More than just a Coach!!!



Coach Gibson(Gibby) and me before I ran the State CC Meet my senior year 99-00


    Well, everyone this blog unfortunately I really did not want to write just yet but I feel as if I need to just to let you all know this someone who remains a big influence not only on my running but in life in general has left this earth earlier than when we wanted him too. Paul Gibson, my high school cross country at Tuscarawas Valley High School has passed away this past weekend. Here above is picture of him and myself before I ran the State Cross Country Meet my senior year.

    I didn't know of the news till I heard about it Saturday Night after I got back from the Columbus Crew game from a friend's Facebook Status back at home in Tuscarawas Valley area. I couldn't believe it at first.
The next morning I saw it on other High School friends' status' as well. My sister even texted me about the news as well. That Sunday morning I just had to go out for a run. Not a long one in particular but a decent 8 miles just to get the emotions and tears that were building up inside of me out. I knew over the last year that Gibby wasn't always in the best of health but the last time I saw him this past June at the State High School Track Meet he seemed to be in his usual lively mood. As we sat there with the Whitis family whom we all know very well just talking up the meet, looking at the program and making predictions and laughing it up about whatever B.S we were discussing. Watching the state track meet with Gibby was a great way of catching up after my high school days were done. It strange as I felt of the way my family and him first met him back when we moved back to Ohio around the time I was going into the 8th grade.
   
   You know the old saying don't judge a book by its cover well we knew it very well slowly yet strangely after our first meeting of Gibby. He was the Junior High/High School Guidance Consellor at the time my parents were enrolling my sister and I into Tuscarawas Valley when we were going to move back to Ohio. We remembered how loud, strange, and very unorganized his character gave off when we met him. My parents joking said afterwards of what are we getting are children into after our first meeting with him thinking the people at Tuscarawas Valley were going to be also. Though, it was how he acted and how outgoing he was that he set himself apart from the other facility there.

  Anyway, I left the middle school after some harassment from 8th graders and went to Tuscarawas Central Catholic for awhile. Many of the facility at Tusky Valley were saddened of how I left and I think Gibby was too. It kind of showed you how much he cared for students being a guidance counsellor and maybe too since I was a little different with ADD and asperger's symdrome(before I got diagnosed) that he saw a little bit of himself in me as well. But, I'll get to that subject soon.

  As it turned out of course I was able to find my grove in running and become very competive while at TCC. Gibby, of course, was the cross country coach back at Tusky Valley and gave me a lot of encouragement as the season went on. Even at times during my sophomore year at track when we bumped into each other. It wasn't until I started to experience major problems at TCC that everyone at Tusky Valley took notice. The Cross Country team and especially Gibby wanted me to come back to Tusky Valley and run for them before my Junior year. Looking back I wish did it would have been one more year I could have ran for Gibby and those guys.

  I ended up coming back to Tusky Valley after the fall season of Cross yet Gibby and my new teammates made me feel right at home at TVHS slowly but surely. My senior year was actually my first and only year with Gibby as my coach. However, I looked at it to be a very memorable one. I became the # 1 guy all year round and our team was very good getting top five finishes in big invitationals all season long with us winning the District meet. Sadly our team had some things go wrong in the Regional Meet and we didn't advance to state as a team placing 5th as they took the top 4 teams with 3 of the teams we beat at districts beating us. I believe our was the best boys cross country team to never make to the state meet in Gibby's coaching reign.

  However, I ended up 3rd overall in the race and going as an individual. I remember Gibby and I driving down to Columbus that Friday before just talking it up and laughing along the way including jogging the course at Scioto Downs and eating dinner and the pre race breakfast before the race. I just remember before hand I had a few pancakes and Gibby had this breakfast burger over at The Waffle House. LOL. I ended up not doing well as I wanted 40th place but I will never forget the great time I had competiting and neither will my parents and we had Gibby to thank for getting me there physically but mentally.

  One great thing about Gibby being the Guidance Counsellor was the fact that his door was always open to anybody. Didn't matter who you were he could talk to almost every student about not only about how they were doing in class but other stuff that was going on. Anybody in the school could hear his laughter even if you were way down the halls on the other side of the building it seemed. His Laugh was another great thing about it. It showed he had a great sense of humor but it could also seem to make you feel much better no matter what mood you were in.

