Whitman-Hanson @ Silver Lake Regional

Tuesday afternoon at 2:30 our teams depart WHRHS for their 4:00PM meet at Silver Lake Regional.  We've had a very competitive rivalry over the years and this year will be no different.  The course begins and ends behind the SL softball field.  After a loop around the playing fields the runners enter the woods and follow trails for most of the remainder of the course.  The last 400 Meters or so are run within sight of the finish line.  It is a winding course, in the woods and has, in the past, caused confusion to visiting runners.  It is imperative that each of you pay close attention to the course on your pre-race tour.  Imperative!  Several years ago our top girls runner went counter-clockwise on a loop on which she should have gone clockwise.  Some SL spectators called for her disqualification even though our girl had run the same distance AND finished more than 3 minutes ahead of the top SL finisher on a course that was not marked well.  The SL coach, a true gentleman, in fairness awarded the victory to our runner, Samantha Coletti.  The course is now marked much better than it was in 2015, but PAY ATTENTION ON THE TOUR!!

Silver Lake suffered close defeats in it meets against a very talented and deep Hingham team on the Hingham course.  S/L is hungry.  They are talented.  They are a formidable opponent on any course.  Even tougher at home.  You must prepare mentally for this race.  More on this at today's practice at 2:30.

I am very blessed to work with you kids and while I may not shower you with praise consistently I think you know that I am most proud when you put 100% effort into your training and into your races.  You are learning one of life's most important lessons each time you come to practice or a meet . . . on time, physically and mentally prepared to give it your all.  If that carries over into your academic and professional lives you will enjoy rewarding and successful careers.  That's a guarantee.  As examples of this I need only to look at the coaches I have the privilege of working with every day.  In the many years I've know Coach S, I have always known him to be enthusiastic, hard-working, and innovative.  He does many things in his professional and personal life that go above and beyond what should be expected of him.  If he is not organizing or participating in race events, or volunteering at a local animal shelter, he is doing his job as the consummate family man.  Just a couple of weeks ago he competed in a half-marathon and finished first in his age group.  But he also beat a lot of younger guys.  He says he wants to run to 100.  My money is on him doing so.  Coach Coletti is no different.  She too is a hard-working and conscientious coach, dedicated to you kids as well as her own.  She never misses an opportunity to express thanks for having the chance to work with you student-athletes.  I try to never miss an opportunity to thank her for doing so.  Like her children, Kim is also an accomplished runner.  Yesterday in the 21st and final Jeff Coombs race in Abington she finished 1st in her age group of nearly 60 runners!  All that said, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else, with any other coaches.  I know I'm the "slow guy" amongst the staff, but I know they always have my back.  THANK YOU!

You can show your appreciation for Coach S and Coach Coletti by simply following their lead.  Give it your best every day.  Not simply in athletics, but in all you do.  100% = no regrets.

See you all at 2:30 on that line . . .