Over and Out

Ladies,

The only way this could have ended better is if the whole team had come. We settled for 2nd best, and Carrie did not let us down.

Let me preface this post with some information I really didn't want to discuss too much before - that of taper. The way taper works is you time your rest for a specific day. The length of your taper, or more accurately, the duration of the taper effect is dependent largely upon the size and duration of your base. Think of the sculpture example... if you want a big sculpture, you have to start with a large piece of marble. It's pretty much the same thing. In my racing days I would run a 6-month cycle with high mileage the whole time. In the end, I'd brought my body to the near-breaking point. The rest came just at the crescendo of the training, and would give a reliable taper effect.

Our base wasn't nearly at that level, therefore the taper did not last as long. I could ride a taper for a few weeks; your taper wouldn't have lasted more than a week. You didn't have enough time or miles to do anything else. We could not be sure of getting out of Sectional, never mind Regional. I had to choose to taper you for Sectional. Some of you peaked there as a result. Couple that with a sloppy field and short turnaround time to the next meet, and well... easy to see why we got the results we did.

Now the lesson to take away from all of this is miles have to happen. Quality has to happen. It needs to happen from the start, it needs to be consistent, and it has to continue to the end. It's hard - of course. But if you want to be great, you have to train to be great. That's a choice we have to make going into the spring running.

This should not be taken to mean I don't think you girls worked - we were limited by several factors that were beyond your control. In the end though, it won't matter. You have the time/quality in the bag or you don't. The running gods accept no excuses. And this is where you resolve as an individual to do your part to improve yourself over the winter so you come out a terrifying specter of athleticism to all your rivals.

I don't care what you do - run, swim, pedal a bike indoors, go to the gym - but the worst thing you could do is nothing. Endurance athletics are a year-round proposition. You can mix your activities, but you must HAVE activities. You cannot lay around promising to start tomorrow, because tomorrow will never come. You have to drag yourselves out, get in groups, do something. The farther out you start, the far less likely you are to get hurt. Trust me on this - for 20 years I was never seriously hurt at any time, but neither did I take extended breaks.

You should take a couple weeks at the end of any season to recover, but after that, it's back on the horse. You gals have so much talent, and we still have a track season in the spring. I want to see you gals at State meet!

Okay... on to Carrie. The best plan under the circumstances, in my humble opinion, was to A) make certain Carrie was thoroughly warmed up, and; B) have her chase a known opponent. Let's face it, pacing herself has not worked. It's something we'll have to work on in the off-season. For now, a known opponent gives her something easy to chase.

We ran the whole course for warm-up, and I'm glad we did. At first it looked good, then it quickly turned sour a bit after half-mile. There was quite a bit of swampy goo that extended for most of second half of the first mile, then picked up again as we left the wooded portion. We were able to decide on a line that likely kept Carrie out of the bulk of trouble, but the conditions would definitely slow the race down for runners not in front (Carrie ran mid-pack).

From the jump, Carrie looked fine, but she was boxed in and could not find her targets. Nevertheless, she held the same distance throughout the race, itself a victory because it proves she can run their speed. She just can't let them get away from her in the start. Her overall time of 21:25 is solid - not her best, but as stated before, it was unlikely she would be able to run her fastest time today. Best of all, she was in the middle of the fight in a tough field and was moving up the entire race.

For me, I think Carrie gained a lot from the experience. It's a different animal altogether to run in this type of race, and we need someone with the experience to help guide the team next year. So, hats off to Carrie!

There will be a banquet of course, time to be set soon. I'll also need to start collecting uniforms. Yes, I want them ALL in this year - got that seniors? ;)

Quick-hit comments

Ladies,

First, thanks again to Madison and Alli. You are helping, even by simply being there.

Second, I will be taking a bus on Saturday. If you make it, fine, if you don't, fine. It is completely voluntary. If you want to go, be ready to leave by 7:45 AM by the pool. Also bring money for lunch.

Third, uniforms will need to be returned. So far I have Nicole's, Keeley's top, and McKena's uniform. I don't believe anyone else has turned one in yet.