His office usually looked like a big mess and unorganized at times but I think it reflected a lot about his character. Despite the unorganization he was still able to go out of his way being the Guidance Counsellor in helping the students on their future with going the college or orgazining their classes in the beginning of the year in high school. He was very essential in helping me get my running info out to small colleges thinking I could still compete and get an education since I didn't know if I wanted to run or not until I was convinced before I decided to go to Muskingum University (then it was College).

   Another that I mentioned in my last paragraph of how Gibby's door was always open was how he was able to communicate with the students despite his odd behavior and somewhat hyper-tension. In fact many students that come home to visit from college that stop at the school or go to one of the sporting events most of the time always want to talk to Gibby about how life is going or whatever else is going on and without missing a beat it seemed Gibby had that long term memory about almost everyone of them of what they were doing. Yet, it seemed that no matter what was going on with his life Gibby tended to put others first before himself. I remember being down my sophomore year of college, going through what I call a sophomore slump in running after a pretty good freshman year Gibby called my parents house when I was home for a break and wanting to talk to me knowing I was home and hearing about the down times I've been through that season. It was a great relief to talk to him and he wanted to let me know about more things in life then running all the time and to stay focused on my grades. It really made everything much better for me to know Gibby cared about me as a person. It was one of the reasons I kept going to the state track meet almost every year just to see him and talk about the meet and whatever with others whom he befriended.

  Speaking of that, here a funny moment that had happened at one of the state meets we went to. Back in 06 when I was an assistant voluntary coach at TVHS for the track team and we had a few individuals compete there and I was there with the coaches and Gibby sitting up top near the press box at the Jesse Owens Stadium before the Division II or III races were going off. Well we always like to make predictions of almost every race and the Boys 100 Meter Dash was coming up. Gibby predicted that the kid in Lane 8 would win. The rest of the Tusky Valley Track Coaches and I thougtht he was crazy so we thought ok. Usually the fastest kid is in Lane 4 or 5 in the Finals. Well, low and behold the kid in lane 8 turned out to win the race. Gibby was excited and jumped for joy. He knew that kid had one the fastest times coming into state but didn't get a good start in the Semifinals the day before and we didn't watch the semis the day before.

Now, you would think I would be surprised but that yet in the back of my mind I wasn't since this one of the many things Gibby loved to do was keep a track of athlete's stats, times and what not. He was like that when it came to other things such as dates, quotes and other type of information. Like, I mention. Their are those that tend to think I'm similar to Gibby in some ways like my love of sports and I can know a whole lot of useless knowledge. But, I don't tend to look at that as a negative but rather than a positive. I think something like that is something that makes you unique in a great way and Gibby really let that shine.I think Gibby is the ORIGINAL HUMAN ENCYCLOPEDIA!!

I noticed at the times at the state meet when sitting around with other coaches, athletes, and parents from different high schools he would talk to them about stuff or people from where they were from like it was nothing. That's another great thing about Gibby is that he wasn't afraid to communicate with others and could talk for long periods of time with certain people as if he knew them very well. With going to certain sporting events whenever it may be High school, college or something like a minor league baseball game was a great way Gibby maintained friendships throughout his life. Going to sporting events was one of his most favorite things to do.

Sports, were a big deal to Gibby as well. It was that determination that led him to be a great and runner, believe it or not. In fact he still holds the New Philadelphia High School Track Record for the 1600 meter run in 4:23. One of my old H.S. Teammates said in his FB Status that he hopes that record will never be broken. I really think it's going to take a really special talented kid to break that record. After his running days were over Gibby came back to the Tuscarawas Valley area to become a guidance counsellor and Cross Country and Track Coach. He had a couple teams and many individuals make it to the State Meet while he was there. He best team was in 93-94 when they finished 4th in the State Meet. Here's a pic of them.

1993 Tusky Valley CC Team that place 4th at State.

The 2 best runners are on the bottom row at the right. One of them was Tusky Valley's only State Individual Champion in Cross Country. The other was one of 2 kids I think that placed runner up individually at the State Meet. That's very good. Gibby had a long of really good talent. Plus he had the coaching knowledge to make good kids better than what they run beginning of the cross country season. It has earned him coach of the year honors in the conference and district too.

I really don't think or how much more I could say about a person like Gibby. The one thing that no one can judge him deeply on was how big his heart was. He just had that gift of helping out people whenever it be within his job as a Guidance Counsellor, Coach, or even a person he really had that gift of doing good for others. He along with many other close people in my life, especially my parents, are what I strive to be like in my life. I believe that world would be a much better place if there were more people like Gibby in it. I have noticed that reading all of the Facebook status of old high school friends or reading the guestbook of his online obiturary of those who in one way or another Gibby was able to touch their lives in a positive way as well. Gibby may not had a whole lot of family but I believe that he had a lot of friends that loved him back and treated him as if he were a part of their family.

