…when the body tells the mind that the mind is WEAK! Welcome to a
LINE IN THE SAND:
Now a new line exists and a new challenge presents itself: You all have trained to make yourselves better than before and stronger than you imagined. But your mind still says that it has a limit that you must not cross…that you CANNOT cross. The problem is that no such line exists, the line in the sand is only the place that is ahead of you that you just haven’t reach YET. The question is not if but when…the issue not how but by how much? The point of fact is that as you step to the line you have already won or defeated yourself. The latter is embarrassing, as at that point you shouldn’t even bother to run the race. Walk to the line knowing that it will be the best that your body can do not that which your mind says is just adequate. To do everything in mediocrity is to do nothing all the time. Step up… stride out… make the finish the end not a stopping point and NEVER give up on yourself at any point during the race. The strength to run is not the same as the strength to race. The desire to improve yourself can only be outweighed by the desire to build up the team. The point is that every step is crucial and every step won’t hurt any less if you go a little slower. Get out..get set..NEVER settle…never be content with the position you’re in but be aware of where you are.
I told Dave this, now I tell you:
You race to start a new era of yourself, as every time you step to the start line you create a new YOU. A faster YOU. A more dedicated YOU.
Run for that which resides in your heart...the desire to find the final line.
And I, as your friend, wish with my entire heart that you NEVER find it, but never stop trying.
Nathan
Friday, October 31, 2008
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Morton's 2008 Regional Meet: The Long Red Train meets King Elephant
"I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of me.
A day may come when the courage of men fails,
when we forsake our friends
and break all bonds of fellowship,
but it is not this day.
An hour of wolves and shattered shields,
when the age of men comes crashing down,
but it is not this day!
This day we RUN!!
By all that you hold dear on this good Earth,
I bid you RUN, Men and Women of Morton!!!"
-Aragorn (kind of).
This quote embodies the aura that surrounded both teams this morning at Maxwell Park in Normal, Illinois: site of Morton's 2008 Regional. The air was brisk, the weather calm, the lakes placid, and the energy high. Luckily, Nathan and I were able to make it out to the meet. Thus, we are the documenters of today's post, entitled, creatively..."Morton's Regional: The Long Red Train meets King Elephant."
The girls race started like any other, with a gun shot. The girls found their paces early and settled in for what would prove to be an exciting 3 mile ride! At the 1 mile, the Pribbles were in the lead pack (with a Mahomet-Seymour girl way out in front), Grace was just a few steps behind, and Ashley, Brooke, Jenna, and Lauren, all running strong, rounded out the rest of the Lady Potter lineup.
The excitement, referred to above, came at the 2 mile mark. Caitlin, while spending the first couple miles on the shoulder of a M-Seymour girl, suddenly threw it into another gear. She totally made the M-Seymour girl look like a plodding Markhor the way she left her in the dust! Nathan, most of the guys' team, and I had to sprint to catch most of the girls at the 2.5 mile mark. Once there, we yelled words of encouragement to help the girls along the last half mile.
As the girls came out of the woods the last time and hit the final homestretch, it was as if a veil of exhaustion had been lifted from the gals. The girls threw down some wicked finishing kicks! Caitlin took first for the Potters (and 2nd overall ) with a time of 19:03 to receive an individual medal; twin Ashley also got a medal for her 5th overall finish in 19:17(I think. I don't have the results in front of me). Grace used a great finishing kick to nudge a M-Seymour girl right at the chute. Jenna and Ashley [Coon] showed great determination in attacking those last 300 meters to the line! Lauren and Brooke's strong finishing kicks rounded out a Potter team that took 2nd place with 57 points!
The guys race was equally intense; actually, it was so intense it may even have been xardiospraktocious! Nathan and I knew that not only did Morton have their work cut out for them, but we did too. Having already run around Maxwell Park to watch the ladies, we were going to really have to push it to catch the guys' at all the viewing points. However, we managed, and here's how the race went down:
Joe Zeller took the lead for the Potters and went out in the first mile at what Nathan said was, "5:20, but don't quote me on that." Behind him, Marks was running well, and a pack of Smitty, Pipes, Dominick, Bradford, and Meyer had formed. However, by the 1.5 mile mark, after Joe had already gone by, the fans at Maxwell Park were treated to a spectale never before seen in IHSA Cross Country: The Long Red Train! Marsky, Pipes, Smitty, Bradford, and Dale had moved together and were running in perfect single file! It brought tears to my eyes to see such great teamwork, but I couldn't cry for I was too busy shouting words of encouragement like, "Go!" (It's too bad I got in the way of this picture, cause it was classic! For more pictures, and Nathan's thoughts on next week, click here.)
By the 2nd mile, Joe was still in the lead for Morton, and (I believe) in the Top 15. Marksy began to make a strong move, and he was followed by Smitty and Piper, who were doing a great job of running together. Once again, Nathan and I booked it out to the "Pump-Up" flag, as I decided to call it, at the 2.5 mile mark. There, our words of encouragement, mixed with the desire and passion contained in the churning leg muscles of these Potters, propelled them faster, as if they were being pulled by chariots!
As they came out of the jungle the last time, it was all or nothing: a Sectional birth was on the long...and the Potters responded! Joe's kick brought him in at 16:43 to take 12th place! Marsky was behind him in under 17. Piper and Smitty came in together right around 17:02-17:04. Bradford shut the door for Morton at around 17:10. Dale and Meyer rounded up the Potter lineup with a 1-7 split of just around 45 seconds! The 96 points scored by the Potters was good enough for a 4th place finish and a trip to ICC next Saturday!
Awards!
A day may come when the courage of men fails,
when we forsake our friends
and break all bonds of fellowship,
but it is not this day.
An hour of wolves and shattered shields,
when the age of men comes crashing down,
but it is not this day!
This day we RUN!!
By all that you hold dear on this good Earth,
I bid you RUN, Men and Women of Morton!!!"
-Aragorn (kind of).
This quote embodies the aura that surrounded both teams this morning at Maxwell Park in Normal, Illinois: site of Morton's 2008 Regional. The air was brisk, the weather calm, the lakes placid, and the energy high. Luckily, Nathan and I were able to make it out to the meet. Thus, we are the documenters of today's post, entitled, creatively..."Morton's Regional: The Long Red Train meets King Elephant."
The girls race started like any other, with a gun shot. The girls found their paces early and settled in for what would prove to be an exciting 3 mile ride! At the 1 mile, the Pribbles were in the lead pack (with a Mahomet-Seymour girl way out in front), Grace was just a few steps behind, and Ashley, Brooke, Jenna, and Lauren, all running strong, rounded out the rest of the Lady Potter lineup.
The excitement, referred to above, came at the 2 mile mark. Caitlin, while spending the first couple miles on the shoulder of a M-Seymour girl, suddenly threw it into another gear. She totally made the M-Seymour girl look like a plodding Markhor the way she left her in the dust! Nathan, most of the guys' team, and I had to sprint to catch most of the girls at the 2.5 mile mark. Once there, we yelled words of encouragement to help the girls along the last half mile.
