WINTER WONDERLAND MUSINGS

Well, how are you all doing at this point of the winter; not yet winter? Since it isn’t even officially winter yet, we are certainly being indoctrinated early this year. Or maybe not really, this just reminds me more of what winters used to be like, years ago. It doesn’t make it easier or more pleasant for running though.

So on that note, I hope that the majority of you are making an effort to get out and train. Training doesn’t mean lifting weights. That’s generally a good thing to do, but it doesn’t do a great deal for your ability to run by itself. Weight lifting should be done safely, without trying to max weights. You want to build strength-endurance, not so much explosive power-oriented strength. So 12 to 16 reps of a weight and 2 to 4 sets of that weight are the general recommendation. Be safe, use proper form, and lift carefully.

When running, it’s time to step it up from what I had posted before. If this is like other years, then few of you are getting out the door. Remember that your competition that will excel next season is making the effort. It’s your decision. Take it easy and shelter for the winter. Or make the effort, get outside, braving the weather, to get the running done that you know that you need to do in order to accomplish what your goal is.

What I mentioned during the season as to what our upcoming teams can achieve is not based on those individuals running just 3 or 6 months a year. For most people; if you want to run 16:30 or faster in high school, you need to train year-round. So think about what you are doing, and where you are going.

Let’s just be direct here. If you don’t run this winter, you have a good idea of what you’ll do in the coming year. If you do run this winter, but it’s 2, 3, or a max of 5 miles, then that’s a nice recreational distance. For many that would certainly be an increase from what you’ve done in the past. To be competitive, you need to run distances and amounts that approximate what you do during the season. You don’t need to run as far as you do in the summer, still you should be doing 8 to 10 milers at least occasionally. 3 miles should be the bare minimum that’s worth getting out the door for. 4 miles is more like the minimum for solid training. When the roads are like they are right now, you just don’t run as fast either, you can’t. So adjust for that when figuring your pace and how far you may have gone unless you know the distance of the course. Be realistic. My ideal for each and every one of you would be to have you averaging 30 to 50 miles each week. That’s not a big deal, but it would make a huge difference in your success. In the last 2 winters of Geoff Burns HS career he built up to and ran a string of 70 mile weeks. That was ideal, and as a Jr. & Sr. he was prepared for that. It’s still paying off for him now as he runs at U of M. Ditto Nick Deering, and it’s paying off for him at EMU. So what are you going to do?

As I have said before, I relish the chance to once again work with a group of team members that come into the season fit, hardened and ready to step it up to the level necessary for attaining the top level in this state, and maybe beyond that. That is opposed to having to take a group that needs to get into shape, beginning at the start of the season and get them into the best possible position by the end. 

I’m not going to mince words. Get out and run now. Run in the spring, and especially in the summer. Mediocrity isn’t something that you strive for. It’s something that settles on you when you lack dedication and determination. Accomplishing great things for yourself and for your team comes from great effort on the part of those that play the largest role, making the greatest effort,  - those that make the greatest sacrifices. Yes, I’ll say it. It is true. I avoid it much of the time, but to attain great things, there are most definitely sacrifices that must be made. I know of some on this team who are making them now. From what I see just since the season ended, I know that those choices are going to pay off  for them in what they accomplish. You decide for yourself.

I spoke with Ray Minervinni, who is restoring bldg 50 : “the village”. He told me that we are welcome to have those team members who would be waiting for rides to use bldg 50 for shelter. If someone asks, just tell them that you’re with TC West. I have yet to meet with him, he wants to show me a few spots where you could wait for rides. One that he did mention is at the front of the building, off of the circle drive. That glassed in area outside of Cuppa Joe’s is a spot that he thought would be good, and you can see outside easily while you keep your sweat from freezing. Maybe you can wait in the coffee shop. Yesterday I dropped Jonah & Trevor off at the Pleasanton bakery behind bldg 50, and got permission from the business to have them leave their bags in the front of their shop so they would be safe. The owner is Mr. Grabowski, he and his 2 brothers ran at West Bloomfield back in my day, and they were all very good. He was very gracious and inviting, telling the guys to be sure to get a cookie when they got back from their run. Hopefully they did, because they looked great.

So that area is a great place to base winter runs from. As long as you are smart with traffic and don’t get foolish you’ll be fine. It is far more safe than running from the school, and as you can see we are gaining support from local businesses and their personnel. So make use of that and be good citizens. They’ll love having you around there. The more people use that area constructively and responsibly, the more they like it.

