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It's tough for a lot of people to get interested in cross-country because they don't understand it. I'm going to attempt to open a few eyes about the reality of distance running by bringing you a coach's front seat at the State Class meet.

 

First – the results.

 

6. Stephanie McNamara               19:35

103. Stephanie Moses                  22:13

138. Marrah Fry                           23:04

144. Shannon Swanson                 23:17

189. Djerica Lamousnery               24:19

219. Ashley Plante                       30:07

 

Team 20/32    576 Points

 

And before anyone thinks the score was added wrong, there were runners in the race from incomplete teams. They affect the individual placement but are removed when figuring the team score.

 

For those who may think that running is just running, you should understand that in a race of this distance, there are a lot of individual stories of interest. Strategy plays a large part. Later this week I'll talk about other teams that were big surprises, both positive and negative. I'll reserve this write-up for just 6 girls, all wearing the red and white of North Attleboro.

 

Being realistic about the race, we weren't going to be a team factor. While we had been mostly healthy in '05, we saw the other side of the coin this season. For groups that enjoy the team dynamic (the mantra I preach and that they seem to embrace), it is a sobering thought when you can't repeat the good fortune of the previous year. The difference between thinking anything is possible ('05) and this year's misfortune can have dramatic effects on individual performances as well.

 

That made it important at the end of this season to focus on individual results – whether aiming for a trip to Northfield Mountain or finishing the season with a PR. I had to try to find the individual motivation of each runner. They in turn had to seek their personal motivation from a new, more self-centered goal - although you couldn't distinguish it from watching the athletes. Right up until the end, whether injured, sick, or running, each member of this team was been a high-decibel supporter of the rest.

Now to the meet.

I'd consider my own performance less than stellar, because I chose a new coaching strategy that didn't pay off. I always catch the runners after the first corner (excatly 500M out) and after they pass I walk to the mile mark. This year meet management changed the finish slightly, which changed the starting line, therefore the mile and two mile marks. But runners were going to have a visible clock at the mile. I decided to stay further around the corner where it would be less crowded and easier to communicate with the runners. You'll see why that backfired.

 

For Stephanie McNamara the meet wasn't just about going on to Northfield because she was a huge favorite to do so. For her, it was also the chance to run an NA PR, and finish very high. A very good day might net second place, and if she was within striking position in the middle of the wilderness loop, the chance to even go for it all. Of course there were at least ten other girls thinking the same.

 

Steph got out smoothly and was poised near the front. She didn't appear to be pushing hard – just striding out with the leaders. When they passed me the second time (maybe 100M past the mile mark) , she was sandwiched between the leader, Rebecca White and Brett Lewis of NDA. That trio had separated from the rest – a gap of almost 50M.

 

Here's where I regret my location. Not having seen the clock, I had no idea that it was in the wrong spot. Steph looked up and saw 5:10 when she went by it, which even with the clock misplaced (it should have been about 18 yards further out) seems much too fast to me. I wonder! I've yet to confer with other coaches on the matter. The time Steph saw was both exciting and a little frightening. Still, to me she looked comfortable, and I let her know she was doing a good job and intoned her to “stay smooth”. For those who think what the coach says during the race makes much difference, you should read “All the Wrong Words”.

 

Next by me were Marrah Fry and Stephanie Moses. They've been running close together the last few meets. My goal for Marrah was to break 22:00 in this, the last meet of her career. She'd had strep just the week before, but had a solid 3X1000 taper workout this week that she finished very strongly. She looked ready to do damage. Moses was charged with trying to beat Marrah, figuring the attempt would pull her along to a good time. “Mosey” had never run this course – so this was a baseline race. I didn't count bodies, but they were in a strong position when they passed. I was the most animated with them, yelling a little more than usual. Later I was to find out that they too had gone out much harder than usual.

 

I figured that Shannon Swanson would be close to them. That was to be her challenge. She's still recovering from mono, this being just her second race back. But each day she seemed stronger and her last quality workout showed she could run with them - just might lack pop over the last mile. I was surprised that she was so far back, maybe even a little disappointed (not for me but for her based on the high standards she sets), but had I been at the mile I would have realized she was the closest to a reasonable pace. On the bus ride up she had asked me to scream at her. I didn't. I couldn't. Her face was redder than usual and I wanted her to get through as painlessly as possible.You don't help anything by screaming at someone that doesn't have more to give.

