When my wife Lori and I were coaching track & field and cross country at Livonia Ladywood High School, we were blessed to have worked with some wonderful youg ladies and developed some great long standing friendships with the girls and their families.
Yes, there were a number of outstanding performances we witnessed over the years and seasons, but what stands out most for me are the memories of watching the teams buy into our philosophy and workouts. The middle and long distance gang over the seasons were commonly referred to by nicknames or last names most of the time, just as if they were one of the guys; M Woj, C Woj, Zus, Bou, Field, Jules, Hous, Mercedes, Kelso, CVS, Jordo, Darr, Scarlett, Wicks 1, Wicks 2, Thyssen, Mallory are just a few of the characters which made this coaching campaign a very memorable one.
The first of day of cross-country training @630am, thirty one girls show up. While discussing my philosophy, team goals etc., I comment about starting from the state meet and counting backward, the look of "is he crazy, state"? is common across all of their faces. Slowly the girls bought into mys new concept, the workouts and "we're not in this to participate, we're in this to win."
Once they did, the enthusiasim, committment and accountability won over and they were on our way to the first of several tremendous seasons which saw the team go from last to second in the conference meet, finish the season with only one duel meet loss, place our first five on the all conference team, everyone making the all academic team and everyone finishing the season healthy and running faster than ever before.
We all learned something from the initial season;
1. Just because the workout is written, does not mean will do the complete session.
2. Coach Rick has a lot of rickisms" and yes, They do apply to the sport and life.
3. Coach Rick, "Have you run this way before? Do you know where we're going on this run?"
The response was always, YES. When you run 80-90 miles per week for weeks on end, you tend to find you're way around.
4. They learned to check their heart rate zones.
5. When Coach Rick wears red trimmed training shoes, we're going to be running fast today. Check his shoes to see how hard the workout will be.
6. Coach Rick writes workouts like algebra or chemistry equations, how do we know what these are? 20 min w/u + 6 x 50/50/50 (g,m,r) + (800e)+ 5x(800(100)200(400)+15min cd7. Wear your socks inside out and you will not blister. Thanks Coach Lori!!!
8. Fridays were OYO days (On Your Own}
9. When you don't have a date at least three weeks before any formal dance, you wear black shorts, t-shirt and black wristbands.
10. You can still function when your "unconscious", because it's to warm to run in the fall after school.
11. CVS restrooms are everywhere.
12. Eating taco bell before intervals is not a good idea.
13. Mr. Collins and Mr. Laing make us run in a driving monsoon, even though Coach Rick is home sleeping.
14. Meredith and Julia dropped the hammer on U of D-Jesuit lads in a summer workout.
They didn't come back after that one.
15. We went to MSU Cross Country Camp for a week. And guess what, the coaches told us the same things you have already and we completed the same types of workouts.
I'm proud to say the following ladies realized their potential and love for the sport. Each is continuing to pursue their running with their academic careers at the NCAA level.
Megan Yanik, University of Notre Dame, South Bend
Julia Kenney, St. Marys College, South Bend
Amanda Field, Michigan State University
Mercedes Black, University of Detroit-MercyIn a few years, I will not be surprised to see one or two earn the opportunity to wear the national team uniform and represent the USA in international competition. Time will tell.