Even, this blog may not be enough but I feel it's the least I can do to show not only what Gibby meant to me, but what he meant to those around him and the good he spread to their lives.

To close I just wanted to say Thank You Gibby for being a positive role model in my life. I was happy that he read my pre-boston blog back in June where I briefly mentioned him and how he liked it. It means so much that at least he knew how much influenced me. I don't think the State High School Track Meet will never be the same without you. But, I know you're up in heaven sitting up in the bleachers if they have any, talking to Jesus and making predictions and watching every minute of it and you'll still be there every step of the way.

Living life one mile at a time, but slowly!!

New TAT!!

" I live my life a quarter mile at a time. Nothing else matters: not the mortgage, not the store, not my team and all their bullshit. For those ten seconds or less, I'm free." - The Fast and the Furious (2001)

Well, I'm not a mid distance runner and I don't live my life a quarter mile at a time but I do run long stuff and I felt the quote and title would be a little settling for this post.

Last couple of months have been a struggle for some reason trying not only to get heathly but get back in the competitive racing shape that I have been in before I ran the Boston Marathon. You see, a few weeks after Boston when I tried to run again I've been feeling some discomfort in my left side of my hip and around my lower abdomen. I thought it be no big deal and just go away and I would slowly ease into. Well it continued and I realized I had a bad muscle strain in my left hip flexor/psoas muscle. This tended to tire out my legs and cause some tension in my lower back. Basically I haven't been running as much, getting massages, and putting a ton of heat on my hip, back, and glutal to the point where it feels like its burning and turning red.

I have never had anything like this happen to me before. Usually, I have the runner's knees and my nagging right hamstring/glutal injuries or very rarely sore shins but I've dealt with them overtime. My body has just been in a state of soreness and been a little bit tired. Life has been in a hurry at times, never seem to have enough time during the week to stretch a little more, or clean like I want to. I've tenden to goof off by looking at Facebook, TV or whatever leisure but that could be one problem saying enough to those and just get some rest. My massage therpist, Catherine, has been trying to help me out a lot with some advice and stretches. She even has notice a lot of tension not only throughout my back but around the neck and shoulders. So basically my entire body just feels sore. I'm feeling a little better due to my vacation last few weeks, and other things I've been trying to do but it just seems when trying to comeback I feel my body is still running on fumes!

Though, on Monday, I did my strengthening workout before running with the Monday Night Running Group. Which wasn't smart but this week I have to squezze in a couple of strenghten workout since I'll be gone for the weekend. In fact one of my best friends who is a personal trainer is the one who gave me the workout program to do at least 3 times a week for the next 3 weeks. I can't go over 30-40 miles a week. Pretty much my plan is to try to get healthly enough to start half marathon training for the next 12 weeks after that for Columbus in October if not that maybe Indianapolis in November. I still have a goal of PR'ing in the half marathon this year. PR is 1:10:22 and I want to go under 1 hour and 10 minutes which I know I am capable of.

But, right now I feel as if I still need to catch my body up on a little more rest. Mentally and Emotionally I believe that I know I am in the right place so far. However, it's physically and also spiritually I am lacking so far. Physically, I don't think I'm getting to an age yet where I feel I can't do this race after race. Competiting in a couple of road races to build up for a main one.

 But, I realize during a 3 hour meeting at work where there was a section wide discussion on new systems, I got bored  it happens and your mind wonders. I started to mark off in my notepad how many races I have done Cross Country, Road, Track, and even the very few triathlons for the heck of  that I have done a lot over the years. And I didn't even include High School Track where I started for the first time. I did check off how many XC races for high school, along with college and afterwards. The races may be catching up my body over the years I have put it through.

Also, I begin to realize that I'll be turning 30 this September, believe it or not. Somedays I feel like this clip from Seinfeld when I start to think about it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcX6ZYHgdqk

Now I don't know if marriage isn't like prison like Kramer would think it is but at least it's nice to come home to someone. I especially feel that way now that I know my sister finally moved out and now I'm back on my own moving to another place to live. I mean it's not bad if you have friends and things to do once in awhile but you tend to get lonely.

