What Champions Are Made Of

Coaching the physical aspects of running is easy for me; I can make kids faster. It's figuring out how to turn them into Champions that's harder. And I'm not talking about just winning a big meet, I'm talking about developing in them the characteristics of champions. Because I believe this is what separates good coaches from great coaches. Amby Burfoot (Boston Marathon winner and editor of Runner’s World magazine) lists the following 9 characteristics as the key aspects that make up a champion runner. I agree with him. What follows each characteristic is me expounding it into what is being done or what needs to be said or done to members of my team. I guess I'm giving the blog world a peak into my coaching mind.

1. A Champion has the courage to risk failure, knowing that setbacks are lessons to learn from.
Some of them don’t have the courage to risk failure; they think: ‘if I run any harder, I may not finish the race.’ Or they’re scared of training really hard for their goal and then not achieving it, so they think: ‘what’s the point, I’ll just be ok with being decent.’ I’m calling them to man-up, take a risk; if they fail, they will learn from it. And better to do it today than at Region or State.

2. A champion uses a race to gain greater self knowledge as well as feedback on physical improvement.
It’s more than just getting faster and stronger or getting a good body. If they have not learned something deeper about themselves (their character, their values, their spirit) then they weren’t looking, and they have missed the most beautiful aspect of this sport. I’m calling some of them to look deeper.

3. A Champion trains thought processes as well as the body.
Some of them do not train their brain. All the extra miles and conditioning workouts a person can squeeze in won't maximize performance if they aren’t also training their thoughts. They have to train the negative thoughts out and practice the positive ones. I can’t get inside their head, so I’m calling some of them to get their minds in check.

4. A Champion understands his athletic weaknesses and trains to strengthen them.
You can’t fix what you don’t acknowledge. Some of them would rather make excuses for their weaknesses instead of recognizing them and then working to fix them. It’s ok to know where you are lacking; everyone has weaknesses. Just admit them and start training to fix them.

5. A Champion actively creates a life of balance, moderation, and simplicity.
Most, maybe all of them, fail at number 5. But I don’t care if they are just teenagers; they are runners and they can live at a higher standard. What’s out of balance: their priorities, their diet, their sleep? What’s not in moderation: their time with a girlfriend, their language, their times of acting silly? I’m calling them into more self control, to simplify and keep things in their life in check. That amount of mental fortitude translates into mental toughness in a race. Plus it earns them more respect, respect from me, other adults, other teams.

6. A Champion views competitors as partners who provide challenge and the chance to improve.
Some of them would rather talk bad about the opponent, cut them down, or be obnoxious. When really they should be using them to better themselves. A loser calls his competitors names because he cannot beat them. A champion works to beat them yet maintains dignity and grace if he can’t. I’m calling some of them to grow up.

7. A Champion understands that running performances are like a roller coaster, with many ups and downs, and that you have to accept both the good and the bad.
Some of them are living in a past defeat or past success. If that past bad race is bringing them down and hindering them from their best, then I am calling them to forget about it, stop living in the past, bad days happen. Today is a new day and it has the potential for a great run. If they are living in that past good race, they need to understand that that too is in the past and does not give assurances that today will go as well; they can’t get complacent. Today is a new day and they may have to work harder to have similar results.

8. A Champion enjoys running for the simple pleasures it provides.
Some of them have forgotten the simple pleasures of this sport. If they can’t remember the last time they simply enjoyed a run, then I am calling them to go have fun. Don’t worry about a medal or a time, just have fun and enjoy it.

9. A Champion has vision, dreaming of things that haven’t been and believing they are possible.
Some of them still don’t believe we can be top 3 in the state. Some of them don’t think we can beat USJ at Best of the West. Some of them have given up on hitting that time or getting that place they were once shooting for. They have no vision, no dreams, no desire for greatness. Why not? Why are they doing this if they’re not striving for greatness? They can’t settle for ‘pretty good.’ I am calling all of them to bigger and better dreams.

Region is in a week, State is in 3. I want them to Race like champions, Talk like champions, Act like champions, Start living as champions. If they can, then by the time we walk into the State meet, regardless of where our times end up and how things play out, we will be able to complete our season as Champions. I don't want to just be a good coach, I want to be a great coach.