Finally, after your rest, I strongly advise you plan your winter activities in a way to include conditioning. Coach Spence was encouraging runners to swim over the winter, and I don't think that's a bad idea at all. I started life as a swimmer, and it helped my running IMMENSELY. This would be an especially smart move for girls in rehab (Bret, Morgan, McKena) who want to maintain fitness for whatever sport comes next. It's a non-impact workout that builds upper-body strength (Bret!) and VO2 (all). And, having watched you girls swim, I can tell you there are several on the team that could help the swimmers now!

Hey, it's another letter, another item to put on a college resume, and they could use the help. Just sayin'. 

This week

Ladies,

We had a few ladies come out to help Carrie run today - Bret, Alli, and Madison - thanks a bunch! It really does make a difference. Tomorrow Carrie will be running quarters on the track. Come and yell for her if you have the time!

Moving forward to this weekend, the meet for the girls starts at 11:15. Coaches' meeting is at 9:30, it's an hour-and-a-half drive, so... 7:45 would be the likely departure time. It's going to be cold, and it will be a long time out in the weather.

Now you are all welcome to come to the meet - you've earned the privilege. I welcome you to do so. However, here's what you need to understand:

• I can get a bus, but I will only do so if we have enough girls to make it necessary. I can take up to 3 girls in my car (with permission from the school). 
• If you ride the bus with me, you have to ride home with me unless you fill out the paperwork. Likely as not most of your parents won't be showing for the meet, and some of you might be tempted to try to get me to let you ride with another person to leave earlier. I cannot do this under any circumstances!
• You may drive yourselves to the meet - you have as much right to do so as any other spectator. If you don't want to be constrained by the rules, this would be your best option. 

The long and the short of it is this; I would love for anyone who wants to come to this meet to come. I would love to provide transportation. Just understand, for liability reasons, once you ride up there with me, you are riding back with me (unless the paperwork is submitted beforehand). If you want to come and then split before we do, drive yourselves. 

I have to let the Athletic Department know by Wednesday whether or not I'll need a bus. Therefore, I need to know by tomorrow night what you folks plan to do. 

Okay, turning back the page a bit to Saturday's meet...

The analysis isn't hard to figure out... we were tapered for Tuesday. That was my call, because the way things were going there was no guarantee we'd get out. Without a terribly large base, the peak didn't last long. Couple that with a quick turnaround (Tuesday to Saturday) and horrendous course conditions, and finally a far-too-fast first 800, and well... things didn't go the way we'd like. 

I don't feel bad about your effort, because I know everyone did what they could. I feel bad for the team, especially the seniors. I let you down, and for that I'm sorry.

Regional Results

Ladies,

I know it's a hard day for most, but the season is at an end for all but Carrie. Congratulations to Carrie for doing the job today - and it came in the third mile, by the way - but it is a hard day for the rest.

I could go through and break the races down, point out how insanely fast the first 800 was for everyone, but there is little point now. It's done for now, and we'll have to wait a while before we can do anything about it. It's bitter, because this is when the "coulda/shoulda/woulda" starts. Don't do it. Not today. It's too soon.

Better to focus on what positive things came out of the year, or in some cases, years running. You girls came to know one another, you've been through a lot on the training runs, races, bus trips, and just had time to grow friendships that will last a lifetime. You learned life lessons such as the value of hard work, commitment, and unfortunately today how sometimes all you do falls short.

And here's where one of the most valuable of all life lessons occurs.

You won't always win. You won't always get what you want. You won't always get the job, win the contest, or even win the heart of that special person. Sometimes it just won't work out. And it feels like you've failed. Be careful. Your focus is too narrow if you believe that. In the grand scheme of things, that short-term win may not have been the real victory at all. The real victory is one of character and perseverance.

Look, it's easy to look like a winner when you win. What's tough is looking (and acting) like a winner when you lose. We didn't win a place in Semi-State, but we aren't losers. Remember that, and if you do, this form of disappointment can go a long way to mold you into a much better person.

I always look at these things like this... when I stand before my God and answer for my life, I always imagine being shown images of my past, the good and the bad times, and I can't help but believe my God won't care how many medals I won, rather how I conducted myself, win or lose, when things went my way and when they didn't. Your real character, more often than not, is on full display when you don't get what you really want.

Am I disappointed? Of course. But not in you ladies. Not in your work ethic, and certainly not you as young adults. No, I'm sorry our time is at an end. I'm tired and need a rest, but I already miss you ladies. I miss the seniors whom I'll never get to coach again. I miss the opportunities to relive the whole wonderful running experience through your eyes. It's the Peter Pan in me, I suppose, that part of me that will never grow up.

