There and back again, a coach's musings

NXR-SW unexpectedly provided a very nice course preview of Nike Cross Nationals. Photo by Alan Versaw.

Assorted observations on the weekend that was NXR-SW...

There may be no more underrated high school coach than Chris Suppes. The guy is simply a master of motivation. Apparently, though, the girls have done all the damage they are allowed to Suppes' body, and it's Coach Callor who's in line for a piercing this time around.

A close second on the list of underrated coaches is Corbin Talley. Nobody saw that second-place finish for the Davis boys coming.

From the back seat of my car on Thursday night, "Hey, look, there's a University of Phoenix in Phoenix!"

When I came to the meet at 6:40 on Saturday morning to pick up press credentials, I was very politely informed, "We are in survival mode right now and won't be issuing any credentials. You should be good." A big hats off to Jeff Guy and all his crew for pulling this one off in the face of enormous difficulties. It's my understanding that major cross country meets hosted on golf courses have to carry an insurance policy for damages. I would hate to see the payout on this one.

Eastside Mesa, Arizona, seems to be home to an unusual density of Thai restaurants with great food and reasonable prices. It's a wonderful place to visit for someone who has to dodge gluten everywhere he goes. Seeing an Abert's Towhee was also a nice bonus. Mesa is starting to grow on me.

My luggage was "randomly" inspected on both flights--there and back. I contemplated the improbability of it all and then realized maybe it was my luggage that was the problem. If someone was going to try to bring a bomb on a plane, they probably would not go out and buy $500 luggage to put it in. Ah, the complications of living the frugal life!

On the flip side of airport security, I was told on our return flight that I had TSA pre-screened status. A big 'E' (exempt?) was marked on my boarding pass and I was spared the indignity of removing my shoes. It kind of makes up for some of those 'E' marks I didn't get in the behavior section of my elementary school report cards. I guess if you stick around long enough in life, something will eventually go right for you.

Every once in a while, I try to imagine what the current size of the NXR-SW meet would be like if we tried to wedge it into the old Kiwanis Park course. Not a pretty thought, folks. I have this very discouraging feeling that we may be starting to outgrow the Toka Sticks site. I know of at least one group of individuals who would probably feel like we've outgrown the facility--the elementary school adjacent to the course. I can only imagine how frustrated several dozen parents must have been with getting caught up in the middle of the arrival of the masses for course preview on Friday afternoon.

I tried to build a list of coaches who've had a team at each of the seven NXR-SW meets. Thus far, I come up with Rob and Kathy Hipwood, Adam Kedge, Matt Norton, Chris Suppes, Corbin Talley, and myself. I'd love to know if there are any others. 

It's a very nice touch that Southwest Airlines still gives out peanuts--honey roasted, no less--on their flights. I might suggest, however, using packaging that is slightly less bombproof. That might help prevent launching 10 or 12 peanuts several rows back in the plane when you finally wrestle the packet open. I guess you could always use your pocket-knife. Oh, wait...

While on the subject of flights, after our flight was finally cleared for take-off, all passengers were reminded to check their seat belts. You know you've been sitting on the tarmac way too long when an entropy inspection is warranted.

The familiar carboard trash receptacles at the Toka Sticks course took a beating in Friday night's rain. Several were no longer standing at attention on Saturday morning, but found a second life as mats over the muddy corridor between apparel sales and the race course. That solution worked for about an hour before the boxes became one with mud.

In 'n' Out Burger may want to look into having a more industrial strength milk shake machine in time for next year's race. They should be an official race sponsor.

I have been to Arizona before--several times, in fact. I have been all over Arizona. I've been to Lake Havasu City, the Grand Canyon--camping on the rim and hiking in and out, Petrified Forest, across I-40 from Kingman to Gallup in the middle of the night, Tucson, on top of Mt. Humphreys, Prescott, Tuba City, you name it. In all seasons of the year. And, in all my previous visits, I had not felt so much as a drop of precipitation. I guess it all goes to show that things have a way of evening out in the long run.

I'm not trying to make excuses for Arizona, nor am I trying to make anyone feel badly about Saturday's results, but I have to wonder how much impact the weather had on the Arizona performances. Those of us from Colorado, most of Utah, and large swaths of New Mexico were running in warmer weather Saturday than we've seen for weeks. Frankly, aside from the wind, it was very pleasant. I'm guessing not so much so for the big Arizona programs. It's a question that's impossible to answer, but I'm sure I wasn't the only one wondering.

What I really want to know is who that guy was who hurdled the barrier, bib on, at the beginning of the citizens race and joined the field. I'd be even more interested to hear of his time.

My most treasured new possession from the trip to Arizona? Hands down, it's my Zuni Cross Country t-shirt. That one is a classic, and I will take very good care of it.