Lawrence Hill

Eugene, February 6, 2008

Yesterday, the winter distance crew at south headed to Lawrence hill to do some hill repeats. The session was illuminating in a few regards: firstly, hills can tend to equalize levels of ability and fitness; secondly, the true character of each particular warrior is especially exaggerated through the motion of the hill. On the first point, I was rudely awakened to the fact that despite what I believe to be my Olympic caliber training, acumen, etc.; our first group of ten Axemen, were able to hang with me on this hill, and apparently, only a little less stressed then myself. I am really quite proud of these young warriors, and it is more as a scientist that I notice this interesting data, then as a competitor or an antagonist to these young apprentices who are under my tutelage. Yet, there is no denying that in the heat of a difficult workout one is apt to compare his perceived pulse, oxygen out-take, flushed face, etc., against his fellows. On the second point, it is really the sociologist in me rather than track trainer that likes to mentally record the apparent virtues and character that these young apprentices possess. For instance, I make a note if one of the kids goes out like balls the first interval, then drops out half-way in unexpected fatigue; or on the contrary, begins conservatively, and finishes in an untested blaze of speed for the final interval. I make these mental calculations more as a game to gague the potential vocations these warriors might carry forth in order to make a livelihood in our society, then as an indicator of who is going to be varsity, or anchor the mile relay.
Tomorrow, we head to Amazon trail to undertake a rigorous circuit of trail threshold running, coupled with track speed. This workout is a sort of inverted Michigan if you are familiar with modern collegiate workout lingo; and it is a bruiser. We will be calling it “The Hess” in the future, after the head distance coach at South, Jeff Hess, who is the workout’s inventor. We’ll see how my Olympic caliber training and experience holds up against these youngsters tomorrow. Hopefully, a few of them will surpass me someday, is that not the goal of every coach? With that selfish-altruism in mind, I hope to hold them off tomorrow and show them whose boss.

Train to race. Race to win. Feel it. Want it. Know it.

Gabe