The possibilities of the thing...

A couple of months ago I wrote a fantastic blog, it was filled with heart and soul, and love and despair, anger and emotion.  I just deleted it because it was a tragedy, and filled with sadness that needed no life.  So, I wrote it all, got that out, vented, and deleted it because time heals all wounds and brings great wisdom.  I was driving yesterday and thinking about what I wanted to write, and what I wanted to share.  Here is the resulting epiphany.  Periodically, I will write about a different athlete I have coached or helped coach over my 20 plus years.  I will not use names, you can guess who they are, who they are will be obvious to those that were there.  I think, well, it should be obvious LOL.  Some I will make obvious.  These will nt be mudracking stories, or petty shots, these will be fond memories from me of me.

World and Olympic medalists, or just plain old athletes.  No order, no preference, no hierarchy, but I will try to hit as many as I can for as long as I can.  If I cannot write something inspired, I will wait until I can.  So, let me think, who shall be first? 

Some time before today this athlete came into the group.  How is that for secretive LOL.  Right off the top I want to thank this athlete for trusting me to always take me on the road.  I went a lot of places and spent a lot of time in foreign countries because this athlete wanted me there.  The best of these trips involved a funny moment that only can happen in real life.  

It was a long trip, like 2 or 3 weeks.  We started in Stockholm.  First race up was going to be a tough one because the competition was not there for the games.  I will not bore you with warm up stories, nor descriptions of races.  You can pull up results and videos for all of that stuff.  Well, at least not in this story, not this time.  On this trip, it was all about dusting of the rust, getting a good run in before the next meet, which is where we planned to lay it down and run fast.  This meet was about winning.

Win he did.  The race was as tough as advertised.  Like I said, the opposition was not there to play around.  We were victorious, race was over, on to the next one.  Right after recovery.  The first race is always taxing off the plane, no matter how much time you plan ahead.  

All of a sudden, there was urgency.  In the midst of recovering, a mad search was on!  What was the urgency?  Simple, a lost earring.  LMAO  It seems so frivolous, right?  Well, let's just say it was worth searching for the earring.  If any of the personnel there found that earring they would have been very happy.  So the search was on.  We walked the track, every meter of the race.  No, earring, which was alarming but there was little chance we would find it.  As we reached the finish line, it looked as if someone had found rent that evening, and walked off.

As we crossed the finish line, quickly approaching the inevitable conclusion that the earring was gone, it dawned on me to look outside of the lane because what you do not know, is the race ended dramatically.  Dramatic as in, a full front flip.  I told you the race was going to be hard, it went down to the wire, it was won on a lean.  The lean resulted in a front flip.  Thus, the missing earring.  So, I looked around where the flip occurred and voila!  Laying on the white line was the earring.  All the carats intact.  Someone missed out on rent LOL

This is a sample of stories I will tell.  Things I recall from my travels.  The athletes around then should recall who this is.  That earring was a big deal at the time, now not so much.  With these new millionaires buying carats like carrots, Aqib Talib would have paid it no mind LOL.  Now let me go think on who else I can write about, and what obscure tale I can tell.  Enjoy your holidays, If you are ever in Pomona, stop by and see me.  Peace, D

2014

Happy New Year!  It is really true, the older you get the faster time flies.  Just seems like yesterday it was one of those years gone by, fill in any year ya like.  Yet, here we are, in 2014.  So I figured I should post at least once this year lol.
Let me start by acknowledging the great points of this season.  Ryan Wilson is the US champ, and world silver medallist.  As of this week it is official, he is also the number 2 ranked hurdler in the world.  Props to D.O. on his world title and his number one ranking.  He earned it.  And in true competition, we are coming for both next year, 2015. 
Needless to say, I am over the moon about Ryan's year.  He has been with me for ten years, without fail and I with him.  This season was a fun ride, one of those years you wait to have with your athlete.  And one I will cherish.  I have been blessed to have a few athletes succeed under me that is personal, not just professional.  It is my style, my preference, and when success is achieved extra gratifying.  Medals are precious, rare, and the symbol of a lot of hard work, determination and luck.
That being said, it is time track and field had a World Championship every year.  For decades detractors of this idea have cried that it is too hard.  Well that is the same thing WE all said when they changed them to every two years.  Having coached a few commonwealth and European athletes, this is true, yet inconsequential.  It makes no sense that 90% of the world have some form of championship this summer, but the sport as a whole feels the need to take a year off. 
The financial impact is dire for the athletes and in some respects for us coaches too.  Races become rare, and the opportunity for progress is placed on hold or stunted all together.  Having a down year in the Western hemisphere is marketing purgatory.  How to you sell your medallist this year?  What?  They have a chance at the Diamond League title?  I do not think so.  You cannot guarantee anyone's participation in a given meet, so that does not work.  Having a global championship does not guarantee participation, but it gives the athletes and the public a focal point.  It provides the networks with a clean storyline.  They will not need a segment devoted to the explanation of a league that only counts certain events week to week, but may have the non scoring events in their meets for entertainment purposes.  Fans like a simple storyline to follow, protagonist and antagonist they can love and hate.  Here we are removing ourselves from the conversation, voluntarily.
We must stay in the public eye if we wish to "return" to a profile position on the sporting landscape.  Hell, I cannot keep up with how many X Games there are a year anymore.  Happy New year everybody.  I plan to continue to have fun at this thing.  See you all out there. D

"...Ten years of hard work is starting to pay off!"

Never let them know what you are thinking!  That is one of the classic Godfather lines, many like to quote.  Welp, I am about to tell you exactly what I think.  One week ago, after ten long, hard years of consistency Ryan finally made the US team!  Not only did he make the team, he won the damn race!  Ryan Wilson is the 2013 USA champion in the 110HH.

It is an understatement to say he won the hardest race, on the world's greatest team.  Yearly, the highs are the deepest event in the US.  In 2012, Ryan ran 13.26 to take 7th at the Olympic trials!  7th!!! In 99% of the world that is a national record.  So the absolute joy, I felt when he crossed the line I hope was understandable to those who witnessed my exuberance.  Yup, I yelled, and ran around like a fool, and I did not care.  I shed a tear too.  I admit it.  Everyone that knows me, knew exactly how much that meant to me. 
What I did not expect was how many people outside of my circle knew. 

