I started running in Junior High School. I was so slow and uncoordinated the coach set me up with a paper route so that instead of going to work out after school I went to the corner of Providence Ave at Crestline St. and picked up a bundle of 15 newspapers.

Based on my experience; I would develop fast speed before anything else. Get your young runners so they can run and teach them speed.

Ideally I would start by racing my athletes once every two weeks. But, such a program has to be flexible because some runners improve better with weekly races or even bi-weekly races. A coach has to adjust to what is best for the runner.

I never did cross training or lifted weights or put anything between myself and my passion for running.

Speedwork is terribly overrated! I remember talking to runners after distance races and someone is sure to say they were able to run fast off base work with no speed work at all. The truth is speedwork doesn't work. Lots of miles, and then fast miles gets you there much quicker than speed work.

Goals should be impossible! You should tread FEARLESSLY where the brave dare not go.

I should be doing that too. I should be out there running and racing. I should be taking care of my body.