Summer has been good to us so far here at the VU MSO home base.
Since my last post, I had the opportunity to share with a group of Valparaiso University alumni and athletic department supporters a little bit of the vision we have for our team at the annual Crusader Club golf outing in Frankenmuth, MI. It was a great event for our department and gave me the chance to connect with many of VU’s valued supporters, including some VU soccer alumni. I should also point out that my golf scramble team won the esteemed Bobble Head Award for getting the most value out of the round of golf… we hit more shots than any other team! I like to think that my ineptitude at golf is just proof that I work hard and that I spend too much time coaching this team, or maybe it was the eight mile run I did in the wee hours of the Michigan morning before playing.
We’ve also had some good press coverage in the last few weeks. Our local paper, The NW Indiana Times ran this story on the The Extra Mile . Despite the billboard size photo on the front page of the sports section, the article was well done and has allowed us to gain some exposure locally.
Our VIP camp program finished early last week, and was another success for Valparaiso University Soccer. Over 100 college bound soccer players from all over the country visited campus this summer, and the recruiting benefits of the VIP program will be seen for years to come as we continue to reel in very talented young men that will add to our current squad to help us build VU into a national soccer power.
Perhaps most importantly, our 2008 season is just around the corner as the guys report back in two weeks. I can’t tell you how excited we are to get the new season officially off and running. The new schedule poster is out, looks great, and I will try to post it on this site. Equipment is arriving daily, plans are being made, and very soon we will be training away on our new field turf field in the football stadium. These are indeed exciting times for our team.
As you can tell, the summer has been busy (productive is actually the term I prefer). Since my post of July 13, here is what has been accomplished on the road:
July 14 – 7
July 15 – 7
July 16 – 6
July 17 – 7
July 18 – 6
July 19 – 8
July 20 – 7
July 21 – 5
July 22 – 5
July 23 – Off
July 24 – 7
July 25 – Off
July 26 – Off
July 27 – Off
July 28 – 75 (donation from Turpin HS Soccer team)
You may have noticed that the end of July featured some quiet days as far as my running is concerned. There is a method to the madness, though. On July 19, I received the following email from Leah Gates, mother of sophomore Jon Obial:
Mike,
On behalf of the Turpin High School soccer team, we would like to donate miles to your
Extra Mile effort.
Turpin is Jonathan & his brother, Alec's, high school.
In a preseason conditioning effort, the group ran in the 5k on 5 Mile Race on Saturday, July 12th.
We had 24 players x 3.125 = 75 miles for you.
Enjoy the well deserved rest for your weary legs! Do some yoga!
Leah Gates :)
Now that was a great email to receive… thanks guys! I love the imagery of a young team running to prepare for their season while helping the cause of Muscular Distrophy, and helping the Extra Mile. That is a morning well spent! The Turpin players want to have a great season, I know, and whether they realize it or not, helping others is the best way to ultimately help yourself reach your own dreams. Well done boys, and thanks Leah!
Not only a generous donation to our cause, but also a very timely one. I left on the morning of July 25 for a recruiting camp at Northern Illinois University knowing that while away I could rest the legs for a bit. I am back in Valparaiso now, and raring to go as we head into August.
Here is where we stand so far…. Drum roll …..
A whopping 228.2 for July, and a grand total of 406.4 miles in the first two months. We are just ahead of schedule with much of the heavy lifting yet to do. With three months and a few days to garner almost another 600 miles, we have our work cut out for us. Together, though, I am sure we can make it happen.
I should also point out that today we received nearly $6,000 in pledges! Yes, $6,000. That is a very good day. More good days are on the horizon.
Talk to you soon.
Mike
Monday, July 28, 2008
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
July 16 Update: Creative Donations and Donors!
Ever wonder who else is interested and involved in this Extra Mile campaign?
I thought you might be, so I wanted to highlight two recent additions to the cause. I am very thankful for these guys, as I am for everyone who has sent in pledges, donations, mileage and general good wishes.
The first is a recent financial donor to the Extra Mile despite having no real connection to Valparaiso or the soccer program at VU. He does, however, have a strong tie to me and to my esteemed alma mater Westmont College, and he is a major player in the advancement of soccer in the United States today.
I am speaking of Allen Hopkins, most notably recognized for his great work on ESPN covering US Soccer, the MLS, the World Cup as well as many other sports. Though Allen and I were not on the Westmont team at the same time during our college days – I am older and not as pretty; I have a face made more for radio than TV – we have stayed in touch throughout the years as our paths continue to cross due to our involvement with soccer. As fellow Westmont soccer alums, we also share a lasting bond. Because my experience as a college soccer player was so impacting and meaningful to me, and the others I played along side, I am highly motivated to provide the same experience for our current players.