As the girls came out of the woods the last time and hit the final homestretch, it was as if a veil of exhaustion had been lifted from the gals. The girls threw down some wicked finishing kicks! Caitlin took first for the Potters (and 2nd overall ) with a time of 19:03 to receive an individual medal; twin Ashley also got a medal for her 5th overall finish in 19:17(I think. I don't have the results in front of me). Grace used a great finishing kick to nudge a M-Seymour girl right at the chute. Jenna and Ashley [Coon] showed great determination in attacking those last 300 meters to the line! Lauren and Brooke's strong finishing kicks rounded out a Potter team that took 2nd place with 57 points!
The guys race was equally intense; actually, it was so intense it may even have been xardiospraktocious! Nathan and I knew that not only did Morton have their work cut out for them, but we did too. Having already run around Maxwell Park to watch the ladies, we were going to really have to push it to catch the guys' at all the viewing points. However, we managed, and here's how the race went down:
Joe Zeller took the lead for the Potters and went out in the first mile at what Nathan said was, "5:20, but don't quote me on that." Behind him, Marks was running well, and a pack of Smitty, Pipes, Dominick, Bradford, and Meyer had formed. However, by the 1.5 mile mark, after Joe had already gone by, the fans at Maxwell Park were treated to a spectale never before seen in IHSA Cross Country: The Long Red Train! Marsky, Pipes, Smitty, Bradford, and Dale had moved together and were running in perfect single file! It brought tears to my eyes to see such great teamwork, but I couldn't cry for I was too busy shouting words of encouragement like, "Go!" (It's too bad I got in the way of this picture, cause it was classic! For more pictures, and Nathan's thoughts on next week, click here.)
By the 2nd mile, Joe was still in the lead for Morton, and (I believe) in the Top 15. Marksy began to make a strong move, and he was followed by Smitty and Piper, who were doing a great job of running together. Once again, Nathan and I booked it out to the "Pump-Up" flag, as I decided to call it, at the 2.5 mile mark. There, our words of encouragement, mixed with the desire and passion contained in the churning leg muscles of these Potters, propelled them faster, as if they were being pulled by chariots!
As they came out of the jungle the last time, it was all or nothing: a Sectional birth was on the long...and the Potters responded! Joe's kick brought him in at 16:43 to take 12th place! Marsky was behind him in under 17. Piper and Smitty came in together right around 17:02-17:04. Bradford shut the door for Morton at around 17:10. Dale and Meyer rounded up the Potter lineup with a 1-7 split of just around 45 seconds! The 96 points scored by the Potters was good enough for a 4th place finish and a trip to ICC next Saturday!
Awards!
- Photo Finish- Jared Marks gets this awards today. Even though he didn't quiet beat his opponent to the line, the award is given to "Potters who showed the most guts in the final stretch." Marksy definitely showed tons of guts in that final 300.
- Jack-O-Lantern Award- Dale's face at the "Pump-Up" Flag point was definitely worthy of the Jack-O-Lantern Award. Too bad Nathan didn't have his camera for that one:) Good job, Dale!
- The Punisher- This award can only to go one person today: Grace Jankowski. With a finishing kick that would make any fleet-footed ibex jealous, Grace passed a girl from Mahomet Seymour right at the finishing line and then (I'm pretty sure) threw a few elbows to make sure she got to the chute first. That's what I'm talking about, Grace! Way to go!
- The Morale Rooster- Nathan Young gets this award today for making an impromptu appearance all the way from the U of I Champaign-Urbana.
- The Morale Rooster 2- All the Morton Runners that showed up today to cheer on their teammates even though they weren't running. Cross Country is all about the team, and you guys proved that today. Also, playing "King Elephant" after both races were over was a great way to boost morale. If any of you girls (or guys) want to comment on this, feel free.
This is the end of today's post; I am so glad I was able to make it to the race today and I wish all the best of luck to both the Guys and Girls teams as they participate at Sectionals next weekend. Your efforts today make me wonder how long it's been since Morton's Guys and Girls CC teams qualified for Sectionals in back-to-back years. Steve, maybe you can answer that question?
Regional in Normality
The facts are simple, MORTON shall persist to achieve that which they were born to have. GREATNESS.
So what actually happened today?
Well...as the is picture shows we had some quality clumpage in the girls race was evident and of course the law firm went out, stayed out, and Rocked out.
This picture though illustrates how far you gals have come since the beginning of the season: dedication to each other and the good of the team.
Then there are the guys- funny looking hats, smiles, and one team running as One. The facts remains though where are they running to?
This team and the girls want glory, they want to achieve so much but as a team achieve it. So they're headed to the greatest of the places in the land:
This is the place that means you have done it, you have achieved the dream. I myself only got to partake in this glory but twice, some of you are already at the point and want a third appearance next year.
So onwards and upwards:
Sectionals at ICC
This is a difficult course, I'm not going to lie to you guys. The dominance required of you must come from an understanding of yourself and the course. The secret to racing when the time isn't the important factor is the RACING aspect of the challenge. Next weekend you have to race the field and let go of the clock. To advance means to beat the people that have YOUR spot and then clutching that spot and running away with it. The facts so you know say that you all have improved so much but i ask so much more of you:
- Today have a little fun, relax and enjoy what you have achieved.
- Monday is the time where you start looking to the future, stress not but think. Why have you accomplished all you've done? What makes this team so great is just that the TEAM.
- Take the time to use the team to your advantage, they will help and support you not just in the race but also in life. Some of the best people i know run Cross Country.
- Never take the race for granted, every step that you run must be calculated and based on the overall strategy. The team's well being is in your collected hands, and you shall stride to finish with that weight on your shoulders but together it is an easy burden. I've notice that you have learned to stick your noses in the race don't lose this.
And never forget that for every time it hurts (a little bit) it can't hurt anymore, it won't hurt any less if you go slower, just delay the respite at the end.
We'll talk more, but keep it in your minds. The end isn't here yet. Never stop running, "for to give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift"-PRE
Run for MORTON…Run for the TEAM…RUN for what you deem the impossible.
Nathan
Thursday, October 23, 2008
H.E.A.R.T.
…is the push through the pain and the glory that you feel within it, for it, and because of it. The chance to shine is now Morton… the time to run is Saturday…the place is Normal, though not the normal regional course. It is a new course, so make sure you learn it, that you know it, that you have the plan down before you step to the line. Every single runner has earned their spot to stand on that line for Morton, but show us the spectators why you earn it…we have forgotten and need to be forcefully reminded.
The goals?
-run together as one entity, the Morton Cross Country team- Two parts that run separately each made up of 7 teammates vying to aid their team.
-beat the person that thinks they should beat you and everyone that you deem unworthy to be in front of you.
