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PACKING YOUR BAG FOR XC
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JORDYNN WEST
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YR MOMENTS STEEPLER DOWN YOU HAVE TO BE BRAVE AND A FIERCE COMPETITOR TO BE A STEEPLE CHASER KNOWING THAT EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE YOU MAY NOT CLEAR THE WATER BARRIER. GREG CAPTURED THIS SHOT AT THE 2019 AAU JUNIOR OLYMPIC GAMES.
SMOTHERMAN IMAGES
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YR contents: SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2019
READY.SET.GO
Vol. 24 Issue 4
8
Jordynn West AAU Champion SAM GHERKE FEATURE
12 Ryan Hall’s Book 22 Cory’s Adventure
CHECK IT OUT
TRAINING
16-17 Instagram FAN SHOTS
at the PTC
18-19 MEET HIGHLIGHTS 20 Youth Runner Camp 26-27
24-25 Way to Go
MORE 2-3 YRMOMENTS
Ask A youth runner coach
from Sesock 14-15 poster the editor YR Blogger 5 CONTENTS 6 letter 7 Ciera
29 coming up
YOUTHRUNNER.COM | 5
yr
editor VOLUME 24 ISSUE 4 | sept/oct 2019 Publisher/Editor Dan Kesterson Editor at Large Ian Kesterson Contributing Writers, Bloggers & Reporters Ciera Sesock, Cody Jones, Jordynn West, Kenan Pala, D’Asia Duncan, Jeff Johnson, Taitum Schaap, Jack Kelley, Evan Gonzales, Pat Tyson, Bob Williams, Matt Walsh Art Director Sean Kesterson
Photo Run Ian Kesterson, Youth Runner Editor at Large
LETTER FROM THE
EDITOR Hey Team!
You know, Cross Country takes a pretty extreme approach to running a few miles. What could be a nice easy training run around the park can get really wild when you add in unpredictable weather, lots of feet wearing lots of spiked racing shoes, high-strung nerves, and a whole lot of trying really hard. I’ve been the hottest and coldest ever during a cross country race. Rain, hail, snow, thunderstorms, mudslides, river crossings, and 100 degree heat are all on the table during a cross country race. I’ve led the first two miles only to hit the wall and hobble across the finish line at the end of the pack. Sometimes you finish a race and go to clean off the mud only to find a bloody knee underneath from getting spiked early in the race (that you don’t remember). One time in a Ju-
EDITOR'S NOTES 6 | MAY/JUNE 2019
nior Olympic event on a college campus, the course had us go around a sewage lagoon. A kid made an inside pass around a crowd, got an elbow, and ended up taking a swim. It was 40 degrees and raining that day. Gross and cold. But you know what? I’ve had the most extremely awesome feelings when on the cross country race course. There is no feeling like hearing that starting gun go off, jamming out with the pack, locking into that awesome stride, making quick turns through the trees, powering up the hills, working harder than you ever thought you could, and making that final pass. The only thing better than knowing you did your best is having a team right there with you trying just as hard and feeling all those extreme feelings right with you. So new name idea, team: Extreme Country? Xtreme Cross? I’m gonna work on it and get back to you all. Keep being awesome!
For some inspiration check out Jeff Johnson’s talk to the Border Clash athletes in Ask a Coach.
Contributing Designer Scott and Jacqui Scoggin CONTRIBUTING Photographers Smotherman Images, Klotz Images, Ralph Jones, Rachelle Clinton, Logan HanniganDowns, Sam Gehrke, Eric Ward, Dusty Smith, Eric Trice, Peter Campbell-Thompson, Gary Morgan, Photo Run, Dingo Images, Fans cover photo Peter Campbell-Thompson Website-Digital-Video Sean Kesterson THANKS TO: Cyrus Jacobs, Dan Floyd, Ryan Hall, John Truax, the beach at Seaside, Steve Palladino ADVERTISING & SPONSORSHIPS dank@youthrunner.com SUBSCRIPTION RATES US One Year: Print $14.95 Digital $9.95 Subscribe at www.youthrunner.com
PUBLISHED BY: Youth Runner Magazine is a registered trademark of GoSportz Media LLC. Published 5 times a year by GoSportz Media, LLC Copyright 2019 all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission. Editorial contributions are welcome, submit queries to editor@ Youthrunner.com. Gosportz Media LLC and it’s publisher assumes no liability for the content or opinion of it’s writers or advertisers and reserves the right to reject any advertising at it’s own discretion. Youth Runner recommends that you consult with your coach and your physician on any changes with your training, fitness and health issues.
