Ken Jakalski

I really believe this simple and direct insight: Staying active is a critical element to happiness in life--at any age.

MONDAY FUN DAY Though out of coaching seven years these are things that keep me feeling positive: napping. reading, journal writing, family engagement, helping at meets, connecting on line and performing doable household tasks considering my stroke related vision issues.

SUNDAY DOUBLE HEADER A nice reminder to athletes who find something especially challenging about the day's workout, like wind, temperature, reps, or intensity: adversity is the challenge that makes us better.

I always liked to spend a little time before practice reviewing the workout plan for the day, highlighting, key aspects of the training and what we hopend to achieve. I'd smile and describe those sessions as "giving pain a purpose."

Four things that we as parents and coachess remind our athletes to bring to practice on a daily basis: energy, passion, intelligence, and a work ethic.

What factors coaches often consider in evaluating the runners in their program: work ethic, attitude, dedication to improvement, and coachability.

Simple and direct--and truly inspirational--coaching advice an old timer shared with me years ago: "Tell good stories. That's what your athletes will never forge about you."

SUNDAY DOUBLE HEADER A good point regarding what our athletes control: how hard they work out, how often they work out, and how focused they are during their workouts.

Dr. Dolly Klock's advice warns parents focused on their son's or daughter's sports careers should not do: "If you want to set your teens up for a collision course with disaster, deprive them of healthy food, restrict their sleep and give them little to no time off."

Kirsten Jones lists the 10 important things beyond talent that are extremely valuable to the athletes we coach: work ethic, being on time, effort, body language, energy, attitude, passion, being coacable, doing extra, and being prepared.

A point I liked reminding my sprinters: efficiency comes down to spending less time on the ground, which conserves mechanical energy and enables them to go longer or further. My all-time favorite focus on fast expression: speed makes the longer seem shorter.

I like this Kirsten Jones insight on what quality coaches like you folks do for the athletes in your programs. You help them to become "kind, compassionate, confident and well-focused young adults passionately pursuing their goals." That's not an easy task, but one you do well.

Hope you like my simple and direct two word description of a quality coach: needs interpreter. That's what you folks are--before practice, during practice, and after practice.

Just a next month reminder: Starting August 15th I'll begin a series of daily posts focused on Cross Country.

A simple and direct message I was consistent in reminding sprinters: high force generating ability is how you overcome longer ground contact time.