-have a little fun before and after the race, this is a sport not a career and if you lose sight of that…
The team will be cheering all the louder for you whether you win or lose, the point of the matter is that every step should be driven and calculated and never faltering. Morton Cross Country has risen very high these past months and that flight shall not end now. You have done the amazing, you have done the required, now do the next step take the team as far as each and every one of you can. The farther you go, the longer you carry this team this year the stronger you shall be as you enter the next.
Run for MORTON…Run for the TEAM…RUN for what you deem the impossible.
Nathan
The goals?
-run together as one entity, the Morton Cross Country team- Two parts that run separately each made up of 7 teammates vying to aid their team.
-beat the person that thinks they should beat you and everyone that you deem unworthy to be in front of you.
-have a little fun before and after the race, this is a sport not a career and if you lose sight of that…
The team will be cheering all the louder for you whether you win or lose, the point of the matter is that every step should be driven and calculated and never faltering. Morton Cross Country has risen very high these past months and that flight shall not end now. You have done the amazing, you have done the required, now do the next step take the team as far as each and every one of you can. The farther you go, the longer you carry this team this year the stronger you shall be as you enter the next.
Run for MORTON…Run for the TEAM…RUN for what you deem the impossible.
Nathan
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Mid-Illini Conference
So it has come and passed....Conference the place to show how far we've come. But what actually happened, what is there to say? Honestly i don't have any times for sure, so i'll wing it and we'll try to get the results commented on at a later date.
Let's start at the Beginning: Long ago the race began...fast forward to October 17th, Location: Detweiller Park, more specifically on a line painted in the sand (possibly covered by grass)
The girls were ready to roll and i was pumped to watch as i had heard much about the team yet hadn't witnessed them race in over a month (i blame this on the institution they call college). Anyways i got there just in time to see the smoke and witness the impending glory. I comment first off that i think i at least recognize the Morton singlets now. So the start seemed to go well, with the cheers and beautiful weather setting the stage for quite a race. I'm not going to try to say the order of people as i'm afraid i'll mess up, but i remember we had our legal representation leading the way: Pribble, Pribble, and Jankowski. I shall say that they looked strong. I think i yelled, and the girls had no clue who this crazy guy yelling for Morton was. But i was the one yelling "keep the pace even" "okay maintain pace in middle mile" and "Go Morton". I shall discuss the outcome of the race in a sec.
The boys race...a few runners even looked familiar, except they seem to be getting around the course a little faster than the ones i used to know. They also had race conditions that make the race fast and the specators shake. I know a bit more about these guys and yelled all the louder for it, though this doesn't mean i like them more. So we had a Mr. Joe go out strong and the leaders of the guy's race (particularly Van Fossen) pulled the pace to around 4:55 at the mile. (i know this because i found my watch in my duffel bag at this point) Not to be out done, the Morton team got Joe and Marksy out strong with a crazy tight pack on his heels. I think this was Bradford with a couple feet on Meyer, Dale, Smitty, and Pipes. (order was fluid so i don't want anyone to complain if they feel they were ahead) Then we had a bunch of other guys, my brother included who were racing pretty strongly. I have no clue on order though as i can't remember that much information at one time (i am working on remedying this problem). So i think i yelled many things at the guys: "maintain contact" "all of Morton get your butts up with Bradford" "you know what to do in the triangle" and again a few "Go Morton!" for good measure. Now out of the triangle i think we had Joe ready to start his chase, Marksy showed the drive to get the job done, and a tight (fluid) pack of men passing a few guys. Now i admit that i may have run to the back straight and yelled AT the men, but i still caught the finish too.
WHAT HAPPENED
The girls finished quite strongly from what i could tell, but in steve's words the other teams got the "low sticks" or better places in my language. The result was a 4th place finish, and a darn good race from my humble perspective.
The men finished with a few sprints and once again the low sticks hurt them, though a strong pack like we had is essential in my opinion. So they took a 5th place finish.
All-Conference Team- of the Morton Flavor
In the girls corner a Miss Caitlin Pribble and Miss Ashley Pribble
In the boys corner a Mr Joe Zeller and a Mr Jared Marks
So what does this mean?
I don't want to put anyone down, but i want to tell you that i think that it's okay that both teams took a different place then they had predicted. Though i can't speak for Zehr, i know if i was coach i'd rather you guys learn this lesson this year so next year it's not a problem. Simply put: the race isn't won until all your runners have crossed the line. I think some of you may have thought you only had to worry about the teams that beat you, rather it has to be remembered that Cross Country is a fluid sport and everything changes from moment to moment. You all learned a lesson on how every team is a potential threat. Next year you'll probably beat almost every team in the conference (the almost should be taken as written in disappearing ink)
So i wish you the best of luck at regionals, and make this week count!
Let's start at the Beginning: Long ago the race began...fast forward to October 17th, Location: Detweiller Park, more specifically on a line painted in the sand (possibly covered by grass)
The girls were ready to roll and i was pumped to watch as i had heard much about the team yet hadn't witnessed them race in over a month (i blame this on the institution they call college). Anyways i got there just in time to see the smoke and witness the impending glory. I comment first off that i think i at least recognize the Morton singlets now. So the start seemed to go well, with the cheers and beautiful weather setting the stage for quite a race. I'm not going to try to say the order of people as i'm afraid i'll mess up, but i remember we had our legal representation leading the way: Pribble, Pribble, and Jankowski. I shall say that they looked strong. I think i yelled, and the girls had no clue who this crazy guy yelling for Morton was. But i was the one yelling "keep the pace even" "okay maintain pace in middle mile" and "Go Morton". I shall discuss the outcome of the race in a sec.
The boys race...a few runners even looked familiar, except they seem to be getting around the course a little faster than the ones i used to know. They also had race conditions that make the race fast and the specators shake. I know a bit more about these guys and yelled all the louder for it, though this doesn't mean i like them more. So we had a Mr. Joe go out strong and the leaders of the guy's race (particularly Van Fossen) pulled the pace to around 4:55 at the mile. (i know this because i found my watch in my duffel bag at this point) Not to be out done, the Morton team got Joe and Marksy out strong with a crazy tight pack on his heels. I think this was Bradford with a couple feet on Meyer, Dale, Smitty, and Pipes. (order was fluid so i don't want anyone to complain if they feel they were ahead) Then we had a bunch of other guys, my brother included who were racing pretty strongly. I have no clue on order though as i can't remember that much information at one time (i am working on remedying this problem). So i think i yelled many things at the guys: "maintain contact" "all of Morton get your butts up with Bradford" "you know what to do in the triangle" and again a few "Go Morton!" for good measure. Now out of the triangle i think we had Joe ready to start his chase, Marksy showed the drive to get the job done, and a tight (fluid) pack of men passing a few guys. Now i admit that i may have run to the back straight and yelled AT the men, but i still caught the finish too.
WHAT HAPPENED
The girls finished quite strongly from what i could tell, but in steve's words the other teams got the "low sticks" or better places in my language. The result was a 4th place finish, and a darn good race from my humble perspective.
The men finished with a few sprints and once again the low sticks hurt them, though a strong pack like we had is essential in my opinion. So they took a 5th place finish.