 

Djerica Lamousnery was out to smash her PR. Last year she ran 27+ on the course. Her goal before the season started was to break 26:00. Based on great improvement this season, she would be trying to break 24:00. DJ was clearly in sight of Shannon so I told her to look up and keep Shannon in sight. I doubt she heard me.

 

My sixth runner was Ashley Plante. She is a discus thrower trying cross-country for the first time. Ashley would not have normally run this race, but injuries to others opened up a spot and her dedication to the team was definitely worth rewarding. She runs though pain and doesn't complain, even though a 3.1-mile race isn't natural for her. She went by with a lead on a couple of runners, so it looked like she'd have company for the race.

 

After Ashley passed I walked over to the two-mile mark. Rebecca White came through at about 11:55 and Steph was still in second at 12:12 – but with at least four girls bearing down on her, including D-Y's Caitlin Crosby, the Beverly tandem of Kassandra (Kasey) Kluge and Kelly O'Connor and Alix Gregory of Marshfield. Masconomet's Sarah Moniz and Abby D'Agostino were also in the mix. I encouraged her to “stay strong”, knowing that a large group had set sights on her.

 

Since the two-mile mark was further up a path this year I had to be outside of the runners, and if I waited too long would get blocked by a crush of runners and not make it to the next location. So after Steph passed I moved back across before it got crowded and watched. Steph Moses was the next into sight. It was another 30 seconds before Marrah and then not seeing Shannon I had to move to the next spot or risk missing the leaders.

 

When the top group next came into view it was about two minutes from the finish line. They come up a long hill, over a crest and onto the field for one last loop. White still had a solid lead and Steph had fallen to 5th , but with three runners just in front. This is where she made her final move, re-grabbing second and trying to carry momentum back onto the field. I waited for one minute before heading to the finish. In the crowd it was tough to make out the runners, which makes the last minute agonizingly long.

 

White crossed the line in 19:14 and the second Natick runner, Anya Price was the surprise 2 nd place. The fast early mile might have taken a little extra out of Steph. She was unable to hold on and was caught by a pack of runners while headed up the long last incline. She still finished 6th, matching Jenna Banks placement of a year ago. Steph was just one second faster than Banks time.

 

Here's a point that is often lost on both runners and fans. The way a race unfolds makes all the difference. It isn't just about who has the most talent and training. Strategy changes the way runners confront races. When they are forced outside their normal approach, the race dictates to them.

A lot of questions develop when formulating strategy. Had Step's focus been on third or fourth, I'm confident of her ability to hang onto that second group of runners and kick in. But encouraged her to go for everything, which seemingly required maintaining contact with Rebecca White. Based on the way White had been running it was a little bit of a stretch, but you never know what you truly have unless you're willing to go after it. I hadn't pushed Steph all season, letting her decide her goals. Today I decided to nudge her in a new direction.

Had White been more patient, or if Steph decided to let her go and run for second things may have been different. That's the interesting part of races. Steph couldn't control what White did, and neither of us would have chosen “backing off” as the plan. So, given the race, the results were great, if not exactly what we'd have wished. I haven't talked to the Notre Dame or Natick coach yet. Runners were closing on Rebecca White at the finish and the third member of the early trio – Brett Lewis – didn't finish the race. Given those indicators, it looks like the leaders went out too hard. Steph held up well with the hard early pace. That will help her next week at Northfield.

 

Steph Moses looked good all the way to the finish. It was her first race alone, and she didn't back off. It looks like her entry to cross-country was a good decision. Next year she should be comfortable setting her own pace when necessary. Marrah faded a little near the end, the combination of an early fast pace and days lost to strep. Again, her heart was in trying to PR and I like the fact that she tried to really pound one out.

 

Shannon's conservative start worked well. She passed a lot of runners on Bear Cage Hill and again in the Wilderness Loop. She finished strong over the last mile and ended up just six places and thirteen seconds behind Marrah. By indoor she should be her old self again.

 

DJ was closing on the finish line with the clock still at 23:+   but she couldn't quite beat the second hand. Still, she finished three minutes faster than last year - much improved and exceeding all her goals. This year she became a distance runner, but starting Wed. she'll begin some pre-season training to get ready for 55M hurdles.

Ashley finished despite some breathing problems and has vowed to keep running throughout her "thrower training" this winter.

I'm not sure this helps. But I've got to run to Boston. Make that drive!