YOUTH RUNNER
BLOGGERS Ciera’S Favorites
Favorite Interview: Gabe Grunewald
Favorite Product Review: Fitbit Ionic
Ciera Sesock
My Experience as a Blogger My name is Ciera Sesock, and I’m 15 years old. I am headed into to my Sophomore year in high school. I’ve been a blogger with Youth Runner for more than a year. This has been such an incredible experience allowing me to grow not only as a writer, but also as a runner. Running has always been a huge part of my life since both my parents are marathon runners. Over the years, I’ve grown to love the sport as it constantly challenges me to train harder, apply more dedication, and set higher goals. Becoming a youth blogger is an incredible opportunity that has enabled me to meet professional athletes, runners at all levels, coaches, and other sports writers in the industry. I love telling people I meet that I am a runner; and I’m a blogger, too. This means I can see running through two perspectives and
share them with our readers. This makes me appreciate the sport on a whole new level. To each athlete, the definition of running is unique; it can be an outlet, a lifestyle, an opportunity, a profession, or a passion. As a blogger, I write all kinds of stories: product reviews, athlete interviews, book reviews, informational articles, features from events, and much more. I have learned to balance my blogging responsibilities with my academics, and training schedule for cross country and track.
Favorite Event Covered: Universal Studios “Inaugural” Minion 5K
In the beginning, I found it hard to interview people because I was always filled with self-doubts about how the interview would go. However, over time and with experience, I learned that most people will say yes, and want to interview and tell their story. As a blogger, you must be willing to put yourself out there and ask the question.
Favorite Blog: ‘A Successful Father/ Daughter Duo’
If you have any aspirations to become a blogger, I would highly recommend it. It takes a lot of work and dedication, but it is worth it – every time I hear that someone read and/or learned something new from my article! So, if you’re interested in blogging, I encourage you to go after that goal and not let anything get in the way of your dreams.
Favorite Clinic: Willie Davenport Olympic Clinic
Tag photos #youthrunner YOUTHRUNNER.COM | 7
Peter Campell-Thompson 8 | MAY/JUNE 2019
Jordynn West You may have gotten to know Jordynn this year through her weekly blogs at youthrunner. com. She’s not just a blogger though. Jordynn has earned a reputation as a serious runner and a national champion.
YR: What can you tell other athletes about keeping a running journal? Try to be as detailed as possible. Talk about things you feel are important to you. I found some of those things came to me as the season went on. Try to start with the basics with keeping track of your training, how many hours of sleep, daily nutrition and weather. Do you journal at the same time every day? Do you sometimes miss a day and go back? I try to journal after workouts so I don’t forget. But there’s a lot of times I get caught up at the end of the week. My dad keeps my times and mileage, and I also have mileage stored in my
running watch. So that’s makes getting caught up easier.
How has this helped you to become a better athlete? I can see how much stronger and consistent over time I am becoming. When I repeat a workout, I go back and look and I’m always proud to see improvement. I am also learning about myself more when it comes to describing how I feel. Do you look back say a year ago to see how you’ve done and compare with your training now? Yes! I started a new training style in January and I look back at my early workouts and times and see a huge difference. It’s a really good feeling to see the improvements. What has been the most important use of your journal? Most important has been tracking my workouts, split times and mileage. Knowing those times/mileage and improving through the season has been important for me. I felt really accomplished as the season went on. About your blog.....has it been fun, challenging, easy or hard to come up words for the week? It’s been a little bit of all of it. I re-
ally like sharing and talking about my workouts. But sometimes it was challenging when I felt I was being repetitive. But that challenge ended up being fun because I really enjoy writing and helped me become better at it. Which week was your favorite? AAU Club Championships was my favorite! It was a long and fun week. I had some great races, improved a lot, met some great people and spent time with friends from other states. Of all the athletes you’ve met this year which ones were the most memorable? Meeting Aaliyah Miller from Baylor University was the most memorable. I had already known about her as a runner before I actually met her. She’s great person and awesome athlete. I got a chance to see her run 3 times and each time she was so nice to me. Any become a role model for you? Yes, Aaliyah has been a great role model for me. She’s always motivating me to do well! She told me once to “keep looking up, even when you don’t compete how you wanted to, use that to keep working harder.” You talked about the colleges you visited while at track meets. Are you interested in attending YOUTHRUNNER.COM | 9
any of them? All of the universities I’ve visited were so different and cool in their own way. It’s been cool to get a feel for how it could possibly be in the future for me. I would be really excited to attend any of them if I was able to run track for them! What were the top three best meets, runs or performances for you this year? 1. AAU Club Championship with running for a personal best time of 2:22. I worked really hard to drop my time in this race. 2. AAU Regional Championship with running a 4:56 in the 1500m. This was the first time I went under 5 minutes. 3. New Balance Nationals with running for personal best time of 5:20 in the mile. I had a tough 2 mile race the day before and bounced back the next day in the mile and improved my personal best time by 10 seconds. It was also a challenging race with so many great runners packed in. How about the toughest race of the year? My toughest race would be the preliminary round of the 800m race at AAU Junior Olympics. I didn’t feel smooth running at all. What did you do to bounce back? I know that I train hard and have the strength so I just focused more on my strategy and visualization of my next races. At this point in competing, I have to run my race pace a lot of the time to be successful. When you’re in a big competition what are you thinking about during the race? I get very nervous so I try to stick to the basics with trying to stay calm. I make sure I am breathing correctly, relaxing my body and think about where I am at on the track. What about before the start, what do you do to prepare and 10 | MAY/JUNE 2019