That's why I believe that I relied on running as a crutch to lean on over the years. Dealing with an injury, especially as you get older year by year way be a way of my body telling me that this can not last forever. That may be true. Now I've accomplish so much in this sport despite the talent I got. I'm defintely not an Olympic Calibar athlete but I'm a very competive and pretty good runner for my age group around my Home State of Ohio and a tiny bit around the Region of my country where I live. I still have goals I want to obtain. Run a fast half marathon, run more cross country races, PR again in the full marathon, and run the 2 other major marathons in this country besides Boston which include New York and Chicago.

Maybe I just have been rambling too much. I dunno but I feel I just have to let a little bit of this frustration out of my system. I have notice some improvements in my body the last week or so. My Psoas Muscle in my hip flexor is feeling much better (maybe a little bit more loosing up in the back and hip areas of course), I'm starting to get better sleep and don't feel too heavily on caffeine in the mornings, and I actually races the Columbus Running Company Anniversary Mile Dash  this past weekend with a 4:36 time with no speed training a little mileage.

Racing the Mile Dash

Yet, I just got to keep positive and stay the course and rely on those around me, family and friends from CRC and church to help me through. I quote a Dierks Bentley song (he's a country singer) when he said, "I got a lot of leaving left to do." Well I got a lot of racing left to do before I hang it up for good. I know God has a wife and family planned for me somehow. I just got to remain patient and not sweat that or anything else stressful at work also. I think this retreat I'm going to will be good for me this weekend. I can draw closer to my friends at Church, strengthen my faith, and also relax and not worry too much about running and whatever goes on in my life right now.

Now, how about that tattoo. Well, the idea came when I was on the trolley in Boston heading back from racing the marathon with a ton of other people. One of them I talked to was a woman from Montana who is orginally from Michigan (but Buckeye fans we won't hold that against her LOL). Anyway something came up about tattoos and she noticed my earring and she mentioned it would be best after racing Boston that I get a tattoo and lose the ear ring for good. So I did a couple weeks ago.

 I wanted to get one that reflected a little of my character so I choose a track shoe and my favorite bible verse. Isaiah 40:31. I got the idea to combine both after watching one of my favorite all time movies, Chariots of Fire. The movie is based upon a true story two United Kingdom sprinters back in 1924 Olympics, Harold Abrams, a jew who runs for acceptance and to overcome prejustice, and Eric Liddell, a Scotsman, whose parents are missionaries, runs for the glory of God. The movie is about their journey to get there. Abrams went on to win the 100 meter dash. Liddell was suppose to run the 100 as well but a semifinals were on Sunday and he choose not to run do due to his belief that Sabbath was for rest. It caused such an uproar. But in real life he went on a bronze medal in the 200 and at the conclusion of the movie it depicted him winning the 400 meters. I loved the scene in the movie where he preach to the Scotish Church in France and read Isaiah 40 while the Olympics were running.

Very powerful scene. Watch the movie on Netflix.  It shows a little bit of how I feel about competiting. I'm D-Money and that's my two cents!!!

What to do in downtime of sports!!

Despite it being a downtime in sports with no Pro Football or Pro Basketball, it still won't matter since we try to look for other things to pay attention to. The women's soccer is in the World Cup Finals, The Columbus Crew of course, and the World Track and Field Championships are next month. Enough to talk about until College Football season begins. Hopefully the Cleveland Indians can make the 2nd half of the baseball season a better one and be able to make the playoffs. Still excited for College Football despite the possible allegations facing my Ohio State Buckeyes.

With the NFL being lockout and now the NBA, I'm being a little turned off by professional sports and it will give me more reasons to watch College Football this fall and College Basketball this Winter and early spring. I'll come back to the NFL when it comes back on this fall as they try to workout a deal. However, I believe the NBA now has lost a lot of momentum. The good news is that it could possibly be another year that Lebron doesn't win another title :) Heh, NBA at least you'll still have a lot more people paying attention to you and still have a 1,000 % more viewers when you come back then the WNBA. I'm sorry Women's sports are great, Volleyball, Track, and a couple others. Women's basketball isn't exciting!!

I'm D-Money and that';s my Two Cents!!!

Happy Independence Day!!!

Wishing everyone a safe and Happy Independence Day!!!! Very proud to be an American!! Today, be safe, thankful, and blessed that we live in a country where we have so many freedoms. I'll post a blog entry soon, enjoy the cookouts, fireworks, or whatever you are doing today!!!