Ryan is well liked on the circuit, and after he won that race I got to see how much people liked him.  There was genuine happiness from all corners as we walked off the track.  Not that I expected any hate, I was just pleasantly surprised at how many knew his story.  HIS story, his ten year climb.

Ten years.  In that time, we have remained a fixture on the US scene.  Always faltering in championship years.  Ryan was my first recruit.  He called me from the track when he won NCAAs in 03.  I was shocked.  I was pleased.  I had to act like I wasn't smiling ear to ear.  2 days later he would commit to what is now a ten year journey.  Here is a brief outline of our adventures trying to make the USA team: 2003 - strains groin in the first round. 2004 - He spent that entire season finishing school, went to trials half prepared but a USC graduate.  Which was our goal that season. 2005 - hamstring strain that just would not go away.  2006 - No team, runs 13.22 to finish 3rd at nationals.  Oh man were we ready for the show!  2007 - "Sweats off!" Both groins cramp! He bails at hurdle 2.  He ran 13.02 in NY that year.  Had a good summer, finished the season ranked in the top 10 in the world, and no team. 2008 - Injury.  What would turn out to be a sports hernia. 2009 - David Payne jumps, Ryan gets blamed, runs under protest, so we can file a protest.  We won the protest but because he ran, his result had to be taken into consideration which means he was better off not running. Another team goes by.  2010 - great year!  Finished 4th in the world.  Took second at nationals.  Only problem, no team to make.  but again, we are ready for 2011! 2011 - comes and everything is pear shaped.  All.  Year.  Long!  Following a disastrous nationals we made the switch to seven steps.  Took him one whole set, on the road to switch.  But it gave us a chance to work on it under fire with no pressure. 2012 - the Olympics.  We are seven stepping easily, and ready to make the team.  At hurdle 5 he is in 2nd, clip 6, smash 7, stumble, cuss across the finish line and in the end, get ranked 8th in the world, with no team again! 2013 - Deal done. Win it, leave no doubt. Finally make a team, on to Moscow.

Now of course I skipped a million tales, but you get the point.  We had a point to prove.  Losing to hurdlers he had beaten, watching races he could win. Wondering what in the hell was I screwing up?  Brought me to the exhibition in the stands :)  I celebrated for 3 days, internally.  Now it is time to get ready for Moscow.  The hard part was making the team, now it is time for the fun part, getting on that podium.  See you guys in Moscow!!!

Synching up

It is time to get a new laptop!  I have been remiss in blogging because quite frankly I no longer enjoy being on the trusty laptop.  I loved this thing for years, and it has finally dawned on me that the frequent freezes, inability to view videos without causing those freezes, and fear of opening more than one application means old betsy has grown, well, old.
Anyway, let's get all synched up.  It is track season.  Now part of me wants to play track blogger and be all detailed, and deep about things track.  BUT see I have a mild form of ADD, I know I will get going and get bored and just stop, so what I will do is update you on me and my group, Threshold Athletics Group, TAG for short, is alive!  Skipping the time line restraints, I have 3 Italian ladies, Giulia Latini, Giulia Arcioni, and returning Martina Giovanetti.  Those names are pronounced "Julia" and yes they both have the same name.  They are hard workers, and three very different personalities.  This is the earliest any of them have competed, and despite my internal goals, we are doing just fine.  I still want more for them, and we work accordingly.  My elder statesman, Ryan Wilson is world ranked again, 8th, and recently won Mt SAC, which is always a good omen for his season.  A surprise addition to the team, has been the interlopers from Qatar.  I swear God is good.  When they say it is who you know, they were not lying!  My ADD has kicked in, what else do I want to discuss...
From the headlines, what is this fascination with outting gay football players?  I find it very interesting that people are so free with other people's privacy!  Who said all those men, whoever they are, are hiding?  Anyone ever consider they may want to avoid the scrutiny and keep their private lives, you know, PRIVATE!  All this socio-political talk has us ignoring folks rights.  Now the paparazzi, are running around chasing guys and posting pictures.  People screaming for them to come out, and calling the league homophobic.  Talk about crossing up subject matters.  I am not arguing about gay marriage, nor whether or not the league is homophobic, I am saying, if someone wants to come out and tell you who they are sleeping with, that is THEIR business, and it is also THEIR business to not want to tell you.
Boston Marathon bombers deserve to die.  One brother down, one brother to go.  DO I really need to go into the why's of it all?  They picked probably one of the most apolitical settings you can, a sporting event, hell a marathon!  Marathon's are international sporting events.  And in the end killed 3 innocent people, including an 8 year old.  8!  My son is 8.  I coach track, it is very easy for me to imagine him being at an event with me and this happening because of these clowns. I am glad they caught the youngest, he will be prosecuted, that is a good thing.
I am sure there is a thousand other things I can comment on, but I do need to blog more than once a year.  So I will save it.  Think on it.  And say something about it.  Maybe I will tell a story.... OH before I go, I am on the UCLA coaching staff.  Please send me all young high hurdlers, please and thank you.