All-Conference Team- of the Morton Flavor
In the girls corner a Miss Caitlin Pribble and Miss Ashley Pribble
In the boys corner a Mr Joe Zeller and a Mr Jared Marks
So what does this mean?
I don't want to put anyone down, but i want to tell you that i think that it's okay that both teams took a different place then they had predicted. Though i can't speak for Zehr, i know if i was coach i'd rather you guys learn this lesson this year so next year it's not a problem. Simply put: the race isn't won until all your runners have crossed the line. I think some of you may have thought you only had to worry about the teams that beat you, rather it has to be remembered that Cross Country is a fluid sport and everything changes from moment to moment. You all learned a lesson on how every team is a potential threat. Next year you'll probably beat almost every team in the conference (the almost should be taken as written in disappearing ink)
So i wish you the best of luck at regionals, and make this week count!
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Mid-Illini Championships!
Girls Race: Hold Steady!
The girls team just needs to do what you've been doing all year and should place in the top 3 in the varsity team division. But do you want more? Do you want to try and challenge for the top 2? Do you want to crush the rest of the field? Do you want to run some new PRs? Metamora and East Peoria are the class of the field, but as far as this guy knows, no other team is very close to Morton's abilities, as is evidenced by Morton's 7-2 overall record, and 5-2 Mid-Illini record. If you girls do what you're used to doing, you should lock up that third spot, but you need to beware that many teams will run stronger races tomorrow than they have all year.
A step-up improvement from Morton's 4-5-6 runners, combined with a poor race from one of the two favorites, could sneak Morton into the top two, but the odds are long on that happening this year. But hey, there's no harm in trying, and when you try something this year, you'll have a better idea of how to succeed at it next year! Individually, the girls should look to try and get 1, 2, or 3 members of the Law Firm into the First Team All-Conference Awards, which is top 9. With a good race, the Lady Potters should be able to place several runners in the Second Team All-Conference awards. The weather looks like good temperature (around 55-60 degrees), with a possibility of rain, so depending on the sloppiness of the ground, it could be a great day for fast times all around. Anyone up for founding the 18 Minute Club??
Boys Race: 2nd or 7th??
Now you may be thinking "is this guy nuts?? 7th??" Well, yes I am nuts, but I am also completely serious on this one. I'm not suggesting a 6th or 7th place team finish is likely, but I warn that they are completely possible depending on the race that is run. Several of the teams that the men have beaten earlier in the season have improved significantly, and a great race will beat most of them. However a mediocre race will not beat that many, and a bad race could lose to all but Washington. That may sound mean to Washington, but they are the one team that's really completely out of this. I calls it like I sees it.
So what's it going to take? The two threats that are most known to us (besides Metamora) are EP and Pekin. East Peoria is very dangerous, as they possess a front runner, and a large, deep pack. Worse, a couple members of that pack have the potential to have great races and score some low sticks for the Raiders. To beat the Raiders, you have to take their pack on head-to-head. Very simply, you have to get your 3-7th runners running with their 3-5th, and grab points where you can.
Taking on Pekin is the same way. Their two top men are very strong and likely out of reach of Morton's pack. However, from 3-5 they're much weaker, and a solid effort by Morton's pack will take them down. You have to beat Pekin's pack by more than you beat EP's pack however, as their front guys are more likely to bring in low sticks. My prediction is that if you can take down EP's pack, you'll get Pekin's as well, but I make no promises, and you must be ready to read the race as it develops.
Individually? You've got a good chance at putting a man or two on the First Team All-Conference, and you could potentially put some members of the pack on the Second Team. While we don't know what the course conditions are, unless it's a total mudfest or very windy, which isn't likely, I think it'll be fairly fast. Probably the top guys in the race will run in the mid-low 15s, and there will be a lot of opportunities to get the pack under 17. You had your whole scoring 7 close enough to think about sub17 at Peoria. Let's get them all there this time. And let's see how many sub 16:30s can be grabbed. Hey why not, let's add a name or two the 15 Minute Club, alright??
The girls team just needs to do what you've been doing all year and should place in the top 3 in the varsity team division. But do you want more? Do you want to try and challenge for the top 2? Do you want to crush the rest of the field? Do you want to run some new PRs? Metamora and East Peoria are the class of the field, but as far as this guy knows, no other team is very close to Morton's abilities, as is evidenced by Morton's 7-2 overall record, and 5-2 Mid-Illini record. If you girls do what you're used to doing, you should lock up that third spot, but you need to beware that many teams will run stronger races tomorrow than they have all year.
A step-up improvement from Morton's 4-5-6 runners, combined with a poor race from one of the two favorites, could sneak Morton into the top two, but the odds are long on that happening this year. But hey, there's no harm in trying, and when you try something this year, you'll have a better idea of how to succeed at it next year! Individually, the girls should look to try and get 1, 2, or 3 members of the Law Firm into the First Team All-Conference Awards, which is top 9. With a good race, the Lady Potters should be able to place several runners in the Second Team All-Conference awards. The weather looks like good temperature (around 55-60 degrees), with a possibility of rain, so depending on the sloppiness of the ground, it could be a great day for fast times all around. Anyone up for founding the 18 Minute Club??
Boys Race: 2nd or 7th??
Now you may be thinking "is this guy nuts?? 7th??" Well, yes I am nuts, but I am also completely serious on this one. I'm not suggesting a 6th or 7th place team finish is likely, but I warn that they are completely possible depending on the race that is run. Several of the teams that the men have beaten earlier in the season have improved significantly, and a great race will beat most of them. However a mediocre race will not beat that many, and a bad race could lose to all but Washington. That may sound mean to Washington, but they are the one team that's really completely out of this. I calls it like I sees it.
- Metamora is clearly the class of the field, followed by East Peoria and Morton. While I never say anything is impossible, they are going to be very difficult to beat this year. Watch them, so you know how to do it next year.
- East Peoria is looking much better this half of the season, and beat Morton last week, despite earlier losses to the Potters in September.
- But it doesn't stop there. Pekin's front runners give them an edge in larger races, as evidenced by their placement over Morton at the Peoria Central Invitational. Mid-Illini is not a huge race, but it is larger than a dual meet, and that plays to Pekin's advantage.
- It doesn't stop there either. Dunlap beat Pekin at Metamora last week, so they're not to be discounted.
- And there's more. Canton is a huge wildcard, looking great at some races and weak at others. Morton handily defeated them in a dual, and they didn't look good at Metamora Invite last weekend. However, they supposedly beat Metamora head to head and looked fantastic at Woodruff. You don't know what they'll bring, but I'd count on it being their A game.
- Limestone does not appear to have the depth to challenge, but once again, I wouldn't count them out. They've got a solid front 3, and if they've managed to raise up a few more scorers, they could be a threat.
- Washington is....well, they're Washington.
