After a good finish to my season, I have morphed into the role of coach for the Granite State Flash. Nick and Melissa are on the team, and the Junior Olympics (through the USATF) provides an opportunity for youngsters to compete in X-C races against the best the country has to offer.
Last year, Nick competed in these meets, succeding to the point of coming in the top 100 in the US. This year, Melissa joined up for the competitions, which started with a "warmup" meet, and progressed to the New England Championship, last weekend in Rhode Island, and the upcoming Regional Championships, also in RI this year, on Sunday.
Alex competed in his first 4k at the New England meet and ran a PR, at 16:43. Nick also hit a PR at 15:10, but was thwarted in his hope to advance due to seriously heavy competition at this year's race. Melissa, however, has moved on and will compete again this Sunday, racing the 3k in a PR of 15:13.
We practice every day, including stretches, drills, core work, and workouts, all of which helps to keep me in shape. Today, we deviated a bit as Melissa had an easy day, but the rest of us hit the downhill mile course, just to see what we had. I managed a 4:42, Nick 5:15, and Alex 5:32. We hope to progress with these times such that we can all hit PR's for the Millenium Mile, January 1, 2011.
Meanwhile, Melissa has her work cut out for her this weekend, as she will need to have a great race (hopefully another PR) to help her team advance to nationals, which are held in Alabama this year.
Wish her luck!!
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Darin
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