TAG team down under

Happy Valentine's Day to all the ladies.  I hope the special man in your life has shown his appreciation, as I did to my honey today.
I am sitting down here in Perth, Australia, taking the talents of TAG international.  John Steffensen (400m) has his trials coming up on March 3rd, and as a part of his London 2012 campaign I agreed to come down here and prep him for 6 weeks.  It has been like a boxing training camp.  He and I down here in an apt, he on a futon and me on an air mattress.  We eat, train and sleep.  And all has gone well.  He ran his first race this past weekend here in Perth and won in grand fashion. John Steffensen wins Perth Track Classic.  We are off to Sydney tomorrow to run race number 2 and chase this A standard for the Games.  The journey is merely beginning but it is good to see him healthy and competing again.
TAG team member and resident rookie, Nia Ali competed in the 100H.  You talk about nervous!  Winning was never a thought, health was my main concern, and she came through better than before she ran.  THIS!  Coach is well chuffed LOL.  Such an early run, I will take the result, and it gave me a chance to see her under fire.  She can compete and that is a great starting point.  Her future is bright.
I think the last time I blogged I reminisced about the good old days.  Hanging here with John has me remembering tons of stories, and like I said, they are still fun and happy times.  Someone said I should write a book about it all, LOL, problem is I am not sure my memory is as good as some think LOL.  That book would be about 50 pages long, thats more like a pamphlet HAHAHAHA! I do have one bittersweet memory...2000 was my first Olympic Games.  I came to Sydney with my Saudi team. Hamdan al Bishi was a young rising quarter miler who would win World Juniors a month later, and Hadi Souan al Somayli was our secret weapon.  He had been steadily improving over the summer, and no one took notice.
His last workout before the Games was 3x the first 3 hurdles.  He was flying, and as we walked back to our bus, I said to him "That was great, how are you feeling?" With his nose in the air, and standing at his full height, he replied, "Now I am ready."  And he was ready!  He rolled into the finals as the fastest qualifier, the top American was Angelo Taylor but he had faltered in the semi and drew lane 1.  He was my main concern, while the rest of the field was formidable, but Angelo was the threat and I will not lie, I was happy he was in 1.  Long tale short, coming off of hurdle 10 Hadi and Angelo are running step for step to the line, Hadi had a slight lead but Angelo, the young 21 year old was selling out and refused to let it go.
I am screaming at Hadi to LEAN!  Instead he dipped, while Angelo LEANED! New Saudi record, first SAudi Olympic medal in history secured, smiles all around, cheers throughout the team.  I looked at Hadi from our front row seats, he looked at me, and all I could do was shrug, half ass smile and hold in my tears.  47.50 - 47.53.  We had lost and I could feel the disappointment rising as all around me erupted in celebration.  Training partners called down to me to say good job, and one saw the pain on my face.  I went to the bathroom and slapped myself and grunted, and came out with a smile.  Damn I wanted that gold, but we had won silver and run fast.  It was a fantastic moment.  Albeit bittersweet.
The tales of track are littered with such stories...

With age comes wisdom

"Age ain't nothing but a number!"  One thing age teaches you is that this is a cliche of young people hoping to get old enough to become wise enough to realize this is untrue, and the other thing age teaches you is that this quote is just a catchy Aliyah song LOL.  Never has this been truer in my life than this birthday week of mine.
I had a great birthday.  The week started with the USATF Coaches summit where I have been going for almost 20 years to acquire the science that enables me to be a better coach to my athletes.  It ended with watching 2 friends be inducted in the UCLA Hall of Fame.  Life is blessed.
Now I had 3 critical conversations this week, that I never planned on having, 2 of which I had long ago written off as to NEVER having.  Things happen in life, and as I stated in my previous post, we grow apart from some people in our lives.  A few of these people I had banished to the no-not-never zone.  Like I said with age comes wisdom.  The fantastic reminder was God will reach out to you from places you least expect it.  Boy if that wasn't ever true. HA!
SO the first convo I had came from left field but it was directly related to the 2nd convo, which is the only one I figured I would be having, I just did not realize it would be this week.  See I had been dreading this conversation, simply because I had no idea how to have to talk.  I was too angry, too hurt, and wanted my pound of flesh, as it were.  So I waited.  I waited until the time came to me where I could have the conversation in a construction or non destructive way.  It took roughly 2 years. 
Now the wisdom is in the message from the 1st convo that allowed me to have the 2nd convo.  I will use another cliche, I was cutting off my nose to spite my face.  Or throwing the baby out with the bath water.  I was allowing my frustration to fester into petulance and I was called on it in a direct but useful way.  I will share the key point of the convo because wisdom has taught me that somethings are meant to given away.  The question was simple, would you give up 5% to better your 95%?  BAM!  A light went off in my head.  Just like that 2 years of "How?" was solved.  In the moment I was overvaluing my 5% at the expense of bettering my 95%.  Everything else in the conversation followed that theme and I was instantly happier and could not wait to have the 2nd convo.  I had it the first chance I got, and it was finally done.  I am truly focused on my 95% which allowed for me to receive the 3rd convo.
The 3rd convo would have NEVER happened prior to these previous convos.  And both of us knew it.  But it did, and I received a wonderful message on a fantastic night.  Yes my friend, people grow apart but that does not diminish what was for me in any way.  I traveled this earth and saw some fantastic things.  I got better as a coach, and learned nuggets of info along the way.  Those memories are never far from me.
I am amazed at how my previous blog about the HSI days struck some people.  I was just recounting what I always assumed were general memories, boy I was mistaken.  Wisdom!  People do not remember, retain, nor cherish what you cherish.  Share those memories and you may bring some sunshine to an acquaintances day without you ever realizing it.
Alright, I am off to finish my birthday week, it is ending with a smile, and an opportunity.  Man this life thing is great.  I wonder what I will write about next?  Hmmm, maybe about the NOW instead of the past, yeah maybe...

Blog about my last blog

How interesting, my last blog was linked by Track and Field News, which was cool because it was unexpected.  I have written other things I wish were linked, oh wait I never posted those LOL.
A few people have written me saying how they enjoyed the stories.  I am glad I have them to share.  Maybe someday I will write a book, or a series of stories about my adventures in Track and Field.  In the meantime, i will continue on my varied blog.  Talking and posting and ranting and observing.  For example...

