Pace Group

I managed to cut myself off Friday night, in order to make it to 7:00 am running group Saturday (it was nice to learn I wasn't the only one who has this issue). The run was a gameday six-miler through the University of Georgia campus, where folks were already tailgating for a 4:30 kickoff against South Carolina. I was one of 36 people that met in the parking lot, though as previously mentioned, there were lots more folks getting a run in before the first home game of the season. The weather even felt a bit like football weather-- sunny, gorgeous, and mid 60s at that hour, but still Southern hot and sticky by game time.

I also agreed to lead the 9:00 pace group, for those getting ready to run the Athens half marathon next month. I typically run at about this speed, so it was no trouble at all. It turned out I was one of about four at this pace. I really wanted to hold pace and I did for the first 3+ miles, but then the uphills caught up to me, and I averaged out at about 9:15. Helpful that nobody caught me, but there's still work to do.

It was amazing to see people already out tailgating. Hard to blame them, since it's the first home game of the season, a hated foe was in town, and the Dogs are supposed to be pretty good this year. Dozens of tents were set up (likely from the night before), not all of them were manned, and there didn't seem to be a lot of grilling yet. We also saw band/spirit squad types heading to their assigned places. Our route even took us past Sanford Stadium, empty and lifeless at the time, but soon to be filled with excitement. There was such an amazing vibe on campus.

The only negative is that I could smell food toward the end, since we passed Thai and pizza places on our way in. This was unfair, but not as bad as in Tuscaloosa, when my route regularly took me past a barbecue joint.

And as always, the coffee was free afterwards.

30-Minute Run

I saw a question asked on another running blog about who you would want to have a conversation with over a 30-minute run. I must say, I never do well at these types of questions—whether it’s who I’d like to have dinner with or who I’d like to run with. So many possibilities. The list is endless.

So I’ll narrow it down to two. One runner, and one person not known for running.

I think to run with Joan Benoit Samuelson would be incredible. She is a Mainer, which to this Southerner, seems like a difficult thing to be as a runner, given the state’s climate. I’m sure she didn’t run there exclusively, but she founded the famous Beach to Beacon 10K in Cape Elizabeth, which I’ve read has elite runners showing up, and housing with race volunteers and folks like that.

She’s qualified for seven Olympic team trials, of course winning the 1984 Olympic marathon in Los Angeles. She’s won a couple of Bostons and a Chicago, and though is not a competitor anymore, is still a great runner and great running ambassador.

But I think it’s her down-to-earth vibe and approachability that would make a great run partner. The 30 minutes would probably fly by, though sore slowly for her than for me, given our respective paces. I think she’s a Red Sox fan, so we could discuss baseball, even though I’m a Royals guy. I doubt I could ask her anything that hasn’t been asked dozens of times before, but it would be nice to hear her unfiltered replies, which have not been edited for space.

Okay—the non-runner.

There are so many people throughout history who have inspired. One name stands out to me, making this choice easier than I thought. Legendary basketball coach Don Haskins. I am a native of El Paso, Texas, and Coach Haskins was the head coach of the Texas Western/UTEP Miners for 39 years, winning 719 games. I am a big UTEP fan chiefly because of watching his teams play (usually on TV) in the mid-80s. 

Haskins is probably best known for starting five African-Americans against Kentucky in the 1966 NCAA championship, winning 72-65. It doesn’t seem like a big deal nowadays, but in the mid-1960s it was. He’d be the first to tell you he wasn’t trying to make a statement—he just wanted to win. But his choice to start Hill-Lattin-Artis-Flournoy-Worsley had a ripple effect. There was hate coming from many different directions for years to come. Some talked about exploitation, some called him racist. It was as though winning a title was the worst possible thing that could’ve happened.

Haskins never made a ton of money. El Paso wasn’t and isn’t that kind of place. The man just wanted to coach hoops. He shared his wealth with others and was as down to earth as could be. This great man left us in 2008.

30 minutes wouldn’t begin to cover the things I’d want to talk about. I’d love to ask about the 1988 NCAA tournament game against Arizona, about how he and the program endured the negativity and bad press after winning the title, about Coach Iba, Haskins’ mentor, and on, and on, and on. He would basically be reliving my childhood. There would have to be postrun libation-- I would buy (though it’d get pricey) and listen to a legend tell stories about being a man, a coach, and unwitting pioneer.  

The movie ‘Glory Road’ told the story of the 1965-66 Miners, and Josh Lucas portrayed Coach Haskins. Lucas even got to sit in Haskins’ pickup and drink tequila with him. I am still insanely jealous.