It thrills me to have Allen on board as we work to keep this thing moving in the right direction – thanks Hoppy!
The second donor I wanted to profile is one of our founding fathers for soccer here at Valparaiso. Fred Mina, VU class of 1971, played soccer at Valparaiso University long before we even had an officially recognized varsity team. As a player in the late 60’s, Fred became the team’s player coach in 1970, as well as the faculty advisor for the team in 1971 and 1972. Fred has very kindly detailed a great history of that era of the program for me which I will have posted here and elsewhere soon. From these humble beginnings, the program has come a long, long way.
And, it is great that Fred is still involved, helping us to push the program to even greater heights!
Coach,
Last week I decided on a different approach for my part in the Extra Mile effort. You get a dollar for every minute I run in road races during the campaign. I figured this would be a good incentive to get me running faster. I waited until after Saturday's race to write this because I wanted to make sure I was going to be able to finish. I have been fighting some disk and quad injuries since December and my generally slow 5K & 10K times are a minute a mile slower -- to your benefit. So a check is in the mail for Saturday's North Carolina Freedom Run. If I ever get healthy expect less!
Racing on the SE Coast of NC pretty much shuts down for July and August. Even though Saturday's race started at 8AM it was still the typical upper 80's with 95% humidity. The race is right at the mouth of the Cape Fear River so there is plenty of moisture. Hopefully when races resume in September I'll be up to some better times. The next major race is a 5 miler so you get more money.
I will still try to get in 10 - 20 miles a week so if you need some miles let me know.
Fred Mina
Class of 1971
What a great idea, and a creative way to use the Extra Mile as personal motivation.
Thank you Coach Mina!
Remember, together we are smarter, more creative, more inspiring, more capable, more powerful, and, well… just plain MORE than we are alone. Let’s stick together throughout this upcoming season and this running campaign.
By the way, I walked my little man to day care (about a half mile - Alex loves it and tells everyone he is walking for "Chair-wit-y"), and then ran to work from there. 4 miles out of the way so far today...
Gotta run,
Mike
I thought you might be, so I wanted to highlight two recent additions to the cause. I am very thankful for these guys, as I am for everyone who has sent in pledges, donations, mileage and general good wishes.
The first is a recent financial donor to the Extra Mile despite having no real connection to Valparaiso or the soccer program at VU. He does, however, have a strong tie to me and to my esteemed alma mater Westmont College, and he is a major player in the advancement of soccer in the United States today.
I am speaking of Allen Hopkins, most notably recognized for his great work on ESPN covering US Soccer, the MLS, the World Cup as well as many other sports. Though Allen and I were not on the Westmont team at the same time during our college days – I am older and not as pretty; I have a face made more for radio than TV – we have stayed in touch throughout the years as our paths continue to cross due to our involvement with soccer. As fellow Westmont soccer alums, we also share a lasting bond. Because my experience as a college soccer player was so impacting and meaningful to me, and the others I played along side, I am highly motivated to provide the same experience for our current players.
It thrills me to have Allen on board as we work to keep this thing moving in the right direction – thanks Hoppy!
The second donor I wanted to profile is one of our founding fathers for soccer here at Valparaiso. Fred Mina, VU class of 1971, played soccer at Valparaiso University long before we even had an officially recognized varsity team. As a player in the late 60’s, Fred became the team’s player coach in 1970, as well as the faculty advisor for the team in 1971 and 1972. Fred has very kindly detailed a great history of that era of the program for me which I will have posted here and elsewhere soon. From these humble beginnings, the program has come a long, long way.
And, it is great that Fred is still involved, helping us to push the program to even greater heights!
Coach,
Last week I decided on a different approach for my part in the Extra Mile effort. You get a dollar for every minute I run in road races during the campaign. I figured this would be a good incentive to get me running faster. I waited until after Saturday's race to write this because I wanted to make sure I was going to be able to finish. I have been fighting some disk and quad injuries since December and my generally slow 5K & 10K times are a minute a mile slower -- to your benefit. So a check is in the mail for Saturday's North Carolina Freedom Run. If I ever get healthy expect less!
Racing on the SE Coast of NC pretty much shuts down for July and August. Even though Saturday's race started at 8AM it was still the typical upper 80's with 95% humidity. The race is right at the mouth of the Cape Fear River so there is plenty of moisture. Hopefully when races resume in September I'll be up to some better times. The next major race is a 5 miler so you get more money.
I will still try to get in 10 - 20 miles a week so if you need some miles let me know.