What a tremendous end to the season.  The Diamond League ended with a bang.  I enjoyed the meet a lot.  BUT the negative is the powers that be will walk away believing their league is a success.  It is not.  It is a decent blueprint but needs some fine tuning to say the least.  What I would appreciate the most is a circuit and some rules that are more athlete and fan friendly. 
While we all understand what pays the bills, television, it is unhealthy and destructive to make rules that are and events that seem more geared towards TV, than the betterment of the product.  I know, I know, don't say too much or rock the boat.  Welp, since I am going to ride in this boat I will comment on the boat.  I am willing to offer up some elbow grease.
What catches my attention the most is the strictness of the rules that govern the sprints over most other events.  And for the life of me I do not understand the logic in it.  We all know the show events, 1500, 100, shot put.  Yes, mostly an American construct but from what I have seen it is a lot more universal than many care to admit.  As of late, the straight away events have carried the sport in the entertainment realm.  So why the draconian rule making?  Why almost ensure losing star power, as we saw in Daegu?  A completely avoidable occurrence, that most see as just a consequence of the sport.  Far from it folks, it was a consequence of a bad rule change that served no real purpose other than to hold sprinters responsible for lost TV time.
I have summarized a complicated issue for a purpose.  To show the general interpretation of the "business" rule changes.  While I am positive TV had a serious issue with the false start delays, I am equally as sure the No False Start rule was overkill.  Money is on the line, this is not comparable to a state championship nor a collegiate championship.  Usain Bolt lost 60k to that false start.  Some think he was trying to cheat, others think he was scared of Blake, I think he was just a sprinter trying to get the perfect start and perfect race, in his quest to make history, AGAIN.  I could prattle on for a few more paragraphs, but I will save that for a separate blog. 
Ok now I am ready for the season to start again.  I may even muster up some excitement about indoors.  NAW! lol

How I came to this Threshold

The world is full of misinformation and wonderful lies.  I will write this in part PC prose and straight talk.  If you are a child there may be cussin' in the next few paragraphs, you have been warned.
The reasons for me writing this particular blog are varied and span many years, so this blog shall cover many years.  I will enjoy reliving some of this, as i excise some demons and tell the wonderful tale of how i came to be a coach in this hellish realm of track and field...
in short, I was born a coach of track.  well i was born in to the sport, that is for sure.  I have known about track for as long as I can remember.  All over my parents house and my grandparents house were pictures and trophies of my uncle and his success as an athlete.  I remember loving the clipping from JET magazine.  My uncle was in JET! lol  I loved the trophies, they were amazing, i particularly loved the huge marble stones that sat in front of the fireplace.  Those damn things were heavy!  Then there was the laminated picture of him setting the wr in the 440 yd dash.  Not to mention the clay statue in the garage that now sits in a museum somewhere.  Yup, track is in my blood.
The funny thing is I was more taken by the UCLA on his chest than the sport itself.  The sport came along later.  I am anti baseball so after a year of tee ball, and having been struck out on a called strike that the umpire never saw, I told my parents I wanted to try track.  I was 6.  My original trophy is still around here somewhere.  The beauty of this decision was my natural speed. I was the fastest boy in my neighborhood.  Notice I said boy, there was this one girl everyone avoided racing.  Including me. lol  I raced this other kid early on, he was tall and lanky, and fast.  His name was Steve Lewis.
by age ten I was a long jumper.  Sprinting passed me by after the first round of puberty.  All my friends that i used to destroy mysteriously got faster, all at once, and BAM the long jump took prime position in my personal hierarchy.  Oh I was good at it.  This was the point Coach Harris started telling us about hurdles.  Fantastic!  Now, in my early years of hurdling I raced this other tall kid, he was muscular and looked grown.  We wanted to see his birth certificate because there was no way he was my age.  his name was Quincy Watts.
Going into high school I had made the decision to hurdle.  I won the "C" level City championship in the 300IH.  Oh boy I was well on my way to being the man to break Edwin Moses win streak!  Until my junior year, then senior year disappointments and I was well on my way to walking on at UCLA.  To be coached by none other than my uncle.  Heaven!
Life dominated track and by 1991 I had run my last race.  Now this is where I start my journey.  Christmas 1991 my uncle asked me to come back out to the track as a manager and his assistant to his soon to be pro team.  Well, hell yes!  Off we went.  The dream was sold, we would take over the world, and as success came to the group our collective fortunes would rise, collectively.  The group was Kevin Young, a young Quincy Watts (still at USC), and Andre Cason.  Many of my teammates dreamed of matriculating to the pro group after their senior years. After the 92 season Nike LA welcomed its first official member, Jon Drummond and Jason Rouser.  My boys.  I spent more time with these 2 scoundrels than my family.  JD would make the world team in 1993 as the lead off of the 4x1 that tied the wr, the still standing AR (37.40).  Fantastic.  We are on our way.
By this time I have been to conference champs and NCAA champs.  The future was bright.  I was having a ball.  Life was hard but that was ok, I was in love, track had me.
1994 saw Dennis come to the group and become the number one sprinter in the world.  He dipped under 10 six times that season, a record at the time.  JD dipped four times, the second most in a season.  On the UCLA front Ato was busy committing.  In 1995 he won the 200 after jumping out of the 100.  In 1996, Ato set the UCLA record in the 100 and 200, JD made the Olympic team, Marie Perec had come to town and would be the second woman to win the 200/400 double.  Oops I have to go back.