I will break the numbers down tomorrow, at least a bit. For now I want to sit on this, absorb what it all means, and plan for the future. It's a bittersweet moment for sure - we did get a runner through (YAY!), but so many didn't make it.

For now, you are all welcome to come out and help Carrie get ready for next weekend. I know some of you will, some won't be able to make it, but I want to also let you all know you are welcome to go to Semi-State next weekend!

...and now we're upon it.

Ladies,

This is it. This is what the entire summer was about, the whole season. We are upon what might or might not be our final meet. It all depends on what happens tomorrow, and by that I mean what you do with tomorrow.

We absolutely have the ability to beat Salem, to earn that last slot out. We have to do it is all. Easier said than done perhaps, but there isn't much to overthink here. Salem's top 3 are good, but not that much better than ours. No, the damage we do to them is as we've talked about all along - our top 3 close the gap, and our final 2 open a wider gap with their final 2. If we can do that, we squeak by them. They of course will be our target.

A complicating factor will be rain. Tomorrow morning is forecast to be in the mid-40's with rain. That will be miserable, it will slow the race down, and it will be a real slogfest after the boys tear up the course in the first race. That makes the race one of position. In this scenario we actually gain a bit of advantage because we are better used to our course. We still have to monitor our uphill efforts (Carrie!), but the rest of the course should be run aggressively.

If it is pouring rain, I would recommend our top 3 attach themselves loosely to their top 3. Let them slide out a little in the first mile, then smack back hard in the second. Really hard! Their #3 in particular seems vulnerable, and I think if we can get to her, she'll break. Make that happen in the second mile!

You are all rested, ladies. You will find the energy to run hard throughout the race. Madison and Katlyn, you have to start cautiously, but after that, I expect you guys to try to make the next two miles faster and fastest. Chloe and Morgan, don't be afraid to run hard throughout the race. What do you have to lose?

It will come down to numbers in the end. If you want to run next week, there are only two ways to go:

1. We beat Salem, or;
2. You run in the top-35

If you can keep your eyes up enough to count, you should have a fair idea of where you are mid-race. Top-35 will go to Semi-State, I'll practically guarantee it. We have girls that can do that. Take your shot, make it happen!

Now on to other matters...

I didn't misspell anything last night. I have no idea what you guys are talking about. 

You all left your letters in my car. Thanks a lot! Now I have to pour through them all. Let's look at the first one:

"Dear Coach Deckard, 

What are you going to do for fall break? I am going to play basketball all day long, and I think my Aunt is going to have a baby soon. Very soon. Good luck at Sectional.
Love, Isabel"

Response -

"Dear Isabel, 

Do you really spell it that way? Man, I've been messing that up all year. What a dummy I am! 

For fall break I'm going to continue being the outrageously good-looking man I am. I sorta have no choice about it, so I'm going to roll with the hand dealt to me. 

Playing basketball, eh? All day? Don't you get tired? Are you some kind of futuristic basketball player cyborg sent back to the past inspire generations of girls to take up the sport? 

Thanks for your good-luck wishes. We can use all the help we can get! Donations too, I guess. We accept Visa and Mastercard. 

Yours Handsomely, Coach Deckard"

Next letter:

"Dear Alli, 

What are you going to do over fall break? I am going on a cruise. I am taking off the 17th of October. 

You did really go at practice when I saw you there.  

Write back soon when I get back from vacation. 

Your pinpal, Luke"

Response (generated) - 

"Dear Luke, 

I get to spend time around the smartest guy I ever met, Coach Deckard. You can keep your cruise - every day around Coach Deckard is smooth sailing. 

You saw me really going at practice? That's because Coach Deckard inspires me to run faster.  

I'll write you some more about Coach Deckard when you get back. 

In Deckard Worship, Alli"

Gee, that made me blush a bit, Alli. I understand it of course, but wow, really. One more letter:

"Dear Bret,

I am going to play in the leaves at my house. Bret do you know my name? You are kind to me I like you. Can you back to me please? Good luck at Sectional. 

