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Fairmount + PRE into SPFD then back

August 9, 2017 (Morning)

Exercise Type: Run

Weather: hot

Comments:
Mid-day run. Felt good but it didn't take time to realize my legs were thrashed from Pisgah. Ran into Springfield a bit, then around into Island Park and back through PRE to Autzen Bridge and campus.

Was definitely feeling like being done over the final two miles. Mostly low to mid 7s pace.

Rest of the day:
- no afternoon clients, so did some paperwork at various locations, including Allen Bros, then Coldfire, around happy hour! :-) But both locations were HOT, so I left
- went and got my truck washed
- went to Matt's, and we drove together to the PHHS coaches meeting!

Very interesting time, there. Rather than host it in the school (which has no AC), we essentially had a grill out at the Hazel's house (who's oldest son is a senior FB-track athlete -- and his dad is an awesome volunteer for many things, including FB and track).

There I had a couple key interactions, including:

1. the new football (and likely new head track) coach, Scott. He made a BAD impression on most of us -- while he was still coaching at Harrisburg, but a confirmed new hire for PE and football at PHHS for '17-'18 -- at Districts and State. At the former, he had a major blow-up against one of his parents after their 4x100 relay dropped a baton (ostensibly because of a decision he made to change-up the relay); the latter, after he "joked" to our 4x1 team that they should 'write thank-you cards' to HIS 4x1 team: on account that their DQ was responsible for their state berth. Both big-time jerk moves.

I've had a negative impression and worried outlook for him. But...observing him and talking to him at the meeting made me feel better. Yes, he's [somewhat, but arguably deservedly] arrogant, but he's a passionate coach and I *think* he may be doing it for the right reasons, as he quit his position as a strength & conditioning coach at the collegiate and pro sports levels to coach interscholastics when he kids were growing up. He's passionate, smart and invested. That's a good start, and deserving of a clean slate.

2. Beth Sprague, the cc coach! The long-awaited meeting finally happened. She introduced herself immediately as I arrived. She was very friendly, and we wound up talking for quite a while. But...she's nearly exactly what I thought she'd be (with all due respect, "a cross-fit mom"), but with this curious combination of lazy & selfish -- which often comes from having "too many kids" that you simply haphazardly raise because you're "so busy", but also coupled with a paradoxical (and troubling) degree of investment and arrogance. So...she values the team and coaching, is inherently egotistical, yet...she's selfish and lazy! CRIPES!

So while she was very friendly with me ("You should come run with us!", not to be construed at all with, "Would you like to assist?"), she also said a lot of shit that way either nonsensical or downright insulting, including:

Justifying the track coaching turnover, caused by her ambivalence: "I just think it's GOOD for these kids to be exposed to LOTS of different coaching styles! They'll learn something from each one!"

Complimenting me on the track season: "You sure benefitted from the training they did in the fall! ...oh, but their form SUCKED [in cross country]..."

I about fell down when I heard that. In one breath, she:

1. Took credit for our results, even though:
- an assload of the kids were hurt with her training last fall
- NONE (NONE!) of the kids ran consistently in the winter (so, 3 months of cc training...then FOUR months of NOTHING)

2. Insulted the kids, and blamed THEM, for the fact that their form sucked -- deflecting blame from herself, as if it's either not her job to coach form, or she tried to coach it, but they failed to "learn it" -- and it's their fault for not improving.

Wow. Very interesting, indeed. I'm glad she's not threatened by me, yet...but I severely doubt she has any clue how "invested" I am in her position, or how she does her job. If she did, I doubt she'd be that nice. But...it could open the door for me to show up, occasionally, simply to observe the goings-on.

Anyway...nothing to get worked-up against, but a good opportunity to learn about folks "in the gaaaame". And a good chance to meet some of the other coaches, too!