Following 1992 circumstances dictated that John seek representation, and thus the ground work for HSI was laid.  John meet Emanuel.
Ok, so as I was saying, in 1996 HSI was dominating the scene, and would officially announce our presence with the signing of Ato.  Hello world, the dream is alive and real.  JD, Ato, Marie Perec and Antwon Maybank all headed to Atlanta, HSI!  The takeover had begun.  I watched on TV as the troops performed with Ato winning 2 medals and looking like the next great thing.  Marie shocked herself and pulled off the 200 gold.  Lovely woman but the faces she made to win that 200 gold were downright scary lol.
That fall saw the arrival of Mo, the next great thing.  Now it did not start that way, he was struggling with all things LA; the training, the living, the INCOME, but he was listening.  He was always confident.  Quincy had returned to the fold and he and Mo were fast friends.  I recall the moment Mo acknowledged he had it figured out.  Most people think it was when he won nationals that year but it was before that in a race no one except us paid attention to.  It was Prefontaine, and Mo was in Lane 8 of the 200!  I believe he ran the 100 and got his hat handed to him.  As he tells the story he was filling out job applications by this point in the season.  Anyway, in this 200 he was torched by Allen Johnson on the bend and a couple of other sprinters on his inside.  Coming down the home stretch he ran back by Allen and finished 4th.  I think he ran 20.42 or something like that.  He came to the back and proclaimed "I got it!"  Half way down that straight away, the movement clicked for him.  He felt it.  The next time he would see a track would be at US Nationals.
This was his second proclamation of discovery lol.  He ran 9.96 in the 1st round and John and I looked at each other and shrugged.  Rookie went out too hard, we will see what he has for the other rounds.  When we got to him in the cool down, John asked him how he felt, and he replied, "I can do that whenever I want to.  Sub 10 is easy"  Oh boy, what a rookie.  Well the rest is history.  He was right.  LOL
By 2000, Ato, Mo and JD were the triplets.  Dominating the sprint scene on all fronts, JD was the personality, Mo the confidence, and Ato the workman.  The dream was in full bloom and HSI was on top of the world, literally.  We flew flags at circuit meets, folks didn't like that, the IAAF passed rules to prevent it.  True story.  In 1999, I had the task of coaching the crew through the single greatest day in HSI history.  Athens Greece was the place, and we showed out.  Mo set the wr that day, 9.79.  Ato took second in 9.86, his third such clocking (he would post a fourth such clocking in the next meet in Lausanne).  Jeff Hartwig won the PV, I believe he went over 6m that day.  Inger had joined the crew, the queen doubled that day, taking 2nd in the 100 (11.04) and winning the 200 in a then pr (22.10).  Mo and Ato would follow up her double with their own double, Ato dropping 19.88 to win and Mo running a gutsy 20.02 to back up his emotionally draining wr.  In between all of that Larry won the 110s in 13.12 in a photo finish.  All victories were meet records at the time.  We called John to tell him the good news, he was coaching UCLA at a home meet that day, June 16th, 1999.  Yup I remember the day.
Over the next 4 years HSI would see more success, Olympic and world titles, more medals, and the inevitable growth and maturing of the athletes.  The ebb and flow of life was treacherous at times, as is the case with any family and its moving parts.  Some of us grew a part, but we are all enjoying success in various corners of track.  Ato is a respected TV analyst, was a senator in his homeland of Trinidad.  He has developed into the public guru for track fans world wide, doing all broadcast in the US and now venturing into web casting.  Mo is still the personality.  His charisma, and on track accomplishments keep him busy travelling, speaking and doing clinics.  He has tried his hand at coaching also, leading a local high school here in the LA area and also coaching Miki Barber onto the 2011 World Team.  JD is a trainer and coach in Texas, placing many kids into top high schools and college programs, while consulting (his word lol) a few world class level sprinters, AND COACHING Marshevet Myers.  Larry Wade is the HC at Pasadena City College, Kaaron was the sprint coach for the Korean national team and is now John's right hand man, Antwon Maybank is in the midwest coaching, Jason Rouser is in Florida coaching and doing personal training.  Gentry Bradley is now the sprint coach for the Saudi Arabian National team.  and then there is me!
Hi folks.  I have seen the earth traveling with my boys and my uncle over the years.  I have touched every continent except for the artic regions.  For a number of years I had the privilege of coaching the Saudi Arabian sprinters and hurdlers. In 2000 I made my first Olympic trip, guiding Hadi Somayli and Hamdan al Bishi to Sydney.  Hadi would win Saudi's first ever Olympic medal, taking silver in the 400H, in a heart breaking finish.  Still hurts to relive it, smh.  Hamdan would pr at the Games but would enjoy his glory a month later at the World Juniors where he set the still standing meet record (44.66).  Over the next 4 years I would guide my boys to numerous regional championships and records and awards.  In 2003 I started my own group, DSports, this venture culminated in the bronze medal in 2008.  Tasha would rise from the ashes to win bronze in Beijing, I the single proudest achievement of my career to date.  DSports is now Threshold Athletics Group TAG for short.  The many years of experience with my uncle have groomed me well for this next adventure.  It was a thrill and far more fun and involved than many realize.  I am forever grateful to my uncle for allowing me to grow under him and trusting me enough to guide the group when he was unable to be there.  Can you imagine having the hopes and dreams of your friends in your care?  That was me.  At the ripe old age of 28.  Now I am 40, a ton of lessons learned.  not all rosy, but lessons just the same.  The HSI days are long past, but the impact and influence remain.  Those times, adventures, trials, tests, and successes helped shape me.  I was born a coach, I will die a coach, but I do miss the friendships of yesterday.
I will say to all my guys, no matter where we stand today, I am proud of you all.  Success breeds success, and we were damn good then and we are all damn good now.  Keep striving to be the best, I damn sure will.  See you all on the track.

