The Daily Run: New UVa running coaches are impressive

As we count the days down to the opening of the beautiful new UVa track many of us local runners have a bit of an extra spring in our gaits as we’re excited about new head coach Bryan Fetzer and his new assistant distance coaches.

Last week we had the pleasure of meeting the new UVa head man and his assistants Todd Morgan, who will guide the women’s distance program and Peter Watson, who takes the helm of the men’s distance crew, and what a terrific trio they seem to be. With loads of positive energy and with a pile of experience, they know a good thing when they see it as they seem jazzed to get going with one of the most talented pair of squads in the NCAA. We were especially impressed with Watson and Morgan’s shared passion of Coach Fetzer’s mission of partnering with our already extremely supportive local running community. This started with Fetzer’s generous gesture of asking “so, how does keeping the track open in the morning sound to you?”  You bet, Coach…so what can we do for you and your team?

We were also delighted to hear that Julie Stackhouse will be working with Fetzer as the middle distance coach. We enjoyed watching how much she bonded with the women’s team throughout her first season with the Cavaliers this past fall.

And while we’re talking about the new track, I’d like to remind my fellow local runners that the sparkling new facility remains closed, as UVa continues to progress with the final steps of Phase I.  Believe me, the second (well, maybe not the exact second but certainly that day) I hear that the gates are open I’ll let you all know! We do know that the Cavs will be hosting the ACC Track and Field Championships this spring from April 19-21. Stay tuned for details…

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And speaking of track, I’ll be hosting a Kids Running Clinic at the CHS track (next to the MLK Performing Arts Center) this Saturday morning from 8:30-9:15. We will be going over proper form and stride mechanics, appropriate running and track etiquette and then finishing out the clinic with a few fun relay races. All kids from ages 4-12 are welcome and there’s no charge!

Stacey Bruns of the Charlottesville Day School, a lifelong advocate for kids’ fitness, recently announced the schedule for this spring’s “Kids’ Triple Crown” Race series. The series will kick off with a new addition to the circuit, The Charlottesville Ten Miler Kid’s Half Miler (to benefit Children, Youth and Family Services) on March 31, followed by two April benefit events, The Run for Autism quarter miler on the 21st and The Family Fitness Runs at Panorama on the 29th. The series culminates with the huge Discovery Dash for Kids in late May. Any kid who participates in at least three of the four events, will be honored with the very cool Kids Triple Crown medal and certificate in a special ceremony in June. More details will be posted at  raggedmountainrunning.com by Feb. 1.

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2007 UVa All-American Emily Harrison finished 30th and former Albemarle standout Emily Potter, who now competes for the U.S. Army, finished 40th in a p.r. 2:39:55 at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in Houston last Saturday. They were closely followed by RMR teammates Louise Knudson, who is a nurse at the UVa Hospital and Melissa Rittenhouse, a faculty member at JMU. Both clocked impressive sub 6:30/mile efforts. Several locals made the journey south to cheer on our locals and tehn run in the “regular” Houston Marathon and Half on Sunday. Fifty year old Hernan Garbini was the first area runner across the half finish line, as he ran a very impressive 1:19 (6:05/mile). Amy Martin, a 37-year-old mother of four, was equally impressive with her 1:25 p.r.. The speedy duo were followed by other quick locals like Sarah Hickie (1:27) and Andrew Zapanta (1:39). Megan Bowen (3:11) and 59-year-old Harry Landers (3:33) had solid outings in the full, despite running on concrete, yes concrete, for most of the 26.2 miles. At about twenty times less shock absorbent than black top, concrete is the single worst surface to run a long distance marathon on, as it works to deaden and slow you with each step. So, explains the “pulverized quads” and “smoking hot, blistered feet”. This is particularly bad and spells extra big trouble to those folks who tend to be forefoot strikers. Ouch!

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The Charlottesville Track Club already has over a thousand folks registered for the March 31^st running of the granddaddy of them all, The Charlottesville Ten Miler, our area’s oldest and most revered foot race. Go to charlottesvilletrackclub.org to enter.