So what's it going to take? The two threats that are most known to us (besides Metamora) are EP and Pekin. East Peoria is very dangerous, as they possess a front runner, and a large, deep pack. Worse, a couple members of that pack have the potential to have great races and score some low sticks for the Raiders. To beat the Raiders, you have to take their pack on head-to-head. Very simply, you have to get your 3-7th runners running with their 3-5th, and grab points where you can.
Taking on Pekin is the same way. Their two top men are very strong and likely out of reach of Morton's pack. However, from 3-5 they're much weaker, and a solid effort by Morton's pack will take them down. You have to beat Pekin's pack by more than you beat EP's pack however, as their front guys are more likely to bring in low sticks. My prediction is that if you can take down EP's pack, you'll get Pekin's as well, but I make no promises, and you must be ready to read the race as it develops.
Individually? You've got a good chance at putting a man or two on the First Team All-Conference, and you could potentially put some members of the pack on the Second Team. While we don't know what the course conditions are, unless it's a total mudfest or very windy, which isn't likely, I think it'll be fairly fast. Probably the top guys in the race will run in the mid-low 15s, and there will be a lot of opportunities to get the pack under 17. You had your whole scoring 7 close enough to think about sub17 at Peoria. Let's get them all there this time. And let's see how many sub 16:30s can be grabbed. Hey why not, let's add a name or two the 15 Minute Club, alright??
H.E.A.R.T.
…is the desire to improve the team through improving oneself and the people around them. It Conference time, so everybody lace up and get ready to roll out some low numbers! I want to make sure everyone understands why it is the running you did in the past and the running that you think you can do that defines how you run. Tomorrow you’ll step to the line, a man with one orange sleeve will raise his arm into the air, you see his finger twitch on the trigger…STOP! What is going to happen at that exact moment is what decides the race just as much as what led up to it.
You have all done the mileage that has gotten you to where you are right at this moment, right now on Thursday night, that has already been banked and no cramming anything in now. But THAT moment? oh that moment is sooo open to change it might as well be made of play-doh. It is the mind that will decides what happens after that moment just as it was the body that defined where you have already gotten. The body is the car, but the mind is the speed limit . You can say you can put all this power into the car… all the time in the world can be spent on the engine and that will give you a smooth ride, and power you up the hill. But the limit resides in what you think in that vital moment just before the gun goes off. There are tons of spectators on the side lines that have their goals for you, Zehr has his goals,...i even have my own goals for you. Doesn’t matter though, the goal that matters, the person’s opinion that matters is yours. You WILL race your heart out, you WILL give the team every ounce of speed and desire that you THINK you have. But will you give it everything you DO have?
Ponder that now, and step to the line knowing what you think you can do, and ACHIEVING what is REQUIRED of you: the best every stride, every time.
Run for Morton….Run for the TEAM… and run to achieve what you think IMPOSSIBLE.
Nathan
You have all done the mileage that has gotten you to where you are right at this moment, right now on Thursday night, that has already been banked and no cramming anything in now. But THAT moment? oh that moment is sooo open to change it might as well be made of play-doh. It is the mind that will decides what happens after that moment just as it was the body that defined where you have already gotten. The body is the car, but the mind is the speed limit . You can say you can put all this power into the car… all the time in the world can be spent on the engine and that will give you a smooth ride, and power you up the hill. But the limit resides in what you think in that vital moment just before the gun goes off. There are tons of spectators on the side lines that have their goals for you, Zehr has his goals,...i even have my own goals for you. Doesn’t matter though, the goal that matters, the person’s opinion that matters is yours. You WILL race your heart out, you WILL give the team every ounce of speed and desire that you THINK you have. But will you give it everything you DO have?
Ponder that now, and step to the line knowing what you think you can do, and ACHIEVING what is REQUIRED of you: the best every stride, every time.
Run for Morton….Run for the TEAM… and run to achieve what you think IMPOSSIBLE.
Nathan
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Potters end regular season 7-2
Both the men's and women's Morton Cross country teams finished out their regular season today at Northwoods with losses to East Peoria, rounding out a winning season with a 7-2 record, in what will prove to be the first year of the Potters surge to the front of the Conference. Next up, after a short break from racing, the Potters race the Mid-Illini championship at Detweiller Park.
The race today was run on a sloppy course after an afternoon of rain and clouds. The temperature was good, though the rain made it maybe a little cool for some, and the ground was soft and spongy, and it was very easy to slip and slide on some of those 90 degree turns that Northwoods seems to have an abundance of. I ran the course once over after the race to get my easy run in for the day, and I can tell you it was tough to stay upright on some of those corners, at my easy pace. I can barely imagine trying to keep my footing at race pace.
Ladies first!
The girls race was led instantly by East Peoria's front runners followed by Ashley Pribble, Caitlin Pribble and Grace Jankowski. A little ways back, trading spots were Ashley Coon, Brooke Carius, Jenna Zbinden, Lauren Wirth and Macaela Bennett. Some of East Peoria's early leaders were caught by Pribble, Pribble and Jankowski, but East Peoria's pack had a lead on Morton's second group, ensuring the Raiders victory.
The Potters ran a great race, moving up the field later in the race as several Raiders paid the toll for an overly aggresive opening dash. The girls ran well, handling the muddy turns with the poise of an ibex, and never once falling down - where I could see them at least. Macaela Bennett ran very well, in her first race of the year, and off of what I assume is limited training.
And now, for the Gentlemen...
The boys race was expected to be a battle, with East Peoria coming on strong in the late season and showing an ability and depth that was very similar to Morton's showing last weekend. I'm talking about their showing at Detweiller, not their dance moves at Wal-Mart. The Potters suffered the misfortune of running a man down as Jared Marks was out with an illness. East Peoria ran a very similar strategy to their girls team, sending a few runners out front, and making sure their pack was mixing it up with Morton's guys.
Joe Zeller ran patient and in control, staying in the top four early and moving into second place around the 2 mile mark, ultimately finishing third. Eric Meyer was second for the Potters, separating from Morton's pack early and giving chase to the leaders. He ate up several members of East Peoria's pack and held them off to help the Potter's score. Next up came a few of EPs later scorers, followed by the foursome of Dale, Nick, Austin and Nathan. These four ran together for much of the first half of the race, separating in the second half.
I did not see the times for either race, but believe several members of the men's team were still under 18 minutes, running only slightly slower than last week's race, with some possibly even faster. The men did not quite show the poise of an ibex, but something more akin to the poise of a meerkat. There were reports that a few men did go down, but the rumors that they fell victim to Dale's elbows are at this point unsubstantiated.
The Creation of a New Award
New for today is the Sloppy Joe Award. This award goes to any Potter who displays excellence in a race in muddy conditions. The first edition of this award goes to the entire team, men and women, as all raced well today. If I could accompany this award with a photo of a muddy Joe Zeller or Joseph Doan, a true Sloppy Joe, I would. But alas, I have no such photo.
Next Up: Mid-Illini
The next race for the Potters will be the Mid-Illini meet, where the Potters will look to maintain their rankings and maybe grab some revenge on some teams today. In the women's race, the Potters go in solidly ranked third and should look to hold onto that position and to earn as many All-Conference honors as possible. Top 8 in the race get 1st Team All Mid-Illini, while the next 8 runners earn 2nd Team. How many of these positions can the Potters grab?
