songs of experience

Remember the guy I wrote about who wore the weighted vest on all his runs? Well, by some cosmic turn of events (is a “twist of fate” ever really simple, Mr. Dylan?) Alex L’Heureux has asked me to coach him. Over the years I have been approached by countless runners needing a coach. I have always said “no” because of time - and energy - constraints. Let’s face it, most elite (or even pretty good) runners are high-maintenance people. I have all I can handle maintaining the household and children, writing, running, coaching seejanerun and my group of Team Wednesday guys/John Hinton’s group. If anyone wants to jump in on some intervals with Hinton-dog, fine, but my taking on a runner who needs one-on-one time at the track or on the phone or over coffee is a thing of the past … at least I thought it was.

Alex gave me permission to print his e-mail request on my blog. Here it is:

Hello Joan,
how are you? O.k,…this is a little CRAZZY but here I GO. I have two years until 2008 as you know, and I need to get in gear big time!!! My dad and I decided that he knew too little about the training aspect of it all and that I would need to find someone to coach me who knows their stuff. I have a clear goal Joan, and this is it: 2006- Run 3:40 1500m or a 3:59 mile and qualify for the Canadian Cross team. 2007- run 3:38 or a 3:57 mile (win nationals and also qualify for Canadian cross).- 2008- run 3:36 in the 1500m and make the Olympics. My DAD no longer believes in me and I’m now the only person who believes in myself, but I guess that’s the most important now isn’t it?! well, I am a realistic person however and I know that I can’t do what is written in this letter without someone to help me . . . someone who can take my body, my strength and will power, and turn it into an unbeatable machine. Joan, I think you’re the only one who can do this. Do you think you can send me to the olympics in Beijing? And most importantly, are you interested? I have an idea of how this could work but I don’t want to overwhelm you with all this because I know you have a family and that caoching me might not be effortless. However, if you choose to do this, who will have my 100% cooperation and you will be the sole decider of all my training and racing. I will leave it to you. If you do choose to train me, I not only am sure that I will make the Olympics but actually perform in them as well. I would also find a way to pay you for your coaching if I run 3:40 this year. Sleep on it and let me know. Regardless, I wish you and your family nothing but the best and have a wonderful new year. bye bye
~Alexandre l’heureux

What would you have done if you received a letter like this?

Here’s what I wrote back:

Date: Tue, 3 Jan 2006

Dear Alex,
The delay in my reply is not due to disinterestedness.
I have been taking some time to ponder your proposal.
My first thoughts are mostly questions: why did your dad give up on you? why aren’t you running with the State guys since you are in raleigh? How fast are you in the 4oom? How fast were you as a kid? What are your PR’s? Why do you want to keep running? What’s your favorite book? Movie? Are you creating any art right now? Are you injury-prone? What kind of mileage can you handle? Would you be willing to drive to Chapel Hill every Wedndsday evening to train? Etc., etc. You see, I haven’t coached any serious athletes for quite some time and the only one I coached who ever became “world-class” was me .. and a kid named Nick Winkel whom I coached to the world Junior xc champs his freshman year. He later transferred to Wisconscin (a decision I vehemently disagreed with) but I had already left UNC at that time. I regret not being able to coach Nick longer - he had the right mix of creative expression and talent. Like you, I suspect. Do you believe you are world class? I don’t think its worth making the commitment to the work load and nearly-insane intensity unless you know in your heart you are one of the best in the world. I knew this about myself, but no one else believed it … so I had to coach myself.

I was lost in the wilderness once as a runner and an old coach from England (now deceased) agreed to coach me overseas via snail mail. He said, “As I see it, I can’t help but be touched by you.” I think he felt sorry for me - like some stray mutt that he was going to take in and feed for awhile .. but I took my chance and soaked in all the learning I could before I set out on my own. I never really thanked him before he died; perhaps now’s my chance.