Fred Mina
Class of 1971
What a great idea, and a creative way to use the Extra Mile as personal motivation.
Thank you Coach Mina!
Remember, together we are smarter, more creative, more inspiring, more capable, more powerful, and, well… just plain MORE than we are alone. Let’s stick together throughout this upcoming season and this running campaign.
By the way, I walked my little man to day care (about a half mile - Alex loves it and tells everyone he is walking for "Chair-wit-y"), and then ran to work from there. 4 miles out of the way so far today...
Gotta run,
Mike
Monday, July 14, 2008
July 14 Update: The Irish, Body Marking and Jungle Running
So, here we are, two weeks into July... I hope you all are well. I have been keeping very busy myself these past two weeks, but the Extra Mile has become an integral part of my routine. Not too long ago I would negotiate and justify and conjure up as many reasons as possible why I was just too busy to exercise.
Building this program is taking plenty of effort, and time is precious, so it was easily done to say "can't get to the track today, I've got too much to do". Because this run is an integral part of my job now - I have no excuses left. I have to take the time to make the time for this, and it has been a beautiful thing. I plan for time with Carin and Alex first, then the running, then everything else. I am finding that I can fit it all in, even in some of my busiest summer weeks.
Last week was a good example... I worked on staff of the Notre Dame Elite Camp the week of July 7-12. This camp is a great opportunity for me and Rick King, my right hand guy, to get up close and evaluate 175 of the top high school players in the country. It's also a great chance for me to reconnect with many friends that were part of my life during the six plus years I worked at Notre Dame. As this running campaign is concerned, though, it is a busy week. From 7am until nearly midnight, the camp keeps you going.
Three field sessions a day, meetings, meals, plus an awful lot of walking to and from these destinations, and your week fills up pretty quickly. I was able to get a run in around the lakes every day, plus a few sessions on the eliptical machine in Rolf's Fitness center on campus during the afternoon breaks, so despite the hectic pace of the camp, the Extra Mile kept going. There is no question that in the past I'd have not done anything extra during that week, but you have been a great source of inspiration to me, so thank you.
Another great source of inspiration for me came on Saturday morning, July 12. My wife Carin and I had agreed to volunteer at the Valparaiso Triathalon to help our neighbor and friend Barbie Johnson, the organizer of this great event (you'll remember that Barbie's husband Mark Johnson donated twenty miles to us earlier in the campaign). So on a rainy Saturday morning, and before 6 a.m. - which seemed painfully early on that day given the long week we had just finished, we drove out to Lakewood Park to help with the triathalon. The event turned out to be an absolute blast.
Our first assignment was body marking - we wrote numbers with a sharpie pen on the arms and legs of the contestents. It was a little embarassing seeing my wife knock over the other volunteers every time a young, fit male contestent came through to be marked, but no one was injured and the race got underway without a hitch. I then moved to help direct traffic at a pretty busy point on the course where outgoing bikers, incoming bikers, runners and fans all tried to cross a fairly tight bridge. We ended up at thte finish line as Carin handed out water bottles and I cheered for every person that crossed the line. In all, we had a great time and a great day.
Seeing these athletes - of ages ranging from 15 - 72 - handle the swim, bike and run certainly reminded me that my small campaign is barely a blip on the radar athletically.
It also compelled me to go home and run 8 miles that morning.
I should also point out that the Valparaiso Athletic department was very well represented at the Triathalon... Mike Straubel, the VU cross country coach, turned in a very good performance on the course as a competitor. Sally LaBarbera, the better half and wife of athletic director Mark LaBarbera, also burned up the course in impressive fashion. Amy Wittgenstein, the assistant coach for VU's very successful softball program could be seen in the water serving as a lifeguard for the swimming portion of the race. I am sure there were more, so I apologize if I left anyone out, but it was nice to see such a strong presence from the athletic department at this great community event.
We all have big goals and dreams for this athletic department - and I believe that the clearest way to reach your goals is help others reach their goals.
When Sunday rolled around, I was pretty tired, so this email came as a very much needed break:
Mike,
This Sunday (7/13) I will be running the 2008 Jungle Run Half Marathon in
Los Gatos. If there is anyway you can add these 13.2 miles to my pledge, I
would fee great knowing that I am running for your whole team. The air
quality has been really bad due to the ongoing fires, so I won't be setting
any speed records this time round, but as yoga has taught me - it's the
journey, not the destination that matters.
Dave
Dave is my younger brother, and works as the Administrative Director for the Center for Embedded Sensor Networking at UCLA. I have no idea what the title means nor what he does, but he always seems happy and enjoys his work and his life in Southern California, and that is enough for me. So, after a good long week in South Bend and an early day at the Triathalon, it was great to be home and spend a nice Sunday with the family.