For the men's race, the Potters go in fighting for second. While Metamora appears to be a clear favorite this season, there is no other team in the Mid-Illini that Morton hasn't beaten at least once this season. However, two of those teams have defeated the Potters in at least one outing, so the battle will be tight. East Peoria is obviously running their best races at the right time, and Pekin's front running helps them in invitational formats, but if the Potters continue to improve and can nail a few guys near the front of the meet, they should be able to claim their position. Pekin's low sticks will be have to be neutralized, and so will East Peoria's pack. This requires a full team effort from all of the Potters and will prove an exciting challenge.
My Moment of Glory - passing the Olympic Finalist in the woods.
During the men's race, I found myself back in the woods, moving from point to point alongside or behind, one Tim Broe of East Peoria. At one point while heading up the hill to cheer near the cemetary, I found myself passing the most accomplished runner I can recall ever meeting. I'm sure he was thinking something along the lines of "all these guys pass me whenever I run easy, and they try really hard to look like they're running easy too. They must get a big kick out of it."
I resisted the urge to take off my shirt, throw it on the ground, and taunt him like the Frenchman from Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Rather, I kept my cool and asked him about his team, and we then proceded to yell things to our athletes that were directly opposite each other. "Let's go you three, one Morton guy right behind you!!!" vs. "Let's go Morton, you can grab those three EP guys in front of you!!" He may have won the war, but I won the battle.
And Dave, he said nothing about wanting to run with you.
-Steve
Monday, October 6, 2008
Cross Country 101
The Differences in Invite and Dual Scoring:
Okay class, today's discussion with be on the difference between dual and invite scoring. The pre-lecture question was What is the difference between a dual and an invite? ... Mr. Getz you think you have the answer for us? -"Yes sir, when you're in a duel the object is not die while attempting to gain the upper hand on your opponent. Whereas when you are invite to something you usually don't fight someone." Well...that is a very interesting answer Mr Getz, anyone else else have an answer?
Okay let's assume that you have all at least read up a little before coming to class, but still go over a few vocab words.
So on to the actual scoring. Let's use the recent Peoria Invite held this past weekend as an example race.
Pekin High School 51 118 221 234 248 (289) (352) = 872
Morton High School 127 172 176 202 226 (229) (247) = 903
Now this is simply the place that each member of the guy's varsity teams got added together to get a total. In this case the following: PHS 872 to MHS 903. Now as we all know the low score wins so Pekin was victorious.
Now then what if this had been a dual meet?
PHS 1, 2, 7, 10, 12 (13) (14) = 32
MHS 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, (9) (11) = 26
Morton would have won this meet had it been scored as a dual. So what though right, it wasn't a dual it was an Invite and Morton lost? Yes, but there is more to the story. Look how well Morton would have packed the scoring getting 4 guys in before Pekin's 3rd. This also displays the power of the bumper, getting in the 6th and 7th man in before Pekins's 5th was huge. Look at the scores taking out the bumpers. (this is purely an illustration used to show why 6 and 7 matter, and never happens in real racing)
PHS 1, 2, 7, 9, 10 = 29
MHS 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, = 26
Yes Morton still won but the margin of win is slight. I tell you now if any of you can't do this for a pop quiz, say tomorrow, you all have my phone number and email on the syllabus so shoot me if something is confusing you.
Your TA's can probably be of much help too. Yes Daniel i see that you're worried because David is your TA, however no fear he and i will have a little chat after class.
Okay class dismissed and don't forget to study for the quiz, i would guess it would be around 4:30 or 5:00 tomorrow at NW Hall in the Woodmen Lounge. Take care.
Okay class, today's discussion with be on the difference between dual and invite scoring. The pre-lecture question was What is the difference between a dual and an invite? ... Mr. Getz you think you have the answer for us? -"Yes sir, when you're in a duel the object is not die while attempting to gain the upper hand on your opponent. Whereas when you are invite to something you usually don't fight someone." Well...that is a very interesting answer Mr Getz, anyone else else have an answer?
Okay let's assume that you have all at least read up a little before coming to class, but still go over a few vocab words.
- Duel- is defined as a combat between two opponents.
- DUAL, the one we were referring to Mr. Getz, means having two of something in this case cross country teams.
- Invite in the context of this class will be a large meet where teams from outside conference borders race one another.
So on to the actual scoring. Let's use the recent Peoria Invite held this past weekend as an example race.
Pekin High School 51 118 221 234 248 (289) (352) = 872
Morton High School 127 172 176 202 226 (229) (247) = 903
Now this is simply the place that each member of the guy's varsity teams got added together to get a total. In this case the following: PHS 872 to MHS 903. Now as we all know the low score wins so Pekin was victorious.
Now then what if this had been a dual meet?
PHS 1, 2, 7, 10, 12 (13) (14) = 32
MHS 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, (9) (11) = 26
Morton would have won this meet had it been scored as a dual. So what though right, it wasn't a dual it was an Invite and Morton lost? Yes, but there is more to the story. Look how well Morton would have packed the scoring getting 4 guys in before Pekin's 3rd. This also displays the power of the bumper, getting in the 6th and 7th man in before Pekins's 5th was huge. Look at the scores taking out the bumpers. (this is purely an illustration used to show why 6 and 7 matter, and never happens in real racing)
PHS 1, 2, 7, 9, 10 = 29
MHS 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, = 26
Yes Morton still won but the margin of win is slight. I tell you now if any of you can't do this for a pop quiz, say tomorrow, you all have my phone number and email on the syllabus so shoot me if something is confusing you.
Your TA's can probably be of much help too. Yes Daniel i see that you're worried because David is your TA, however no fear he and i will have a little chat after class.
Okay class dismissed and don't forget to study for the quiz, i would guess it would be around 4:30 or 5:00 tomorrow at NW Hall in the Woodmen Lounge. Take care.
H.E.A.R.T.
…is the calm after the storm when the dust has settled and you lay on the ground in exhaustion. It means that every time you step up to the line you KNOW that it’s all or nothing- give your all or don’t even bother coming to the line. One last race… and one more team to beat. Let’s make sure that those seniors get a win on their last running of Northwoods. On to the discussion of running: what does it truly mean to run with everything? What does it mean to do your best? Honestly it’s not driving all out the whole way (this will only accomplish you burning out after the first mile or so), rather it is running your race while at the same time adapting to race around you. It’s observing and taking note of what the other runners are doing and how they’re feeling. A few points:
- a wise man once told me make a it hurt a little, it’s not going to hurt any more than it would if you went a little bit slower. AND he constantly reminded me- the other guys are hurting just as much.
- Watch the runners that you’re near in the race, you’ve all run enough races by now to know when someone is running with the "E light on", and you can tell by their stride and their breathing. Use this!