Top Track Accomplishments 2019 AAU Junior Olympics finished 3rd in the 3000m and 8th in the 1500m 2019 AAU National Club Championship National Champion in the 1500m and 3000m, finished 4th in the 800m 2019 Southwestern District Middle School Championship 1st place in the 800m, 1500m and 2400m 2019 AAU Northern Indoor National Championship 1st place in the 1500 & 3000m. 2nd place in the 800m. 2018 AAU Junior Olympics 7th place in the 1500 2018 AAU National Club Championship National Champion in the 3000m 2018 AAU Indoor National Championship 1500m & 3000m National Champion, set meet record in both events. 2018 USATF Hershey Indoor National Championship 3000m 3rd place finish
Academic Achievements 3rd place District Young Chemist award Science Club Leader and Mentor Summer STEM camp- built a motorized rocket A/B Honor Roll 3.4 GPA focus? It’s not the easiest, but I work on imagining running my race and not focusing on the competition. I try to see myself running relaxed and breathing correctly. I also try and watch similar college or pro races to get extra motivation. Who was your toughest competitor this year? This was my first year running in
Texas and the competition was tough. Kailey Littlefield was a great competitor in the 800m and 1500m races. She also won both those races at AAU Junior Olympics. How important is rest and recovery to your training? How many days off do you give yourself in a week? How long do you rest after a season? I feel rest and recovery is equally as important as training in some ways
because you can train hard all the time but if you’re not recovering, you can get injured, burn out or cause a lot of stress your mind and body. I usually have 2-3 days off during the week in season training and 3-4 during off season training. I take off about a month after outdoor season and I work back in slow. I also take another break after indoor season. Can you point to a race where you would’ve done something different with your tactics or the training the week before? And, how did you adjust for the next race? At New Balance Nationals, I didn’t run the 2-mile race well. I don’t feel I was mentally prepared for the race. I had some good races and trainings before New Balance so I thought it would go well. I ended up getting sick a few days before the race and I feel that took away from my total focus. I didn’t run the race I was supposed to because I went out too fast and burnt out early. I was about 25 seconds off my average time. I would do more visualization of my race before I go out next time, focus on my race strategy and run my race. When I run my splits I’m comfortable with, I usually run well. You were back at the Youth Runner Camp again this year. What did you learn this time out that you’ll use in your training and competition?
Biggest thing is recovery. I focused on it more this year but during the camp, we were told to make recovery a priority. If I’m not recovering fully, I won’t get the most out of my training or competition.
my last year in middle school so being involved with school activities and meeting people will be a good thing this year.
Besides running what other sports do you enjoy?
My best and favorite subject is English class. I really like to write stories.
I don’t do any other competitive sports but I do like to swim and play basketball. Hoping to do more of both going forward.
Are you involved in any clubs at school?
When you get a day off from training what do you do for fun? I like to go and do fun things with my friends like the trampoline park, amusement parks, skating, dancing and gymnastics. What are you looking forward to the most at school this year? I’ll be taking some tough classes this year so I’m looking forward to working hard and doing well in them. It’s also
PR TIME LINE Age 10 400 - 1:07 800 - 2:36 1500 - 5:35
Age 11 400 - 1:06 800 - 2:26 1500 - 5:04 3000 - 10:50 5k - 19:20
Age 12 400 - 1:03 800 - 2:22 1500 - 4:55 Mile - 5:18 3000 - 10:33 5k - 19:05
Best-favorite subject?
School just started but I’ll look to be part of student council, science club and National Junior Honor Society. Thinking out there a ways, what are your goals for high school? I want to earn a 3.5 gpa or higher. Be part of schools programs like student council. Run varsity track and make state in all 4 years. Any thoughts to what you want to be when you grow up? I really like cooking so right now I always imagine being a chef. I’m also interested in what physical therapist do for athletes. I wouldn’t mind trying that as a career. Any advice for students who would like to become a YR blogger? Have fun with it! Really enjoy and be passionate about what you want to blog about. I really like training and competing, so it was natural to talk about. What advice would you like to leave for other young athletes? Some advice I would give other young runners is to always have fun! That’s a lot of the reason we start playing sports so important to not forget. Also, train hard and trust your training. If you believe in that, you will have success when you compete.
YOUTHRUNNER.COM | 11
book
review
“Run The Mile You’re In – Finding God In Every Step” By Ciera Sesock Running is a tough sport. You must train hard, practice all the time, and have a great attitude towards your mistakes, while you work to fix them. “I never would have made it to the level in running that I did had it not been for the practice of building monuments around my successes,” says Ryan Hall, the fastest half marathon runner in America.
those early moments…my book is essentially a letter to my 13year old self.” His biggest piece of advice to runners is, “Change the way you view failure. Failure is not to be avoided, it is an absolute necessity for anyone wanting to reach their full potential in any endeavor. If we can change how we view challenges to being the resistance we need to grow and get stronger than we can embrace them rather than fear them or try and run away from them.”