Here is how the mileage looks so far in July:
July 1 - 7
July 2 - 7
July 3 - 7
July 4 - 8
July 5 - off
July 6 - 8
July 7 - 6
July 8 - 5
July 9 - 6
July 10 - 6
July 11 - 7
July 12 - 8
July 13 - 13.2 (donation from David Avery)
So we have 88.2 in the books this month, with 18 days left to get 111.8 (for 200 in this month). I am also behind a few miles from June, so if I can average close to 7 per day, I can get back on track.
Thanks, as always, for reading - gotta run....
Mike
Building this program is taking plenty of effort, and time is precious, so it was easily done to say "can't get to the track today, I've got too much to do". Because this run is an integral part of my job now - I have no excuses left. I have to take the time to make the time for this, and it has been a beautiful thing. I plan for time with Carin and Alex first, then the running, then everything else. I am finding that I can fit it all in, even in some of my busiest summer weeks.
Last week was a good example... I worked on staff of the Notre Dame Elite Camp the week of July 7-12. This camp is a great opportunity for me and Rick King, my right hand guy, to get up close and evaluate 175 of the top high school players in the country. It's also a great chance for me to reconnect with many friends that were part of my life during the six plus years I worked at Notre Dame. As this running campaign is concerned, though, it is a busy week. From 7am until nearly midnight, the camp keeps you going.
Three field sessions a day, meetings, meals, plus an awful lot of walking to and from these destinations, and your week fills up pretty quickly. I was able to get a run in around the lakes every day, plus a few sessions on the eliptical machine in Rolf's Fitness center on campus during the afternoon breaks, so despite the hectic pace of the camp, the Extra Mile kept going. There is no question that in the past I'd have not done anything extra during that week, but you have been a great source of inspiration to me, so thank you.
Another great source of inspiration for me came on Saturday morning, July 12. My wife Carin and I had agreed to volunteer at the Valparaiso Triathalon to help our neighbor and friend Barbie Johnson, the organizer of this great event (you'll remember that Barbie's husband Mark Johnson donated twenty miles to us earlier in the campaign). So on a rainy Saturday morning, and before 6 a.m. - which seemed painfully early on that day given the long week we had just finished, we drove out to Lakewood Park to help with the triathalon. The event turned out to be an absolute blast.
Our first assignment was body marking - we wrote numbers with a sharpie pen on the arms and legs of the contestents. It was a little embarassing seeing my wife knock over the other volunteers every time a young, fit male contestent came through to be marked, but no one was injured and the race got underway without a hitch. I then moved to help direct traffic at a pretty busy point on the course where outgoing bikers, incoming bikers, runners and fans all tried to cross a fairly tight bridge. We ended up at thte finish line as Carin handed out water bottles and I cheered for every person that crossed the line. In all, we had a great time and a great day.
Seeing these athletes - of ages ranging from 15 - 72 - handle the swim, bike and run certainly reminded me that my small campaign is barely a blip on the radar athletically.
It also compelled me to go home and run 8 miles that morning.
I should also point out that the Valparaiso Athletic department was very well represented at the Triathalon... Mike Straubel, the VU cross country coach, turned in a very good performance on the course as a competitor. Sally LaBarbera, the better half and wife of athletic director Mark LaBarbera, also burned up the course in impressive fashion. Amy Wittgenstein, the assistant coach for VU's very successful softball program could be seen in the water serving as a lifeguard for the swimming portion of the race. I am sure there were more, so I apologize if I left anyone out, but it was nice to see such a strong presence from the athletic department at this great community event.
We all have big goals and dreams for this athletic department - and I believe that the clearest way to reach your goals is help others reach their goals.
When Sunday rolled around, I was pretty tired, so this email came as a very much needed break:
Mike,
This Sunday (7/13) I will be running the 2008 Jungle Run Half Marathon in
Los Gatos. If there is anyway you can add these 13.2 miles to my pledge, I
would fee great knowing that I am running for your whole team. The air
quality has been really bad due to the ongoing fires, so I won't be setting
any speed records this time round, but as yoga has taught me - it's the
journey, not the destination that matters.
Dave
Dave is my younger brother, and works as the Administrative Director for the Center for Embedded Sensor Networking at UCLA. I have no idea what the title means nor what he does, but he always seems happy and enjoys his work and his life in Southern California, and that is enough for me. So, after a good long week in South Bend and an early day at the Triathalon, it was great to be home and spend a nice Sunday with the family.
