800trackmom

Well thank you runnerboy. I like young people period. I have found that being around teens is the only way I can keep my sanity and keep my life in perspective. Most young people know a lot more than most of us adults give them credit for. I've found that if I can shut up and listen just every once in while, then I might truly benefit from what I learn from that young person. Enjoy your life, enjoy your sport, and have fun in what you do. And good luck in all you do.

Kenwoodrun, that certainly sounded like the voice of reason. And it makes a lot of sense to me. And runnerboy, as those younger than me say, "My Bad." I hope your passion for your sport returns. I realize that you don't know me and may think I am just BSing you when I say that I enjoy reading most of your posts, cause I believe you display a lot of intelligence and a lot of wit in things you say. I hope you have an awesome day and that whatever is zapping your passion gets healed.

I agree with MustangRunning that Jackie is so good at so many things that every coach at Bradley would love to have her (except maybe wrestling). I believe being very good at something can be like a curse. If you are absolutely terrible, then you know to quit. If you're just ok, well then you just keep on being ok. If you are elite, then you know to keep on doing what your doing cause it's working. Being very good means you need to do something different to become elite but what do you do? I'm not sure that athletes today can be elite in more than one sport and still keep their grades up and have any type of normal life. I know there are exceptions but most concentrate on one sport. And if there is one thing I do know for sure, those girls are going to find a way to have a social life. Jackie is an awesome runner and I have no doubt she could run low 18's IF she devoted herself to running, but then basketball might suffer or her grades might suffer. I, personally, would love to see her run in the 18's and I truly believe that one day I will, maybe not this year, but certainly by her senior year.

What I would love to believe that what we have here are two very passionate coaches at odds because they both want to question anything they believe "might" be detrimental to their team. In their region, there is no doubt these are the top two boy's teams and both coaches have very respectable girl's teams (two of the top three or four in the region). If the passion of the coaches carries over to the teams, then we should see some awesome running at Baylor next week and definitely at region the week after that. I can't wait.

I was too tough on runnerboy. He may not have known that bradleycc234 does not go to Bradley at all, or have a child at Bradley Central. He just usually has a little more wit about his answers (makes me smile). I like his passion for his sport. And I like his pride in his school. And while I'm on this praise kick, may I tell you, Mr. Buckley that I do admire the way you run. Hope you guys have a great week.

Congratuations to Coach Parks and crew on a fine victory. I just hope Walker Valley can do as well against Chattanooga Christian, who is in their region. Unfortunately Bradley isn't, so they won't meet again at region. And Bradley has no excuses. A couple of girls ran bad. It happens all the time to every team. They have every intention of successfully defending their region title.

There is nothing that Bradley runners like better than getting on a McMinn runner's nerves. You should have never admitted to that.

Runnerboy, I usually enjoy your replies, but today must have been a bad day. I'll readily admit that I am one of those parents who couldn't run five feet and yes I yell at my kid and she yells back at me. And to bradleycc234, while these yelling parents may not be able to run, we still fork out $140 for running shoes and go to your meets and see that you have food and drinks. Success depends so much on attitude. That's what the whole boot camp thing is about. I may not agree with it but hey it's time to try something different. If you don't want to do it, turn in your uniform. Either you want to be part of the team and do your best or you need to quit. It's been a rough season when the parents can't wait for it to be over.

Of the teams you are most interested in MustangRunning, Walker Valley finished 15th and Bradley finished 18th. The WV girls looked really good today, especially considering that some are just coming over from soccer. You're doing a great job with them. I don't know times. Bradley had four guys in the 17's.

I thought Trevor's comments to the Chattanooga paper were really great. Coach would have been proud of the young man.

I am a firm believer in "Attitude is everything." And if talking smack improves attitude, then by all means talk smack. Hey, anything beats boring. And without you guys this site would definitely be boring. And as my Momma used to say, "words ain't never put a bruise on nobody." I admire you attitude. I admire your abilities and I admire your pride and sense of self worth. Whether you can run the fastest or not, you have everything you need to be a winner in life. So smack it up!!

It was a 5K and a tough course (although the setting is the most beautiful of any course our kids have run). I give props to Kalab Coffelt for not quitting. This was his first varsity race and he is sprinter in track, not a distance runner. He ran through a cramp cause there was no one else to do the job and his time does not reflect the heart that he ran with. And by the way the Bradley girls were second. Interestingly enough, the team that won the girls race did it "as a team", no superstars, just five girls who were very good. I don't know times for the girls but four were in the top 20. The girls have talent, but they've got to get their heads on right.