Hall never liked running as kid. It was something that he believed was not worth his time. But, one day, at the age of 13 he said, “God planted the desire in my heart for me to run around Big Bear Lake.” That calling to the sport is when he fell in love with running and went from wanting to be a professional baseball player to wanting to run professionally. In the book, Hall explains that it was the day he felt a God-giving purpose for him to run. This is how Hall became a runner that spanned 20 years. Hall is not only the American Half Marathon record holder at 59:43, but he is also a successful Marathoner. He is the only American to run a marathon under a 2:05. This two-time Olympian and American record-holder came out of retirement not to run, but to write his second book. Run The Mile You’re In: Finding God In Every Step is Hall’s new memoir about his running experiences, what inspired him to become a runner, 12 | MAY/JUNE 2019
Over the years, Hall learned that with God’s guidance and hard work, he could deal with disappointments and make them wins. He shares the most important moments from his running career in the book throughout the 26 chapters.
and his methods to a successful running career. His goal in the book is to motivate the readers to find life lessons and success that can be related to not only running, but life as well. Hall shared that he often thinks about that 13-year old getting into running. “What would I have wanted to know in
Hall is now a coach and speaker, and he enjoys sharing his powerful experience of how faith helped his athletic achievements and pushed him to the limits. Run The Mile You’re In: Finding God In Every Step is available now for under $10. If you’re looking for a motivational book that can help you turn negative thoughts into positive experiences, then I recommend that you read this one. Now, I leave you with Hall’s last sentence from the book, “Happy feet make light feet. And what could make anyone happier than knowing they had already won?”
What’s in Ciera’s Running Bag? By Ciera Sesock
It’s that time again! Track spikes have been put away, and cross country season is about to begin. Being a cross country runner, I always carry my running backpack with me filled with my most favorite items. What’s in there you ask? Here’s the top six things I put into mine! Maybe you can use this as an example to help you get better prepared for your upcoming season. 1. Running Shoes This one is obvious, but you will never catch me without my Saucony Women’s Guide ISO 2 shoes. This is my all-time favorite running shoe. They are perfect for runners who need a stability shoe, but want to add versatility to look good yet be practical. They offer the perfect support without feeling heavy, and are always comfortable on my feet no matter what mileage I put in. The show includes foam cushions that ease your stride your stride, and offer the flexibility of the forefoot. 2. Sunscreen According to the American Cancer Society, skin cancer is the most common of all cancer types. More than 5.4 million skin cancers are diagnosed each year in the U.S. That’s more than all other cancers combined. So, sunscreen is essential, especially when you run in the sun. Sunscreen is a product that you put on your skin to protect it from the sun’s UV rays. Personally, I like to use Blue Lizard Sunscreen: Sport. This sunscreen works well with my skin and keeps me from having painful sunburns. It’s mineral-based with Zinc Oxide to provide true broad spectrum sun protection, and designed to keep up with maximum water resistance and sweat resistance. This sunscreen does not contain Oxybenzone, Octinoxate,
parabens or fragrances – which means it’s good for the environment. The really cool thing about this brand is that their bottle turns blue when you need to reapply. This is very useful because it reminds me that I may need to put on sunscreen again for maximum sun protection. 3. Socks Again, this is an obvious one, but purchasing the right socks for you is key. Without a good pair of running socks, you are more susceptible to blisters, rubbing, sweating and other concerns. My favorite pair of socks are the Balega
Ultralight Contoured Fit. These socks wick away sweat, prevent chafing, and help me avoid painful blisters. The contour fit makes for the perfect running sock and are so comfortable that I love running in them every time. 4. Running Glide Most people don’t know what running glide is, but once you use it you won’t ever stop. Running glide helps to protect runners against parts of the skin that are prone to chafing or blisters. My favorite brand to use is Squirrel’s Nut Butter. It is very easy to apply, and is very helpful when preventing skin irritations. And, it smells great too! Squirrel’s Nut Butter is an anti-chafing
product made with all-natural ingredients like coconut oil, cocoa butter, beeswax & vitamin E oil. I find that this product not only helps protect my skin but also restores my dry skin feeling moisturized. 5. Lip Balm Lip balm is always very useful. I have found that after runs, my lips always become dry and chapped. Having a reliable lip balm on hand keeps my lips from becoming overwhelming irritated. I personally use Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm because it is a classic and comes in various flavors and styles! It has moisturizing Vitamin E and refreshing peppermint oil. Burt’s Bees is 100% all natural, free of parabens, phthalates, petrolatum and SLS. 6. Water bottle Always drink water! Drinking water keeps you hydrated and ready for challenges you may face in your runs. You should be drinking half an ounce for each pound you weigh. If you weighed 100 pounds, you should be drinking about 50 ounces of water each day. My favorite water bottle to use is my Hydro Flask. Hydro Flasks can sometimes be a little pricey, but they are worth it. They are made from stainless steel with a double-wall that is well insulated. Hydro Flasks are large enough to hold all the water you need, and they keep it refreshingly cold all day. I love carrying mine to school so that I can drink water all day prior to practice. And, I love being able to add all kinds of fun stickers. Now you know what’s in my running bag, what will you include in yours? There are so many cool, innovative running products out there; try out a bunch and see what makes the most sense for you. These are my favorites and I always use them when I run. Happy running! YOUTHRUNNER.COM | 13
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TYLER BROGAN TOMMY COCHARY HIGH SCHOOL MILE TYLER GETS THROUGH FIRST IN THIS MILE RACE FOUNDED IN MEMORY OF TOMMY CHOCHARY, A LOCAL FALMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS RUNNER. THE RACE FEATURES ATHLETES FROM THE STATE.
photo run YOUTHRUNNER.COM | 15
fanpage
KIDS RULE THE WORLD! We just showcase them! Here are some of YOUR best shots this season! Wanna see your own photos in these pages? It's easy! All you have to do is hashtag #youthrunner when you post to Instagram!