Oh, I skipped over years and more than a few stories, this damn entry was long enough. LOL

OH, OH, yeah the voice of this blog changed because like I said I enjoyed reliving it, so some of the demons were excised, and the energy changed.  I will leave you all with this, Exodus 14:14

Love in so many words...

Absa... Love for life doesn't have a damn thing to do with fireworks,sex,nor swag! Love is real. It talks to you,fights along side you and sometimes for you. Love cares about you when you don't care about yourself. Love likes your moods not just tolerates them. Love isn't sacrifice, it's sharing in the journey because love sees the finish line when you lose focus. Love walks by your side simply because you're breathing! Love fights you for it's own survival not to leave you. Love is near you, youre ignoring it looking for sex, swag, looks, and gifts. Love is waiting...

Did you know there is Professional track?

I have had the pleasure of loving track and field for as long as i can remember.  My first season of racing was when I was 6, the trophy is downstairs, says 1977.  I was chasing my dreams and fulfilling the family legacy.  All over my homes were pictures of dad and uncle running in high school and college.  This is what I was born for, it was easy and fun and I won.  More importantly I loved to race and compete.  I still do.  Win, lose or draw I love the competition.  I smile when I realize I am stressing because one of my guys lost or underperformed because it is all apart of what I do.  I was never more pleased than to learn athletes would be able to receive money and still compete at the Olympics.  That was in the 80s.
So here I sit writing you all about the amateur mindset that still dominates the internal workings and thinking of the track world.  From administration to fans we are inundated with constant criticism that is rooted in the soil of amateurism.  It has manifested itself into a self hate that fights all change and/or evolution, and an aversion to marketing in the name of purity and economics.
A friend and I had a lively exchange about the Great City Games in Manchester.  He is of the opinion that until we heal and better the pure product, we cannot afford to put on street fairs and fringe events.  For him, and those that share his opinion, it is not building the sport, promoting the on track product, and most importantly building the fan base.  he rather see these efforts put into the meets, especially in the US where we are woefully lacking pro meets that capture the public attention.  He knows we need better marketing, and feels events like this do not produce long term benefits that will specifically result in a bigger fan base and public interest.  His argument has merit and historical backing.  Yet, I find it short sighted and destructively narrow in scope.
As a shining example, the Great City Games in Manchester, England is a great marketing tool.  The city used to have the UK national championships, and occasionally host a meet but they no longer do for various reasons.  This event is staged on the streets and is promoted in conjunction with the London and Birmingham Diamond League meets to be held later this summer.  The events ranged from traditional races, such the 110m hurdles, 100 hurdles, and a straight away 200m, to rarely run distances such as 150m and a 200m hurdle race.  The athletes are always A list international stars mixed with A list domestic stars.  The fans are less than ten feet from the races.  TV coverage is comprehensive domestically, which means track is on TV with full production, not studio voice over replays 24 hours later.  YET, the old guard frown upon the street races as a side show.  Once again, shooting down another tool we can use to achieve what is a common goal, growth of track and field and its fan base.
These critics will wow you with the stories of yesteryear.  Remembering the time when dual meets sold out stadiums and cities like LA hosted 4 meets (2 indoor meets,2 outdoor meets).  The glory days of the 60s and 70s.  40+ years of remembering, that have done NOTHING to solve today's new problems of low fan turnout, poor public image, and a general malaise of the loyal fan base.
Today I read a blog from Toni Reavis ruing the current CEO search by USATF and the recent news that Stephanie Hightower may be the new CEO.  Other very good candidates have turned down the job and it seems as though Ms. Hightower wants the job.  Yet as true to the sport, we have decided to talk about the negatives and make sure that we all know why this may not work and is not the best deal we could have had.  Cynicism.
I write all of the above to say this...I am tired of the cynicism and cowardly way we go about promoting ourselves.  From drug rumors, to public face time, to internal talks about officers in the sport, to the fledgling athletes union.  We are the most tested, most busted best self policed sport in the world, but all we present is "track is the dirtiest sport".  All we present is a bunch of athletes, coaches and fans that swear before God such and such new superstar is dirty!  And if that's not good enough, such and such old super star was dirty.  No proof to support it but rumor is fact in our sport, until the accuser runs fast and wins then they are the lone shining angel in a world of devils.  Fans and media, sometimes one in the same, sit back and suspect sprinters and hurdlers while marveling at the distance runners.  Cannibalism. 
At what point will we wake up and start internalizing our concerns and presenting a sellable product to the public?  When will we move on from the 70s and realize we have today issues to address.  This is no longer about putting on a good track meet nor is it about getting the stars on the track, it is about promoting the product.  No more network presentations filled with drug stories that are years dead.  Interest pieces about the stars on the track.  Lack of personality is not an excuse for lack of exposure.
We are a great sport with educated and intelligent participants.  We are a sport, not a game.  We are self policed and have spear headed the drug war.  Through track and fields efforts the other sports have been forced to develop comprehensive testing programs and actually suspend players.  We are the sport that test the ultimate in human boundaries, no teams, no hand signals, no timeouts to regroup.  The other athletes in other games watch us and talk about us.  They seek out our athletes and our coaches to train under.  These are some of the narratives we HAVE to start promoting.  If we are serious about growth, those with voices have to do better and STOP dominating the media super highway with cynical pieces, criticisms of successful events, while ignoring the core structures and successes.
Did you know there is professional track?

The Lakeshow takes a sitdown

It is hard being from LA and listening to Lakers fans.  LA is the most optimistic place with the most pessimistic attitudes!  We lose a series and the world has ended.  Bynum is the devil!  How did this happen?
Three runs at the final and we won 2 more back to back titles, yet in the fourth year the team ran out of gas and all is terrible?  Looks like more than just the players needed a break from this roller coaster.I have little problem with the way this year ended simply because I can see what happened.  The team ran out of pixie dust.  It was a great ride and the batteries need to be recharged.  I guess it is the coach in me that can be so practical about it.  Lakers for life!

Meanwhile, the track season kicked off in dramatic fashion.  In Jamaica the sprint gods returned back to the sport.  Carmelita ran 10.86.  Yohan Blake dropped a windy 9.80.  Shelly Ann Fraser ran a windy 22.10.  Fantastic meeting.  On to Asia for most of the athletes to race in Daegu and Shanghai.

IN my own camp, Ryan left Friday to run Sunday in Kawasaki.  He won in 13.73 w -2.2.  Less than 24 hours off the plane we will take the W and move onto Daegu.  Kevin is on a plane on his way to Daegu to get his baptism in to the pro circuit in his first full pro season.  We are working to build on his indoor success.

Osama is dead.  Obama pulled the trigger.  Thank you!  Thank you President Bush for taking the steps to get after this menace to the world who randomly murdered thousands in the name of his own religion.  Thank you Obama for giving the order to end this terrible time in the world.  And I pray we all heal and move forward and stop living as partisan politicians.  We can get back to being Americans.

Indoors is over!

