus and if not change for the better, at least provide a reprieve and different point of view on. 

I tell parents and truly mean that while yes I want their kids to run their best, and that if they do so we have chances to win meets and awards, but what I want to foster is a love if running. I’m 48. I ran with one of my best friends twice last week and we talked life and family and business. We laughed and made inappropriate jokes. We started the post run part of the day refreshed and refocused. That’s what I want to give these kids. I tell the parents that no one 48 is getting together and playing football and if they’re playing basketball/soccer/softball they’re likely at risk if losing out a knee. Despite the world at larges best efforts to scare otherwise, running can be a a pretty injury free sport if you aren’t stupid.  If you’re injured from too much running. I just called you stupid. 

Running makes kids better students and people. It builds confidence. It gives them a place. It can make them happier. Running giveth and taketh, but remains when there’s not much else. 

So I’m up for the day and tomorrow we will give the last meet of the year our best go. 

But these kids have already won and will continue to.  

#hugsandhi5s