Thursday, October 29, 2020 - Practice #33

 I'm betting some of you didn't really think you could transform your lives with 33 practices and 5 meets.  But that's precisely what you've done.  Whether you're among our top runners and took a few seconds of your PR coming into this fall or a newcomer who on Day 1 walked after a couple hundred meters, each of you has accomplished something wonderful. It has been a tremendous experience watching it all unfold.

Now that, for me anyway, the euphoria of the Boys exciting win yesterday has been somewhat tempered  by the work which continues today, my focus returns to finishing out our season.  Yes, finishing out our season.  There will be a Patriot League Championship Meet.  The venue and format for that is being discussed.  I'm told the Marshfield Fairgrounds may not be available and that Pembroke has stepped up and offered its course.  I'm comfortable either way.  WH has won the meet on both courses, and many of our athletes have run on each course, including our Boys Captains who ran the Varsity League meet as Freshmen.  Now here's some interesting notes on that race.  Although we finished 6th on the Boys side, there were 7 Freshmen in the race, 3 of whom were from WHRHS.  Yes, our 3 Captains put the league on notice that in 2020 they would go wire-to-wire and win the Patriot League title.  But probably the most interesting fact is . . . now I want you young runners to pay attention to this . . . and I certainly don't want to have a laugh at the expense of one of WH 's best runners of all time . . . but . . . finishing next to last in that race, about 30 seconds behind the 69th finisher was our own Theo Kamperides!!  I don't know if that race motivated Theo to become the outstanding runner he now is, but he certainly proves the point that dedication and hard work are the keys to success in our sport.  Coincidentally, Theo won the Patriot League Championship Meet last year!!

OK, sorry for digressing.  Today we will practice at our regular time of 2:30.  Since we don't know who is eligible to run the League Meet I will assume everybody is so I'd like to see everybody at practice.  Plus, I'm certain we have a number of neon gaiters to hand out.  You don't want to miss that!

Easy recovery run for all today.  Coaches will provide specifics at 2:30.  Remain vigilant.  Wear your masks.  Remember social distancing.  See you later . . .