Started running my sophomore year of high school and did it to get in shape for XC skiing and soccer. Ran with a great bunch of guys and had super coaches. We won five state titles in XC and outdoor. I developed a love for running and quit playing baseball (10 years) and focused on running. I liked the challenge running offers. You can have success as an individual and also with your team. I guess I like running because there is no hiding out there. If you prepare well the training will show. If you slack off in training, your lack of preparation will also show. Your teamates can't make you look good like in soccer or baseball.
I learned from the older kids on the team and from my coaches. By my senior year I placed second in the 1600 and third in the 3200 (Alaska) and graduated with PRs of 4:23 and 9:35.

I got the opportunity to run in college for South Dakota State (at the time NCAA Div II, now they are Div I). The highlight was our team winning the national XC title my senior year and earning All American honors. If given the opportunity to run in college I definitely recommend it. The structure is good, the training will put you in the best shape of your life, and generally there is more academic help provided to athlete. The experience you have with your team will be priceless. Just remember though - the first year is always the hardest transition.

I went back to Alaska and taught 6th grade and coached at my alma mater (Bartlett H.S.). The school has a great tradition of Track & Field but since my coach retired (Larry Whitmore) the program lost its leader and never won a state title since I graduated high school. That first year coaching I had some terrific kids - they just needed to know what was possible. The boys placed second in xc and also in outdoor at the state meet. The girls where fourth in XC and state champs in track. They started to believe! The following year the boys missed the state meet (very disappointed) but our individuals went 2nd and 8th. The girls placed third. In track the guys again placed second with Patrick (my team catain)winning the 1600 and 3200 state titles. The girls won another track state title helped by Sarah and Caitlin Reese (my top girls). They both broke the state 800 record (prelims), won the 4x800 and 4x400 and also were 2nd and 4th in the 1600 and 2nd and 3rd in the 800. Alaska allows four events for all athletes unlike Virginia. This allows a good distance runner to be just as valuable as a good sprinter, unlike Virginia rules.

After my dad passed away I decided to go run in a warmer climate. I went to Brevard, NC and trained with some guys there. I still coached a girl in Alaska (Morgan Ekemo) who ended up running 9:58 for 3K (USATF Junior Nationals). I also opened a sports store for a toy store owner in Brevard for a job. After staying in Brevard I started looking at grad schools. I ended up coming to Virginia Tech and got the opportunity to help out with their XC/ distance program. I learned a lot from Ben Thomas and Mary Jane Harrelson. After a year and a half at VT my running store finally got opened. After a few months I relaly missed coaching and got the oportunity to coach the Blacksburg Bruins distance runners for indoor and outdoor track. In 2005 I got the xc position for the girls and the following year the boys team.

The kids have really taken to the program and I have excellent leaders, a very supportive athletic director and wonderful parents. We have won a girls indoor track title and a xc title and have two runner up finishes (also one in indoor and one in xc). The boys team continues to get better and I hope 2007 is a big breakout year for the team.

As a coach I believe I get an opportunity to spread the benefits that running and high school sports can offer. I hope that my athletes graduate with a love for running and have a belief that if they apply themselves and work hard that anything is possible. That they learn to respect their fears and nervousness and use it to help them perform at a higher level. To have courage. I hope they leave my program and know what its like to be a good team player and make those around them better for having been in their life. To enjoy life.

Blacksburg H.S. Boys and Girls XC Coach/ Indoor/ Outdoor
High Performance Distance Academy Director
Runabout Sports Owner