Congrats to all who ran indoors and a special congrats to my hurdler, Kevin Craddock.  Kevin ran a pieced together indoor campaign and capped it off with a second place in New Mexico.  Gave us a chance to see where he is, and how effective training has been up until this point.
I know many use indoors as a barometer, and others as preparation for outdoors.  Being a LA kid born and raised, I use it simply to appease the hunger in an athlete and break training up IF it is needed. I do not translate or over evaluate the races because they are so different from outdoors my mind doesn't even relate the 2.
That being said, now we can focus solely on outdoors, and negotiating 10 barriers to Daegu.  The ultimate goal is always making the outdoor teams and winning medals, indoors has zero bearing on that so I give it little weight.
The beauty of living and training in LA is that the weather is rarely terrible.  So we can train all year long and at distances we can use.
One of the joys is watching the best of the best train.  It is hard work being the best and contrary to the rumors that permeate our sport, the best train hard to earn their station.  I watch those I have been in charge of and those under other coaches, and I know what is to come when the summer gets here.  The pureness of track is marveled by no other sport in the world.  Run faster, jump farther, throw farther, these are the simple skills of the sport.  Gods majesty is unrivaled, and all of you that participate in this great sport should enjoy the gifts you are so blessed to use and display.
First stop is Texas, then Mt SAC, then we shall see.  One thing I know, this is going to be a fast year in the sport.  All signs point to a lot of fast times and high standards.  Here we go!

Musings

My intent is to blog a lot or at least more frequently but I end up on twitter and by the time I decide to blog I have nothing to say lol.  Well kind of, more like I do not feel like writing too much more than 140 characters.  So here I am, lets go with these random thoughts and points.

Track -
Threshold is off to a successful start.  Kevin Craddock ran an abbreviated indoor season and will conclude it this weekend in New Mexico.  He started this yr with a pr of 7.73 and now is the proud owner of 7.57.  He damn near won his first race in Europe.  I am happy for the kid, he worked hard to get a chance and through his hard work he has made himself a name again.
Ryan is training well and we will be ready for outdoors.
I cannot wait for outdoors.  Just because I am a fan of this thing and it is going to be a FAST year in track, we have already seen hints.
Congrats to Kellie Wells on a fantastic indoors season.
David Oliver looks to be picking up exactly where he PAUSED his outdoor campaign.
It will be interesting to see who new pops up, thats always interesting.

Life -
My youngest took a dive off his bed and it took a minute to sink in but it scared the holy out of me. Spent the night in the hospital as a precaution. Glad that is over, kind of.  He has a concussion, which means I have to watch him for signs of anything more serious.  So far so good, he is returning back to himself.

And back to twitter I go. I think I have developed a short attention span.  That means I have to get back to reading and writing more.  See you at a meet somewhere

2011

Happy new year.

My guys have had an effective fall. Looking forward to the season. This is why I love this sport and what I do.

Lakers making the drive for three stressful.
The Heat playing the role of blonde bombshell lol.

The BCS is still an eyesore. More on that when I have a proper keyboard.

NFL playoffs on tap. I'm taking the Pats v the Saints. Mike Vick will make a run at it and is my sentimental favorite.

Did I mention the BCS sucks!

TAG game

In the evolution of life we are changing.  That statement is redundant but so am i lol.
I want to introduce my new company, threshold athletics group, tag for short.  Firmly based in this wonderful sport of track and field, tag is not merely a training group or track team, it is my brand.  Stay tuned to other ventures such as clinics, speed training, hurdle training, personal training, and whatever else i decide to explore in this wonderful life we all occupy together.  so please welcome tag and look forward to seeing the logo soon at a track and website near you!
TAG team members are; ryan wilson, jonathan williams, and new comer kevin craddock. 
Meanwhile on the track i want to thank and congratulate ryan on a terrific 2010 season. our goal was to stay healthy and consistent and get his name where it belongs in the rankings.  mission accomplished. this was a building year and i feel we are set up to accomplish the bigger goals on our shared goal list.

Props to David oliver (do) on a tremendous season and his american record. it has been a renaissance period for the high hurdles and do is the latest to push the limits and expectations. also props to his coach Brooks Johnson.  They have been on a five year journey, and their success speaks volumes to the recipe for success in our sport, stability.

Ryan has one race left in this season and then we start preparing for Daegu and London. Jonathan, Ryan and Kevin are my main focus but i do have a couple of choice spots available. I am waiting to see who out there is ready to step up and reach for their dreams.

TAG

I dont want to write an article

This is a blog. You want news go to TFN.com or follow Conway Hill (

http://theviewfromthefinishline.blogspot.com/
), my space is random and sometimes less than thoughtful.
So on to the show.

A white guy broke ten seconds.  A few want to cry about the skin of the man being insignificant, but oh well, it is an event.  Lemaitre did it to win his nationals in 9.98 and he did it in beating my sprinter Martial MBandjock (10.08). 
Allen walked away.  Over the last couple of years we have become friends, and throughout his entire career I have remained a fan.  I used to believe I would end up coaching him back in the early/mid 90s but it never happened.  He is my mental model of hurdling, even more so than Skeets, which is saying tons for me.  When I picture what I want for my athletes, it is AJ is see.  Lil fella did it like no other for a long time, I will do all I can to convince him to stay in the sport in some significant capacity.
Paris was shaping up to be the big showdown between Dayron and David, but the Cuban champ pulled out with sore legs then went down to injury at practice the next day.  We may have seen something extra special now we are just left with special. ;)
On the home front I am in full track withdrawal!!! I have not been to a significant meet since 2008 and it is killing me.  These are the business months, where I get to see my work flourish and mature, and make those on the move decisions that give races that unknown excitement.  Instead I have become an expert at coaching by Internet feed, emails, skype and BBM!
Speaking of, all my iphone friends, until they show me something that can do what BBM does, text unlimited for FREE, I will remain on #teamblackberry.  BTW I love the iphone and it one touch apps and screen etc.  I have a itouch and it is great.  But I know what my athlete is feeling as soon as he can get his phone.  INSTANTLY.
Meanwhile, Paris is tomorrow, July 16th.  Pls send me all live feeds and result pages, I collect em from meet to meet.
Oh, please congratulate Kevin Craddock on making it to the circuit.  He's a year away but the experience is invaluable. 
Other than that Ochocinco show is great entertainment, TO is melodramatic, Wipeout is the funniest shit on TV, please believe it.
That is all...for now.

