Tuesday, February 3, 2026 – Becoming great

Hi Everyone!

We made it through January! Congrats to all of us. That was one long month. Here’s hoping February is a little smoother and a little warmer for all of us. If nothing else it will be shorter. I feel like we’re through the worst of it, but please don’t blame me if I’ve just cursed us to four more weeks of frozen hellscape.

Last week after one of my university track practices, a first year athlete asked me if we could chat. He was frustrated with himself because he is a talented runner, and came into the program knowing he’d be making a strong contribution to the team, but he felt he was letting himself down. He was doing well, but he wanted to be great. And he could see that his habits (2 am bedtimes, not running mileage consistently), were holding him back. We put together some strategies and realistic goals for him. My thinking was, well, obviously he doesn’t have it all figured out – he’s in first year university. But that stuff is easy and with some work will fall into place. My main takeaway was – he wants to be great! That is something you can’t coach into someone. That, and the fact that he wanted to improve, was all I needed to hear to want to invest in him.

I do see some athletes who seem to be missing this spark. They say, “well, I showed up”. And, ya… they did and that’s something. But it’s not exciting! Showing up should be the minimum bar, not something we’re shooting for and celebrating. There is something infectious about the drive of those who want to be great. They are taking risks and putting themselves out there and suffering with meaning for their craft. They want to be the best. Some might call this hubris or unrealistic or out of touch and lacking in humility. And I say – who cares? Life will bring them back to earth soon enough. Let them believe in their dreams.

I used to think this about Jakob Ingebrigsten, the Norwegian runner. He is 25 years old now, so not old, but over the last 5-7 years as he has been making a huge mark on track and field, he has shown up with a lot of swagger, confidence, and huge goals – many of them backed up, some still yet to be achieved. I have always been such a fan of his, and I’ve partly thought this is because of a sentimentality for his youthful optimism. Where some people were turned off by his swagger and confidence, I found it endearing. Like a little kid who wants to be a superhero. Let them get as far as they can – the pursuit and vision are meaningful and will take them far. And if life intervenes and they don’t achieve their full enthusiastic vision, it won’t be a huge shock to those of us who have been around the block. In fact, Ingebrigsten has since been taken down with injuries – tbd if he will make a full comeback.

So what to take from this? I think it’s to be celebrated when kids – or anyone – says they want to be the best. Let’s not say “well, not everyone can be the best, just show up and try”. We shouldn’t be telling them or ourselves that it doesn’t look good to have big goals. It becomes hard enough when experience tries to tell us what our place is. It also takes a lot of energy and some risk to believe wholeheartedly in ourselves. You might be called “too ambitious” or “a big ego” and people might try to bring you back to earth. But if anything makes us seem old, it’s complacency. There is a time and a place for treading water – we all need to sometimes. But that should not be the expectation we’re setting for ourselves or our kids. I say we should all put on our underoos and shoot for the stars or pick up our swords and go slay some dragons. Whatever dream charges you up. Go get it!

On to tomorrow’s workout – Back at Monarch Track! 6 am arrive, 6:15 start.

(I have paid for this session so $ should come to me – will give you a total after a head count)

If you don’t want to do a workout but want to come and run on good footing with a great crew, just come and run a social!

Everyone else:

1 mile tempo (can be MP into tempo)

3 min rest

3 x 1K w 2 min rest (5K>3K pace)

4 min rest

4 x 400 a lil faster w 1:15 rest

4 min rest

1 mile MP>tempo (optional)

That is all – see you in the am!

Seanna