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MEET HIGHLIGHTS AAU JUNIOR OLYMPIC GAMES SUMMER TRACK WAS INCREDIBLE WITH THE AAU JUNIOR OLYMPIC GAMES, USATF JUNIOR OLYMPIC NATIONALS, WEST COAST UNITY GAMES, PORTLAND TO COAST HIGH SCHOOL CHALLENGE AND SOME GREAT TRIATHLONS. PHOTOGRAPHERS ERIC AND GREG WERE BOTH ON THE TRACK AT AAU. COLUMN 1-2-3 ERIC WARD, COLUMN 4-5-6 SMOTHERMAN IMAGES
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YOUTH RUNNER MIDDLE SCHOOL CAMP 2019 It was another amazing camp in August as middle school runners from around the country met up to prepare for their cross country season, meet competitors, and experience Oregon. Campers learned about nutrition how to keep gas in the tank for optimum performance, race strategies, proper warm ups and dynamic drills. Elite athlete Katie Mackey shared her advice and race experience. World class coaches and speakers included Pat Tyson from Gonzaga, Matt Walsh from P.A.C.E., Bob Williams from Oregon, Coach Peter Thompson, Jim McLatchey of the 2018 Girls NXN championship team.
Peter Campell-Thompson 20 | MAY/JUNE 2019
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Klotz Images
CODY’S GREAT ADVENTURE By Cody Jones
On August 23rd, I had the privilege of riding in a team van on the way to Seaside, Oregon as part of the Portland to Coast High School Challenge. I ultimately wanted an inside look at the race and to document the highs and the lows of the race. Little did I know that the team I was riding along with would cross the finish line in the early hours of Saturday morning in first place. Or just how grueling, gut wrenching, and peacefully breathtaking the race is. The team that I was assigned to cover were the Oregon Road Runners. Who on paper, based off their accolades, looked fast. I knew by looking at the roster that the 22 | MAY/JUNE 2019
team was going to be fast but I didn’t know just how dedicated the team was to being the first one across the finish line or beating the course record. The Road Runners are a group of USATF Youth Runner standouts from all over Oregon but mainly from the Portland and Astoria area. The team consists of eight runners. Wesley Shipsey, Liam Murphy, Tristan Sullivan, Logan Law and Carter Cutting are all from Portland area schools. While Jack Colquhoun, Sophie Long, and John Clement are from Astoria area schools. The team was spearheaded by team coach, driver, and mother, Lisa Clement. Clement proved to be monumental in getting the team from exchange zone
to exchange zone in a safe and timely manner as well as coaching the kids along the way. I could tell at the start line at 5 pm underneath the Hawthorne Bridge that the team was going to be a fun one to ride along with. They were bursting with energy and were already talking about how they were going to chase down the course record. This at first took me by surprise as the team is comprised of 8 runners when you could have as many as twelve. I thought this would make the later stages of the race a struggle for the team... I was terribly mistaken.
Wes Shipsey, who will be a Freshman at Central Catholic this year, started the race like he was running the 3,000 meter he was so accustomed to in middle school track. He was running so fast that not only did he miss a train that delayed some people’s legs but he beat the team van. Shipsey though just decided to keep on going to the next exchange point making his first run of the day over ten miles. This caused mass chaos in the car for about 30 minutes while the team was rushing to find just what happened to Wes. With the expert navigation skills of Sophie Long the team was able to find Wes, tired, sweaty, but alive at the second exchange. The mood soon returned to calm and jubilant in the van. From here I got to experience the hustle and bustle from exchange zone to exchange zone. I was surprised to see how many volunteers and people there were at each exchange. At almost every exchange there was someone selling coffee, bagels, burritos, soup, water, or Gatorade. Throughout the rest of the night this made the race more bearable for the runners. Before I knew it, the sun was setting and most of the runners had completed their first of three legs of the race. Each leg I was blown away by the runners passion and camaraderie for each other and the race. Even when they knew that they had quite a lead they didn’t let up or take their foot off the gas. If anything that just drove them to push harder. Even when Liam Murphy had to run back to back legs in order to fulfill his duties he and the team didn’t falter. They were driven to beat the record, beat the Bowerman Track Club team to the line, and to ultimately challenge themselves. Right before midnight, you could tell the race was slowly taking its toll. Runners were sleepy and wanting to sleep while others like the jokester, Jack Colquhoun, was still ricocheting off the van walls. The van smelled of food, coffee, sweat, and Icy Hot. I have never smelled so much Icy Hot at once in my life.