- I know Steve has told you guys to use the blind spots to put a little distance in between you and other runners, and I agree completely but I have another thing too. When you pass someone, PASS them. I mean that as when you make a pass it has to be definitive and you have to put a little distance on them. It’s purely psychological, but all of cross country is in the mind anyways. If you want to throw in a little bit of a stare down that’s fine, but beware that some people take it personally.
- Run together, not just by one another. As the great Coach Bombay once said, “Ducks fly together!” We aren’t ducks, but the same holds true here- birds of a feather flock together. The pack is by it’s very look if nothing else a winning strategy.
- Finally the most important one for amateur runners (this should apply to none of you but a good point bears repeating). Just because you can’t see an spectators or coaches doesn’t mean you can slow down. I have seen a lot of novice runners only running really hard when they know people are watching- don’t fall into this trap at Northwoods and don’t let the race pace fall in the barren stretches.
Okay so we’ve covered the basic strategies to successful racing, now what? Well tomorrow you go to the race knowing you’ll win, you do, you eat much food and enjoy the company of friends, and say that the day was good.
Men and Women of Morton…lest you forget for a moment: Run so that you answer to no one but yourselves.
Nathan
- a wise man once told me make a it hurt a little, it’s not going to hurt any more than it would if you went a little bit slower. AND he constantly reminded me- the other guys are hurting just as much.
- Watch the runners that you’re near in the race, you’ve all run enough races by now to know when someone is running with the "E light on", and you can tell by their stride and their breathing. Use this!
- I know Steve has told you guys to use the blind spots to put a little distance in between you and other runners, and I agree completely but I have another thing too. When you pass someone, PASS them. I mean that as when you make a pass it has to be definitive and you have to put a little distance on them. It’s purely psychological, but all of cross country is in the mind anyways. If you want to throw in a little bit of a stare down that’s fine, but beware that some people take it personally.
- Run together, not just by one another. As the great Coach Bombay once said, “Ducks fly together!” We aren’t ducks, but the same holds true here- birds of a feather flock together. The pack is by it’s very look if nothing else a winning strategy.
- Finally the most important one for amateur runners (this should apply to none of you but a good point bears repeating). Just because you can’t see an spectators or coaches doesn’t mean you can slow down. I have seen a lot of novice runners only running really hard when they know people are watching- don’t fall into this trap at Northwoods and don’t let the race pace fall in the barren stretches.
Okay so we’ve covered the basic strategies to successful racing, now what? Well tomorrow you go to the race knowing you’ll win, you do, you eat much food and enjoy the company of friends, and say that the day was good.
Men and Women of Morton…lest you forget for a moment: Run so that you answer to no one but yourselves.
Nathan
Saturday, October 4, 2008
The Race of Honor
Dear runners,
It has come to the attention of two of the founders that our Personal Records have fallen today. Though those that dared break them shall remain nameless (unless you happen to read Steve's post about the race today), actions must be taken to remedy the situation. So, we have decided that a Race of Honor must take place. Morton High School runners, woudn't it be lovely if the founders whose titles have fallen could have a chance to regain their glory? We (those certain founders) sure do. So, we propose the following course of action.
Why don't we all register for....
1. The Turkey Trot 4-mile at Detwiler (Nov. 23)
2. The Jingle Bell 5K (Dec. 2008)
3. Both!!!!
By agreeing to the aforementined proposal, those who register not only get the chance to run a race (one of life's greatest enjoyments), but we can all fellowship together and, above all, give the founders a chance to regain their honor!
Sincerely,
David Russell Getz Esquire the First
P.S. In all seriousness, Nathan and I hold no grudges, but we would love a chance to race against you guys again. I think these two races would be a great/fun/great thing to do together. If you guys agree, just leave a comment. Great job again today, and beat East Peoria on Senior Night! Seniors '09!!!
It has come to the attention of two of the founders that our Personal Records have fallen today. Though those that dared break them shall remain nameless (unless you happen to read Steve's post about the race today), actions must be taken to remedy the situation. So, we have decided that a Race of Honor must take place. Morton High School runners, woudn't it be lovely if the founders whose titles have fallen could have a chance to regain their glory? We (those certain founders) sure do. So, we propose the following course of action.
Why don't we all register for....
1. The Turkey Trot 4-mile at Detwiler (Nov. 23)
2. The Jingle Bell 5K (Dec. 2008)
3. Both!!!!
By agreeing to the aforementined proposal, those who register not only get the chance to run a race (one of life's greatest enjoyments), but we can all fellowship together and, above all, give the founders a chance to regain their honor!
Sincerely,
David Russell Getz Esquire the First
P.S. In all seriousness, Nathan and I hold no grudges, but we would love a chance to race against you guys again. I think these two races would be a great/fun/great thing to do together. If you guys agree, just leave a comment. Great job again today, and beat East Peoria on Senior Night! Seniors '09!!!
Detweiller again!
The Peoria Invitational
Today was meant to be a day for fast times, and the Potters delivered.
The full official results and team standings aren't up yet, so I'm going to throw up a quick summary here, with maybe more to follow once the results are online.
First of all, the conditions. The conditions were almost perfect. So close to perfect that I'm not sure how they could have been any better. The temp was about perfect, slightly cool, but not so cold to actually be cold. Probably mid 50s for the girls, and a few degrees warmer for the guys. The course was in good condition. The park had been rolled and pressed and the mud and junk from the Woodruff Invite was gone. The ground was smooth and had that perfect firmness that strikes the balance between too soft and too hard. Firm and not soft, but not yet hard and frozen.
The Girls Race
The girls race went out fast, and the first mile played out to form just like normal, with 1 mile splits just a little faster than previous races. The secret came in the second mile, however, as most of the Potters slowed significantly less than in previous races. Caitlin Pribble went through the 2 mile in around 12:38ish, which is a good 20-30 seconds faster than previous quick races, with Ashley and Grace following. The rest of the Potters were also running quick splits through 2 miles.
At the finish it was Caitlin, then Ashley, then Grace in 19:08, 19:18, and 19:58. The Pribbles are showing that they're ready to attempt creating an 18 Minute Club. Note that these times are not official, but just what it looked like they finished at from my vantage point downfield. I could certainly be off by a few seconds on any of these. I did not catch all the other Potters finishes, but some were walking out of the chute area before 22 minutes, which means they probably ran well under 22 minutes. That means some more P.R.s were set.
The Boy's Race
The boy's race started out fast, with Joe through the mile in around 5:17, followed by Jared Marks, Eric Meyer, Dale and the threesome of Nathan Smith, Nick Piper, and Austin Bradford, who ran together much of the race. The challenge was to keep that fast pace through the middle mile, where the Potters often slow. Most of the Potters ran their best middle mile yet, losing only 20-30 seconds for that next mile.