I guess it is a matter of "intent" when you smack talk. If you smack because you have pride in your team, your school, and who you are then it's good. But those who smack just to put somebody down aren't accomplishing anything. My take on the smack between McMinn and Bradley is that it is "positive" smack. Way back in my high school day, we called it school pride and I think it's positive. When you are truly good at what you do, then you can definitely take pride in being good and you can do it with grace and good sportsmanship. I would like to believe that no one likes to lose but in every contest there is only one "Number 1." I don't necessarily think that finishing second or tenth makes you a true loser. I don't know a lot about athletics, but I know quite a bit about accomplishing the impossible. I do know that sport mirrors life and that the lessons you learn in athletics are the same lessons you will face over and over again in real life. Success comes with hard work.

I have to agree with Nicole. I think it's great to be rivals. It's something that gets everyone fired up and everyone does better because of it. Being rivals give you a GOAL and success is always dependent on having a goal. That's the one thing that Bradley's boys has over their girls. The girls are still letting their God-given talent carry them. The boys take their talent and work to get better. Everything in life is about having a goal and then having the commitment to make your goal reality. Sometimes we fall short of our goals, but I can promise you that you will never have success without having a goal. McMinn's boys have a goal, Bradley's boys have a goal. And that my friends, make watching you guys run a whole lot of fun for all us spectators.

Hey, runnerboy, we hope you guys run really well this weekend, especially since you guys are at a different site than Bradley. If everyone had the enthusasim about cross country that you and trackandcross have, then we wouldn't be able to read all the posts. And the meets would be a lot more exciting. It's obvious that you guys have a great coach and I hope you kick butt this weekend at Tn Classic.

While you all are smack talking, mention the girls too. I think Bradley still has a team. Heard Coach Cotton wasn't too happy today. Maybe a good run on Saturday will put him in a better mood.

What region is Cookville?

I honestly know nothing about Laura other than watching her run crosscountry and track last year. And while my daughter is decent at crosscountry, I don't think it is her first love in running. She is much more mid distance: 400, 800, and would love to run 300 hurdles but guess what, in track those are back to back to back events. But just maybe if she can get her endurance up good enough to do well in crosscountry, she just might give a shot at least once. The main problem she is having is that when she trains enough to lower her time, its always at the expense of some major pain. She can't see to find the right combination to stay pain free and still get better. And patience just isn't her strong suit at all. She would love to be consistent, like in get better consistently, but it hasn't worked that way for her. She's up one meet, down the next. She's pain free for a couple of weeks and then she hurts. So tell me, runnerboy, what's your secret for success?

Thanks CherokeeChief. I don't think most high school runners have a real concept of what it takes to be a Laura Koob or a Dusty Miller. Some have the physical talent but not the dedication and work ethic that is necessary. Others have the work ethic, but lack mental toughness. Whatever the perfect combination is, it has become very obvious to me that it is a combination. My fourteen year old has been running competitively since third grade and for the first time in her life, running is not her life. She still enjoys running and she is good, not elite mind you, but good. There are more social pressures now than in the third grade. I think girls particularly feel those pressures to fit in and running is not always viewed as a "in" sport. As a parent, there is a fine line between encouraging her and pushing her. I want to encourage her and leave it to her coach to push her. Another thing is young girls are very prone to injury. They seem to go through a very fast growth spurt that leaves them with all kinds of issues. I've read lots of books and the one thing is obvious, there are lots of opinions as to what works, a lot of different opinions. You obviously have a great system in place and hopefully the runners will take note of what you say about next year begins in November.

How do really good runners move on to the next level? How much mental prepartion is needed or is it just a case of doing the workouts and putting in the miles? Sometimes it seems that being very good is a tough place to be. People have a lot of expectations and it seems like very good is never quite good enough. Does it take a different approach for girls than for guys? What works and what doesn't?

I know the Bradley High Coaches and runners were all very tore up today about this. Kenny Redden was especially close to Coach Lewis. He will definitely be missed by all the runners in Bradley County and everyone who knew him. Please tell all the kids at WV that they are in our thoughts and prayers.

It's great to see you guys get excited about your sport. Good luck to all of you.

Look's like all the talk about Shelley Taylor is true. She was so out in front for the whole race. Everyone in TN should be glad that she's from Georgia. Don't know who the girl was from Dade County but she was a surprise second. As a team both CCS and Bradley girls looked strong. It's going to be a lot of fun to watch in the weeks to come.

Kevin showed all the young guns how to run and won the whole thing. In the 13-18 categories which is what mattered to our guys, it was all Bradley for both boys and girls. Jerome, Caleb and Kyle took home trophies for the guys, and Jackie, Jenna, and Liz took them home for the girls. Don't think anyone's times were great but they did what they went out to do which was sweep the trophies. Next week it gets serious with the beginning of league running.

Where were you guys this morning? Didn't see anyone from Walker Valley?