At approximately 2:00 am the lack of sleep started to hit me and I wasn’t even running the race. I took a quick cat nap sprawled across the first bench seat and was surprised to awaken to a blanket over me. I took this as a sign that the Road Runners had accepted me as part of their team in a way. Even though I wasn’t racing I was still going through the highs and lows with the team and I think the team members saw that. After I awoke, I really had an urge to run alongside a leg. I asked Coach Clement if I could and she agreed. This allowed me to get a sense of what it is like to run in pitch black conditions on the famous Hood to Coast race course. I would be running along Tristan Sullivan who was finishing his last 7.75 mile leg. Let me tell you that the experience of running in total darkness while the sun slowly creeps up with roosters giving their call, and cows mooing alongside you while everyone you pass tells you good job is an experience like no other.
It was in that moment that I started to realize why these 14-16 year old kids were having so much fun running for fourteen hours straight. The Portland to Coast Relay is running in its primitive form. You go out there with some of your friends and you run to see who gets to the beach first. You realize while you’re out there by yourself on some country back road that running is and never will be just about you. You’re always racing for someone or something and for the Road Runners they were racing for each other. All of them were motivated to get to the next exchange to benefit the team and to claim their victory. The Road Runners did just that as I watched John Clement finish his last leg just like he began the race: Fast and Strong. He finished the race with his teammates running alongside him and as he crossed the line on the beach, with a time of 12:51:34, the excitement that started to dwindle a little in the middle of the night was restored to all eight of the Road Runners. They were happy to be done but they were hungry for more already. Shipsey told me after the race that “they plan on winning the race all four years they are in high school”. And when the team found out that they narrowly missed the course record by 25 minutes they said that [next year] “the record is ours”. I believe the Road Runners will return next year and will continue to be friends with one another as they navigate their way through the chaos high school can sometimes be. A 129 mile, 12-16 hour race has the crazy ability to bring people together. The race will give you memories to last a lifetime and take you on runs you could have never imagined going on before. There is a reason Hood to Coast is called “The Mother of all Relays” because it’s a relay that will test your limits all while bringing your team together. Someday I hope to get a better taste of what the relay entails. Special thanks to all of the Oregon Road Runners for allowing me to get an inside look at a monumental race. YOUTHRUNNER.COM | 23
way to
go
Jacobs Sports Academy The only club to win all three relays at AAU Nationals The relay teams from the Jacobs Sports Academy delivered some great performances in the 15-16 boys relays races at AAU Nationals this summer. The JSA also won the 4x800 last year in the 15-16 boys and the year before in the 13-14 boys.
15-16 Boys 4x100 - 41.62
4x400 - 3:13.54
4x800 - 8:03.56
Connor Washington Cyrus Jacobs Jr. Mark Benjamin Tavijon Williams
Connor Washington Cyrus Jacobs Jr. Daniel Armstrong Adam Mason
Adam Mason Alexander Chambliss Cyrus Jacobs Jr. Daniel Armstrong
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There were many other success stories including a win in the 100m and 2nd place in the 200m by Connor Washington Formerly the Southern Eagles Track Club started over twenty years ago the coaching staff of Cyrus and Patrick Jacobs, Coach More, Nelson, and Shekerah guide their athletes towards success on and off the track. Their team slogan is “Flying by Faith.� Many of their athletes have received scholarships and become head coaches themselves. Way to Go Jacobs Sports Academy! For more information: cyjmold@aol.com
World Record Holder
JADEN MERRICK
12-Year old Jaden Merrick from Cedar Falls, Iowa set another world record at the Capital Pursuit in Des Moines. “The race strategy was to go out conservative for the first 5k, and then to ramp it up after 5k, then again after 10k, and so on. I went out mile one and knew I needed to slow down because I was 40 seconds ahead by mile one. I slowed it down to my pace and held it to 14k, by 14k I knew I had the record if I could hold 5:58 pace for the last 1.5 miles. I came through the finish line 36 seconds ahead of the record, my time was 1:03:26, the old record was 1:03:59,” Jaden said. He also owns the 9-year old record for 10 miles and the half marathon record for 7-year olds. Jaden attends Cedar Heights Elementary, in Cedar Falls and runs for Iowa speed and the Palladino Power Project. His goals for this cross country season is to be competitive at USATF, the Coaches Cross Country Youth Nationals., and Foot Locker Midwest Regionals.
Klotz Images
Way to Go Jaden!
YOUTH RUNNER TOP DOG OF THE MONTH FOOTBALL PLAYER TURNS TO TRACK
BRONZE-U18 WORLD MOUNTAIN RUNNING YOUTH CUP
Arryon Brookins, 10 Jacksonville, FL.
Samantha Blair, 16 Eagle, CO
First time competing in the high jump he placed 2nd at Club Champion, ranked 4th nationwide in the high jump and won the 100m at his District meet.
Samantha and her teammates Madeleine Burns & Maggie Congdon brought home a team bronze at the Youth Cup in Susa, Italy.
FIRST YEAR HURDLER
Romeo Evans, 12 Dallas, TX In his first year competing in the 80m hurdles Romeo received seven medals and was 2nd in his AAU Regional Qualifier. Keep up the good work.