Zeller went through the 2 mile in 10:51 (2 mile P.R. en route!!), followed by Meyer, Marks, Dale, and the Smith-Piper-Bradford trio. I'm sure that many of these men set 2 mile P.R.s during the race today. Going into the last mile, people were starting to fall apart and the gaps started to spread as the Potters started trying to eat up those gaps. Zeller finished in around 16:23-24, followed by Meyer in around 16:48 and Marks in around 16:55. Dale followed a few seconds later, showing the effects of an all-out effort . Piper and Smith finished next for the Potters, I believe both under/around 17:10, with Bradford rounding out Morton's runners in around 17:20.
Catching the founders
With this race, Zeller has passed Nathan Young and Dave Getz on the Detweiller P.R. chart (which I just made up), but still has a couple more seconds to go to catch Steve Gifford. Steve is scared as Joe is a sophomore. Meyer, Marks, Domnick, and maybe Piper and Smith, also beat Dave's HS time at Detweiller, humbling the founders of this site.
A note to Nick Piper
First of all, awesome race today. Second, you made a comment the other day about the 15 Minute Club not being a realistic goal for you. I busted out my history books just to check a few things from some of my old Peoria Invites. If you look at the 15 Minute Club list, you'll find two guys at 15:33 back in 2000. Those two guys ran 17:02 and 17:17 at Peoria Invitational their sophomore year. You'll find a guy listed at 14:56 and 15:01. He ran 16:49 as a Sophomore. So you're going to tell me that type of improvement isn't realistic?? While I don't know all their stories, I'm sure most of the guys on that list did not run under 16 as sophomores. You guys are doing very well.
A note to the whole men's team
While I was glancing over my history books, I noticed something else. In 1999, the year Morton went undefeated, we had some stronger frontrunners, but our depth was not the equal of yours this season. We never had a 7th man finish around 17:20. Not even very close. Considering you guys are still a young team, this bodes very well for the future. You should all improve as long as you continue to work for it. Let's see what happens when Austin Bradford runs over the summer, with the rest of the team. That's right, Austin, I'm singling you out. If you're running like you are off of 6 miles over the summer, imagine what happens when you start hitting the offseason miles.
Next up: East Peoria
The Potters face Mid-Illini rival East Peoria at Northwoods on Tuesday. East Peoria's girls team is one of the top ranked teams in the state and the girls will have their work cut out for them
East Peoria's guys team was defeated by the Potters several times in the early season, but has shown huge improvement in the recent weeks (thanks to Mr. Piper for pointing out just how improved they are). You can't compare times on different courses and different days, but just for reference, here's what their top guys ran on their home course one week ago.
16:26
16:52
17:09
17:10
17:10
17:50
18:03
18:10
18:23
As you can see, they're much improved from your previous competitions, and are a team that could match up very well with the Potters. You beat them before, so let's do it now when it counts. Remember, breaking up their front men, and getting a lot of people in front of their 5th will be a solid way to ensure victory. Work together and use the course to your advantage. It's likely to rain on Tuesday, so make sure the Potters are the masters of a muddy Northwoods.
Some confused Potters
Several members of the men's varsity squad were sighted, dressed up and with dates, at Wal-Mart Saturday night, apparently confused about the location of the Homecoming Dance. Since no members of the girls team were sighted there, we'll assume they actually knew where the dance was. We hope these Potters can find their way to Northwoods on Tuesday, as they will be needed.
That's all for now. Peace out. I love saying "peace out".
-Steve
Friday, October 3, 2008
HEART
…is the push when the pain is highest and there is nothing left but raw will and team loyalty. But let’s look at things a little differently tonight. This is the Peoria Invite varsity and all that jazz. Let’s take a look at our team:
In the Guys corner:
Joe-
Dale-
Eric-
Marks-
Bradford-
Piper-
Smitty-
These guys have formed quite a close knit group from what I can tell. I don’t know if they get along or anything like that, but I know they’re close when it comes to running. They pack well, run hard, and take each of their strengths in running to defeat the majority of the conference. I also would like to say that I have great confidence that these guys will all do some serious damage on their PR’s tomorrow. They did the same thing last year, when I took a race off, so I expect the same this year.
In the Girls corner:
Pribble-
Pribble-
Grace-
Coon-
Jenna-
Brooke-
Wirth-
I don’t know this team quite as well, but I’m a firm believer in times can speak for the runner when coupled with an account of their effort levels during the race. I can tell that you all run with the fire to improve the times you run and the style that you accomplish them with. I from what I’ve seen you have achieved much and are only growing stronger as team as you go. Tomorrow is the Peoria Invite, and there are many girls running and there are many you shall beat. But the opponent lies not in others but in ourselves.
May all of you run swiftly and fluidly and every step power you faster than you think possible.
Nathan
In the Guys corner:
Joe-
Dale-
Eric-
Marks-
Bradford-
Piper-
Smitty-
These guys have formed quite a close knit group from what I can tell. I don’t know if they get along or anything like that, but I know they’re close when it comes to running. They pack well, run hard, and take each of their strengths in running to defeat the majority of the conference. I also would like to say that I have great confidence that these guys will all do some serious damage on their PR’s tomorrow. They did the same thing last year, when I took a race off, so I expect the same this year.
In the Girls corner:
Pribble-
Pribble-
Grace-
Coon-
Jenna-
Brooke-
Wirth-
I don’t know this team quite as well, but I’m a firm believer in times can speak for the runner when coupled with an account of their effort levels during the race. I can tell that you all run with the fire to improve the times you run and the style that you accomplish them with. I from what I’ve seen you have achieved much and are only growing stronger as team as you go. Tomorrow is the Peoria Invite, and there are many girls running and there are many you shall beat. But the opponent lies not in others but in ourselves.
May all of you run swiftly and fluidly and every step power you faster than you think possible.
Nathan
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
A most excellent idea
An excellent idea for a team activity right before the Mid-Illini meet
I found the following online today. You should all try and get there. I've been to one of these 'running movies' at Willow Knolls before and it's a great atmosphere, a theatre filled with racing geeks.
I'll plan on being at one of the two showings. If people want to join me, or get a group together, let me know. Remember, it looks like you might want to get tickets ahead of time.
The Long Green Line movie is coming to Peoria, thanks to the Illinois Valley Striders, Running Central and others!
The Long Green Line is a much-heralded documentary which chronicles the York H.S. Dukes’ 2005 Cross Country season. As always, the Long Green Line ends up in Peoria. In 2005 York and legendary coach Joe Newton were seeking their 25th State title in fifty years. This is a must see for all x-country fans and for all of us that have wondered how York and Joe can do it year after year. It is also about young runners as they move from adolescence to manhood.
When: Oct 15th and 16th, at 7:00pm each night.
Where: Willow Knolls Theatres
Cost: $5.00 (proceeds go to IVS running programs)
Tickets are available at Running Central beginning Oct. 1, until they are gone. Get YOUR team together to see what can really make a team work, to the tune of 24 team titles in 50 years. Very exciting, motivational stuff that will make YOU want to get up and RUN!
Check out the website to view the movie trailer:
http://www.longgreenlinemovie.com/
Also, look for more news on the movie coming soon at http://ivs.org/ and http://runningcentral.net/ , as well as in the Journal Star.
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