Hi Gang!

Huge congrats to our intrepid trail racers – Shauna and Laura who ran a 12-ish K trail race and both came 4^th in their age categories! In I think their first ever trail races? Way to explore and dive head first into new things!

This week I’ve been thinking about the concept of leadership. I’ve been hearing a lot of young people talking about how they want to become “leaders”. Now, I’ve never attended a leadership course and I am no expert, but I do have a sense of who I am inspired to follow. I am a great follower. And what I notice about many of these kids saying they want to be leaders, is that they don’t look back at who’s supposed to be following them.They are just chasing those ahead and think that the first there will obviously become the leader. When they say “I want to be a leader” what they are thinking is “I want to be the best”. But that’s not how I think you lead. You may have an easier more natural platform to lead if you’re at the front, because people are looking at you, but I have seen great leaders who were not necessarily the “best” in their field, and I think we’ve all seen some pretty uninspiring first place finishers.

One of the best qualities which I like in a leader, is a “come with me” attitude. They are not saying, “I am going to win this”, they are saying “let’s do this together”. They are able to set the tone and the expectations and they can inspire people to do their best. Simply being the best does not necessarily inspire others. I was coaching a track workout the other morning with some of my varsity athletes, and I decided to jump in with them. It was a true speed workout, so those who know me know that I wasn’t leading from the front. But I was still able to set the tone, keep the environment fun but serious, and encourage people ahead of and behind me. I did actually yell from behind an athlete at different times “slow it down” or “ok,let’s go!” while trailing her significantly. But I was ready to do what I’d asked them to do, and I don’t think anyone cared who crossed which line first.

Leading is about reaching back, beside and forward and saying “let’s do this”. It’s bringing others along and helping them to achieve their best. This is the element I see missing from many of these young aspiring leaders. They are more focused on their own achievements than on bringing others along. I think this is probably natural when you’re young because you are desperate to prove yourself at that stage. And this is what I love about being *ahem, more ‘mature’. In our group, we are all pulling each other along. We’re reaching back, we’re running side by side or we’re cheering from behind. Crossing the line first doesn’t inspire others. Saying “we’re in this together and you can do it” is what inspires them. Let’s keep doing that.

On to tomorrow’s workout: Lakeshore and Leslie. 6:05 drills, 6:15 GO.

(some of us had talked about moving our workouts to the south side while there is construction. We could do this, but the workout for this week doesn’t require it. I’m thinking we do shorter stuff on the week we do the path, and longer when we do the spit)

1.    sets of 600 (200 shuffle) – 400 (1:15 rest) – 200
3-4 sets, 3 min bw sets

600’s at 5K pace, 400’s faster, 200’s faster – this is a great summer 5K or sharpening workout.

I will be there but won’t be running the workout.

That is all – see you in the am!

xo

Seanna