GET RECOGNIZED Go to youthrunner. com Hit the SUBMIT button Fill out the athletes form. youthrunner. com/events/ athlete/submit
READ MORE ABOUT THESE ATHLETES AT YOUTHRUNNER.COM YOUTHRUNNER.COM | 25
ASK A
COACH
A Talk to the Athletes at the Nike BorderClash The “Clash” is not happening this year and we’re not sure if it will restart next year or not. At the YR Camp in August Coach Tyson read Jeff Johnson’s talk to the athletes from the 2001 Clash. Seems timely to share it with all of you. Coach Jeff Johnson Jeff was Nike’s first ever employee and came up with the name “Nike.”
Thank you. Good evening.
Mozart answered: I can’t teach you.
It’s a real pleasure for me to be with you tonight.
The man said: Why not? You were writing symphonies when you were 4 years old.
It seems to me that I’ve spent my entire life surrounded by winners. First, on my own high school and college teams, then later working her at Nike, and finally in coaching. It is a privilege to be back in the company of winners once again. I come to you tonight with a question. It’s a rhetorical question, so don’t raise your hands. Here’s the question: Why do you run? You’ve probably been asked that question before. It’s not an easy question to answer, is it? If someone has to ask, they’ll probably never understand. A man once came to Mozart and said: Teach me to write a symphony. 26 | MAY/JUNE 2019
To which Mozart replied: Yes, but I didn’t have to ask how. To write timeless symphonies requires a genius that running does not demand, lucky for us, but the problem of explanation is much the same: If you have to ask, you just don’t get it. And you probably won’t get it. But you get it, don’t you? You would never ask someone: Why do you run? (Except maybe rhetorically.) Nevertheless, even you who “get it” have a hard time articulating your passion. I think that is because running is a passion of the spirit. And explaining the spirit is never easy. Running
is the expressway to self-confident, self-awareness, self-discipline and self-reliance. From running, you learn the harsh realities of your physical and mental limitations. From running, you gain strategies for extending those limitations, that you might run farther, run faster, and run tougher. You learn that personal responsibility, commitment, sacrifice, determination, and persistence are the only means of improvement. Running, you come to understand, is a profound, far-reaching and never ending contest of the runner with himself, or herself. And you learn that runners only get promoted through self-conquest. Running asks a question of you, and everyday it’s the same question: Are you going to be a wimp, or are you going to be strong today? And when you answer that question in the way to you people in this room
Klotz Images have answered it, you become a better, stronger, more confident animal, with a capacity for achievement greater than before, and a formula for success that is forever engraved on your brain. (It is no accident! I think, that this place was founded by runners.) The single, most outstanding characteristic of the runner is independence. Through your own will, you present yourselves to the fire; and the fire changes you, permanently and forever.
Body and spirit I surrendered whole To harsh instructors - And received a soul.
Rudyard Kipling wrote those lines nearly a century ago. It’s unrecorded what Kipling’s PR was for 5K, but I suspect that he had one. Why do you run? Each of you may articulate it differently, but perhaps we can agree that running touches us spiri-
tually, it forms us, and it strengthens us. It makes us who we are, and at some level, it is who we are. But you can be a runner without being a racer. So here’s another question for you: Why do you compete? Why do you race 3.1 miles? That’s gotta hurt. Why do you do it? For most of you I imagine that you race for the challenge, the danger, the ‘rush’ of putting yourself in a place where you must do you absolute best. Because the race requires it. To give your best is to honor your fellow competitors, your teammates, your coach, your school, your family, your community, and all the good people who have worked so hard to put on the race. To give your best in a race is a matter of honor, and duty, and you know that going in. You know, also, that the course will challenge you, that your competitors will challenge you, and that you will challenge yourself. You know, too, that
there will come a critical moment in the race where you must make the decision to lay it on the line, to take your shot, or to fall back and regroup. And you hope you’ll be up to the challenge, but you’re never entirely sure, and it’s that uncertainty that calls to you, because it is there, at that moment, that moment of decision, that you offer yourself up to be measured: by the clock, by your legs and lungs, by your guts, and by your heart. And if you want to win the race, in that moment of decision, you’re going to have to go a little crazy. You race, then, because races are a big deal. (In fact, speaking from the vantage point of both experience and hindsight, I dare say that at this time in your lives, the race may be the most important thing that you do. A girl on one of my high school teams came up to me on the day of her graduation and said, “I learned more in cross country, that I learned in high school.” “I’m glad,” I said, “So did I”. YOUTHRUNNER.COM | 27
ASK A
COACH