Love, Makarahrose"

Response (generated) - 

"Makarahrose (how do you PRONOUNCE that?!), 

Who plays in leaves? What are you, 9? Man, I haven't done that since I was in 3rd grade. (wait, someone is telling me something) Whuh? She is in 3rd grade? Man, do I feel foolish! 

I'm sure playing in leaves is fun, but I'll be listening to my favorite collection of Coach Deckard hits. Did you know Coach can sing? He surely can, and I would also add he's better than the original artist on every song. It's amazing! Coach Deckard also writes better lyrics, too. And rap? Wow! He can freestyle it like no one else can! Fershizzle.  

Anyway, there's your letter.  

Bret"

I'm getting pumped for this!

Ladies,

I got a very great vibe yesterday during practices. I think you guys are feeling it, taper, and I think Saturday is going to be a great day. I also took some time to look at the Terre Haute Sectional times. You know what I know?

At least some of you girls will be running next week in Brown County.

I hope our team goes, I really do. I think there's a fair chance that does happen. That said, even if it doesn't, I think we get individuals out. How many, I can't say, but someone from Bedford will run in Brown County next week.

I think Salem has run as fast as they can. I don't see any way they run faster, and there's a fair chance they run worse. I think our best race will be Saturday. Don't ask how I know, I feel it, I can feel the momentum shifting. We are better than all the rest of the teams.

Here's something else to think about... Terre Haute is a much flatter course than ours, and the times they had were not much faster than ours. I can see a crazy scenario where one of the Terre Haute schools might not beat Salem (or us).

Look, we've got our work cut out. Nothing has changed there. We have to be better. We will be better. The quality of the field will be better, no question, but I think we'll have more determination to be better, to win those open slots if nothing else.

We'll meet tomorrow morning at 9 AM at BNL. Get revved!

A new day

Ladies,

Last night I felt pretty low. There are times in coaching where an event will come along and make you feel like you know nothing at all about what you're doing. That's what it felt like last night. Things just didn't seem to be going our way on any level, with one very important exception; we did get out to Regional.

I've had time to reflect on it a bit, and honestly I feel a lot better. I'm not saying I got any smarter overnight - that certainly didn't happen. What did happen was I gained a bit of clarity.

First thing I wanted to do (once I had the time) was to compare times from the Ted Fox Invite to Sectional. Both Salem and Edgewood came to that meet, and I wondered if (and by how much) they improved from one meet to the other. Check out the results for each teams' top-5:

Athlete	School	Ted Fox	Sectional
Hannah Sears	Edgewood	19:12:00	19:51:00
Angela Kendall	Orleans	20:39:00	20:19:00
Sandra Warren	Salem	20:19:00	20:21:00
Sydney Calhoun	Salem	21:29:00	20:37:00
Madison Smith	Salem		20:47:00
Celine Hornick	Edgewood	21:25:00	21:56:00
Laken White	Salem	22:34:00	22:49:00
Stacey Nethery	Edgewood	23:14:00	23:17:00
Audrey Litten	Edgewood	23:47:00	23:41:00
Megan Law	Salem	25:19:00	24:45:00
Hannah Davis	Edgewood	23:50:00	25:18:00

Edgewood's girls either slowed down or stayed level. Salem had two girls improve. Sydney Calhoun isn't in the same category - she'd been hurt/sick (I know mother). She's healthier now, therefore she's running more what she should be running - call that one a wash. I guess what I'm saying is the meet appears to have been slow for everyone. That makes me feel a bit better.

Next, I felt like you gals kept your heads. You didn't run great - fair enough. But you didn't run terribly, and better still, you didn't quit on it. We had decent times, but we have to run better. I think we have a great potential to do so, because I don't feel as if anyone completely pancaked themselves last night night. On the other hand, I can't see how Salem runs better. That's pretty much it for them. If we can get a drop out of you girls, I think we compete with them for the top-5 on Saturday.

There's more. My guess is we'll get a few girls through to Semi-State even if we don't get out as a team. I don't think there'll be 10 better unattached girls than we have on our team. Somebody's getting out on Saturday.

Finally, I liked the energy I saw in practice(s) today. I can see taper is kicking in. We have girls ready to pop big. Oh, and Alli looked (and sounded) healthy tonight. It's 180 degrees different from a day ago as far as I'm concerned.

So... let's practice tomorrow at BNL, 9 AM, three miles easy. I can't wait for Saturday!