Random as usual

In this world of instant gratification we have found twitter the new fix. We can even combine the various social media such as facebook and twitter. Apparently android can this and more! Amazing. Making friends has never been impersonal! lol However, I am not here to bash the soundbite habits of this new Pepsi generation but rather the ridiculous notion that the caricatures created by people are real and true.
Twitter wars are the dumbest things I have ever seen. The arguments are hilarious. I try to remind people, twitter is not real! Just a bunch of people letting their alter egos run wild. Very few would ever live their twitterafterdark tweets LOL.
Now I will say it is a terrific medium for party announcements and the such. Event alerts are terrific.

Meanwhile Lebron James is on the verge of signing with the Miami Heat, and judging by the last tweet I just received via ESPN someone finally broke the news. So that will give Dwayne Wade Bosh and LeBron to chase his second and their first. My opinion about their chances will lie in who else they sign. Those three alone do not strike me as Celtic, Magic, nor Lakers beaters. Bosh is a jump shooting PF/C which leaves them soft in the middle. And James and Wade both create from their ability to drive to the basket, which begs the question who sits on the outside for the drive and kick? And they are saying Lebron will be the 2 rather than the PG. that is yet to be seen but the styles don't mesh well as I am looking at it.

Lausanne is tomorrow also. Pause... Props to David Oliver (see his blog on the side) and his coach Brooks Johnson (www.spikesandflats.com) for tying the AR in the 110HH, 12.90. Job well done fellas.
OK so Lausanne is tomorrow and Usain Bolt has switched from the 200 to the 100 to protect his irritated achilles. I will be on my computer and phone tough trying to keep up with the results, as usual. If I am lucky I will find a computer and watch the meet. Fingers crossed. Ryan is lined up next to the WRH, Dayron Robles, should be a good race. Looking for Ryan to drop soon, but it depends on how he handles his jet lag this trip.

OK it is late and I am sleepy...

Illuminati, NWO and other stuff

So the new conspiracy is an old conspiracy but on a grander scale. If you did not know the Illuminati is running the entertainment industry and subliminally influencing us all! JayZ is a free mason and every video is about devil worship, or the Illuminati or both. I have a disclaimer, I do not believe in grand conspiracies and think it is a human construct to shuck responsibility for ones own decisions or to irrationally justify someone elses success over your own. I do not expect anyone to agree with me, but I am right on both counts LOL. I have done the research to prove it. LMAO So go forth into the matrix and just know that NOTHING you do is without the influence of the secret society known as the Illuminati who have mysteriously decided to show themselves EVERYWHERE and use everyone to establish a new world order. At least that is my conclusion after listening to my friends tell me so.
See I thought the diamond sign by JayZ was for The Roc, which is his business, but not so my friends. It is the all seeing eye on top of the pyramid, which is free masonry or the devil or the Illuminati or all of the above. Anyway back to reality.

C Breezy!!! Finally he has been let back into the game. I personally don't think he should have ever been shunned. No man should hit a woman, operative word being should. But since I heard the truest version right off the top I never demonized the kid. He made a mistake. So I am glad he was asked to do what he does best, be a transcendent entertainer. He did the damn thing in the MJ tribute and hes crying was genuine. I saw it coming, the moment the song and BAM!
but here we are in the age of cynicism and haters. Yes I said haters. Commonly called crabs in a bucket. In this current atmosphere hes tears have been called planned and theatre. Its just ridiculous these days.

OK so congrats to Ryan Wilson. 13.17 makes him the third fastest high hurdler in the world and now he is set up to attack this summer circuit in Europe and join the big boys, David Oliver and Dayron Robles. This is the first healthy summer he has had since 2006, so I am well chuffed. It is also his fastest time since 2007, now to go out and pr. Next up another visit with Mr. Oliver and co. in Eugene, Oregon.

Albert Haynesworth stop it. Play ball and get over your self. You have a job to do son, no one promised you ease, and at your price tag you should be versatile enough to survive.
Lebron should be a Clipper but no one has that kind of foresight. If Stern was truly a puppet master this would happen and the NBA would ride LA to billions! Kobe v Lebron in a battle for who's house is it?!!! It would be a marketing bonanza, and by the way, a healthy Clipper team is better than Cleveland and Miami. But i am sure it will be Miami or Chicago. Question, what do you do with Rose if you bring in Lebron? Hmmm...

My closing advice is this, watch Wipeout! If you do not know please do yourself a favor and watch it, I promise you will not be disappointed.

Management

USATF surprises

This was a surprising day in Des Moines. I was sitting on my couch watching the US lose, UCLA win and WLs left and right at US Nationals. Some from expected suspects and some from unexpected suspects.
I have seen Greg Nixon run all spring and he has looked ready to run, but 44.61 was a surprise result. One because he looked horrible on Friday in his semi. Two he was in lane 9. Three he had never broken 45 before. Four he looked terrible Friday!
Congrats Lolo on the dream victory. I do not care who you are if you can win the US title in your home town on a track you ran on your whole life, that is something special. Family and friends in the stands. Excellent.
Special shout out the Kellie Wells on her second place finish. Long road back but here she is.
Batman and Johnny Dutch were shock performers. Batman hadn't broken 48 in a few years despite his medals and success. And Dutch is a junior in college. 47,63 is ridiculously fast for his age.
The highs got started today, the race I have been waiting for.Ryan cruised through easily. The show starts tomorrow, and will be a fun race to watch.
Ok once again, I am typing half sleep...

Blogging Afterdark

It is never wise to blog wen sleepy but hey what fun we can have. Now contrary to the title of this entry, this will not be anything close to twitter after dark.

USATF started and the 2010 100m champions are Walter Dix and Allyson Felix. Congrats to you both. The winds prevented the times from being fast. The off year and absence of some of our top athletes have sucked the energy out of meet for some.

My personal interest rest in the 110HH which start Saturday and end Sunday. Looking for my man Ryan Wilson to run well and stay healthy for the summer circuit.

Like I said bad idea to blog late at night, I have fallen asleep twice writing this smdh

In closing, sorry three times now. Ok that was the closing. USA soccer and USATF champs on TV in the AM, I will be in bliss.