I presented a plan for major change to the Traverse City Track Club Thursday night. I knew that it would catch them off guard and that it might meet a lot of resistance. To my surprise it met with unanimous approval, they want a subcommittee formed and a business plan created for moving forward with my extensive ideas.

In a nutshell my plan is to create 3 -4 new competitive venues offering a variety to runners. (not just road racing) I would be the race director for these events, creating a part time job for myself.

As those events grow it would create funding for partial pay to local contracted coaches to work with club members that are interested in training schedules,training consultation, and training dates -individual or group.

When those events have been on line for a few years they will hopefully be able to then also support a competitive branch of the club that will have coaching and guidance. With a performance standard for being a member, this would be a true competitive club for a regional team. Providing what is needed for the members to achieve their highest standards locally or nationally.

With all of this in place it will more than double what the club now has to offer. It will also create a venue that will enhance training, coaching and knowledge available to high school age runners and beyond. In all it offers a great deal to all abilities and interest  levels.

So that’s what I’ve been doing. In addition to:

The Jeep is gone.

My first snow shoe run of the season. I’ll do another  tomorrow.

Getting my own running and lifting under way nicely. Haven’t gone over 11 miles since the snow has been heavy though. I’ll get there though. I hope to do some more 20 to 25 mile runs from Edmar  thru the hills in Leelanau and back.

**** Thursdays at 4:00 there are group runs from the downtown Running Fit. Hopefully there are several showing up now. This is not just for the girls team, it’s an effort to get all local high schools to take part, as well as adults. Go and try it, it creates an incentive.

I would like to have input to see who is interested in running from my house on Tuesdays’. You can run, do core work, and work on flexibility while staying warm by the wood stove. Or I will meet with whoever will be there – behind bldg 50 – behind the bakery, at 3:45? e-mail me at zemper@chartermi.net   let me know if you are interested in either of these things.

Just a note on the changes that I plan to make for next season. As I stated at the banquet, I plan to hire a 3rd coach. I expect that our team will continue to be large. It was brought to my attention that an anonymous complaint was made to the AD about my making “cuts” next season. If you were listening very carefully I emphasized that there would not be cuts, but there would be tryouts. I plan to separate the team to an extent.

As it was this season we had 43 guys. I was too often on my own for a large portion of the workout because of the conflict with Izaaks’ teaching position. I do not feel that I was able to adequately work with individuals and be effective to the extent that I want to be. I do not want to be in a position where I simply manage a group. We didn’t have any problems, but it wasn’t what it could have been. It was watered down. That just isn’t good enough for those that are making a great effort. You can’t spread coaching too thin and still be effective.

So yes there will be change, and as I also mentioned, many don’t like change. Still growth in numbers is change in itself. What I am asking right now is that if ANYONE has questions that you follow the chain of command that is in any sport. Inquire of the assistant coach, then the head coach, THEN THE AD and beyond that you can take a problem to the principle or the superintendent. That’s how it works. I don’t mind you asking, I do mind a person skipping the process of simply asking the coaches and going over them. That is perceived by me as someone simply trying to get me into trouble. Do you understand? That comes off as threatening. I have had that experience with a parent not that long ago. The son was a notable team member and for some reason they decided to begin accusing me off irresponsible team purchases, etc. when I use my own computer, etc. for team purposes at my own expense and risk. Long story short was they bypassed me and ended up looking very foolish because they new nothing of what they were complaining about.

Obviously that can be avoided. I advertise an open door, even for parents. Parents put me in this position 10 years ago when they recruited me. I’ve been recruited recently for another local school, by parents, but I wouldn’t think of leaving my team members. Still I don’t want this kind of nonsense going on. Be open. It’s always best. The AD will not know the answers to the questions like I do. I am the one who is making the decisions, and some of them are hard. Have you ever worked with 40+ teen age boys? We don’t have any problems, I love this group, but I want the guidance and experience  to be as valuable and powerful as possible for every one of the team members at any ability level. I could not offer that this year. I was definitely stretched too far and too often had to “manage” the crowd. We can do better than that, for everyone.

I’ll say it again, if you know of someone that has capabilities as a coach, and has the flexibility and possible interest, please let me know. I can do all of the contacting. I’ll even do it without their knowledge if you don’t want to consult them. We obviously need someone who will be responsible and in charge. Reasonably knowledgeable in running and training, but more importantly willing to follow instruction and learn what is likely a different method of training.

Well, I think that this is sufficiently long. Over 2000 words, probably a record. In case I don’t blog again before Christmas; I hope you all have a very happy holiday season. I hope that I see some of you during that time.  Take care,  Dan Z