Races are a big deal. Races are the culmination of all the forces that have brought you here: desire, commitment, focus, sacrifice, suffering, self-discipline, hard work, responsibility. You race because you are invested in effort, and you are invested in success. Moreover, you are invested together. Look around. Go ahead. Do it. Look around. Who are those people you see? Do you think they are your opponents? People who oppose your quest for excellence? Well, they aren’t. They are not your opponents. They are your fellow competitors. In fact, they are your co-conspirators, for to compete is to enter into a conspiracy. The conspiracy is revealed in the word itself: compete, which comes from two Latin roots, com and petere, which mean “to strive together”. Al Oerter, the 4-time Olympic gold medalist in the discus, once said: “I’ve never competed against anyone in my life. I’ve always competed with people. To compete against people is a negative thing. To compete with people is a celebration, a celebration of human capability.” And so it is. The worthy competitor is essential to the race, no as an enemy, but as a co-conspirator. The race, you see, is a secret form of cooperation. The race is simply each of you seeking your absolute best with the help of each other. Steve Prefontaine said: “To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift. “What gift do you think he was talking about? The gift of your talent, surely. But perhaps also the gift of opportunity, and the gift of youth, perhaps event the gift of life itself. In any case, you give your best to the race as a matter of honor? You can do no less, because your competitors are giving their best to you. Now, not all races justify all out, total effort. For 28 | MAY/JUNE 2019
some races, you have lesser goals - - to score points for your team, to qualify for a more important race later on - - or just to have fun. I offer that qualifier to my remarks tonight because I know that all of you are coming off a long, hard season. For some of you, tomorrow’s Border Clash is not another test but, rather, a fun, end-of-season reward. For others, it may be a tune-up for the Foot Locker Regionals still to come. For all of you, your goals for tomorrow’s race are a matter between you and your coaches. We understand that. It isn’t my intention tonight to try to get you “fired up” for a race where an all out effort may be inconsistent you’re your goals. The Border Clash is held solely to honor you, the best cross country runners of two states, and in the hope that you will all gain something joyful and positive from the experience of meeting and competing with each other. But the next time you step to the starting line of an important race, the conspiracy of striving together for excellence will be about to unfold! That white line on the ground before you, and that other white line five kilometers away, will define a sacred place, rife with potential, an arena in which excellence and ultimates are the only acceptable, indeed, the only honorable standards - - and an arena into which only a few, special people ever venture. There - - between those white lines, in a race that matters - - you will give your best to each other. And there - - between those white lines, on that sacred plain, you will learn who you are, of what stuff you are made, and what you can endure, which is essential knowledge, for it will inform your whole, entire life. Billy Joel wrote: “I won’t hold back anything; and I’ll walk away a fool, or a kind.” For my money, if you’ve done your best, fool or king, there’s equal honor in both. Doing your best is much more important than being the best.
A friend came to visit me last weekend, and he looked over my intended remarks for tonight. “What are your goals for this speech?” He asked me. I told him: “I want to tell these kids that they have chosen a sport that ennobles them.” “So many runners are thought of as loners or geek. I want these kinds to recognize themselves as people who are learning to take responsibility for their lives, people who are learning to control their own destinies.” “I want them to know that the lessons they learn as cross country runners will stay with them their whole lives, that as a result of being cross country runners they will gain the habits of winners: setting goals, working hard, doing their best, being patient, persistent and focused.” “I want them to see that making a commitment, laying it on the line, and taking a chance, pays off more often than not.” “I want them to understand that competition is not an anti-social act, but a social one, and that to give their best is part of the social contract.” “I want them to know that whatever else they do in life will always be secondary to having been an athlete. That from being an athlete first - - and especially a long distance runner - - they are already fundamental victors.” “They don’t know it yet - - and they certainly don’t understand it - - but the sport they have chosen will never leaver them. It will lead them down avenues of achievement and success that they cannot yet imagine.” Those are my goals for this speech. “Then say that,” my friend said.
COMING UP! HERE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP MEETS YOU’LL WANT TO ADD TO YOUR CALENDAR
AAU XC
AAU CROSS COUNTRY NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP | KNOXVILLE, TN| DECEMBER 7th Regional and Association Meets go to youthrunner.com or aautrackandfield.org
FOOT LOCKER MIDWEST REGIONAL | KENOSHA, WI. | NOVEMBER 24TH NORTHEAST REGIONAL | BRONX, NY. | NOVEMBER 24TH SOUTHEAST REGIONAL | CHARLOTTE, NC | NOVEMBER 24TH WEST REGIONAL | WALNUT, CA. | DECEMBER 1ST NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS | BALBOA PARK-SAN DIEGO, CAL. | DEC 8TH More info @ footlockercc.om
NIKE CROSS NATIONALS HEARTLAND | SIOUX FALLS, SD | NOVEMBER 16TH NORTHWEST REGIONAL | BOISE, IDAHO | NOVEMBER 16TH MIDWEST | TERRE HAUTE, IN. | NOVEMBER 18TH SOUTHWEST | CASA GRANDE, AZ | NOVEMBER 23RD SOUTH | THE WOODLANDS, TX | NOVEMBER 23RD SOUTHEAST | CARY, NC | NOVEMBER 30th NORTHEAST-NY | WAPPINGERS FALLS, NY | NOVEMBER 30TH NEW YORK-NY | WAPPINGERS FALLS, NY | NOVEMBER 30TH NATIONALS | PORTLAND, OR | DECEMBER 7TH
USATF JUNIOR OLYMPICS XC NATIONALS | MADISON, WISCONSIN | DECEMBER 14TH Regional and Association Meets - youthrunner.com or usatf.org For more results, and event dates check the calendar at youthrunner.com
USATF JUNIOR OLYMPICS XC NATIONAL YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIPS | SHELBYVILLE, IN | NOVEMBER 23RD FOR THE DETAILS AND REGISTRATION LINKS GO TO YOUTHRUNNER.COM YOUTHRUNNER.COM | 29
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