Here is how the mileage looks so far in July:
July 1 - 7
July 2 - 7
July 3 - 7
July 4 - 8
July 5 - off
July 6 - 8
July 7 - 6
July 8 - 5
July 9 - 6
July 10 - 6
July 11 - 7
July 12 - 8
July 13 - 13.2 (donation from David Avery)
So we have 88.2 in the books this month, with 18 days left to get 111.8 (for 200 in this month). I am also behind a few miles from June, so if I can average close to 7 per day, I can get back on track.
Thanks, as always, for reading - gotta run....
Mike
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Bring on July!
June is in the books, and as summer heats up, so does the Extra Mile.
My running has settled into a pretty good rhythm. There are the logistical issues, mostly trying to squeeze in a run on vacation days and while spending time with my visiting family from California. There are also the health issues, namely nursing a sore calf back to recovery. I've been successful to keep on running without too great a strain on body or relationships.
In all, though, June was a pretty good start for me and for the Extra Mile.
One of my favorite authors is Chaim Potok, a man that really paints pictures with his words, and Potok opened his great novel In the Beginning with a simple statement. "All beginnings are hard." How true that often is. Moving our goals and our dreams from the realm of fantasy into reality takes some doing. But as another wise man also said, "once you've got it started, the end is inevitable" That was Joey "the Lips" Fagan - the trumpet playing philosopher from the classic movie The Commitments (1991). Like it or not, the Extra Mile is up and running, and we are definitely heading somewhere. I can't wait to see where!
We have received an impressive amount of pledged money (and some actual money), and more will undoubtedly come our way. We've also connected and reconnected with many friends of the program. In short, this has been a good thing for us, and I am very excited.
June ended with a mileage count of 178.2 in 29 days (which roughly translates to 6.14 miles per day). I'm told a few pounds have also been shed, which is a bonus. I am definitely running easier now than I was at the start, and probably further and faster than before. I'm still not clocking my pace on purpose - this is my form of Zen running. I spend the time enjoying the outdoors, listening to good music or books or lectures on my iPod, and thinking a lot about the upcoming season.
I also had another great substitute runner fill in for me last week while I enjoyed a day at the beach in Michigan with my family. On June 25, I received this email:
Good evening, Coach Avery:
So I've got the San Diego International Triathlon coming up this weekend...1000M swim, 30KM bike, 10K run.
Those 6.2 miles are yours if you need them. Why donate my miles to VU soccer? Valpo soccer gave me the opportunity to play Division I soccer and create memories/friendships that will last forever. I had a session with a client this afternoon who is a high school senior and about to embark on the next 4 years of college athletics. I told him how jealous I was of him, and that I would trade places with him in a heartbeat. Make sure your seniors tell the freshmen to cherish it.
Best of luck,
Nate Balfanz
VU Men's Soccer '06
Another great email and fantastic donation from one of our esteemed alums! Thanks Nate!
It never ceases to amaze me. There is something special about the four years one spends in college as part of a team. The soccer is important to us, to be certain, but really what counts are the people involved. Those are the emotions and the memories that fuel a lifetime. These are important times for our current roster, as well as our past team members (and future). This small campaign can play a critical role in enhancing that experience. Every step I labor to make towards the 1000 - and every nickel, dime or dollar that it represents - can make a big difference. So bring on July!
Talk to you soon,
Mike
My running has settled into a pretty good rhythm. There are the logistical issues, mostly trying to squeeze in a run on vacation days and while spending time with my visiting family from California. There are also the health issues, namely nursing a sore calf back to recovery. I've been successful to keep on running without too great a strain on body or relationships.
In all, though, June was a pretty good start for me and for the Extra Mile.
One of my favorite authors is Chaim Potok, a man that really paints pictures with his words, and Potok opened his great novel In the Beginning with a simple statement. "All beginnings are hard." How true that often is. Moving our goals and our dreams from the realm of fantasy into reality takes some doing. But as another wise man also said, "once you've got it started, the end is inevitable" That was Joey "the Lips" Fagan - the trumpet playing philosopher from the classic movie The Commitments (1991). Like it or not, the Extra Mile is up and running, and we are definitely heading somewhere. I can't wait to see where!
We have received an impressive amount of pledged money (and some actual money), and more will undoubtedly come our way. We've also connected and reconnected with many friends of the program. In short, this has been a good thing for us, and I am very excited.
June ended with a mileage count of 178.2 in 29 days (which roughly translates to 6.14 miles per day). I'm told a few pounds have also been shed, which is a bonus. I am definitely running easier now than I was at the start, and probably further and faster than before. I'm still not clocking my pace on purpose - this is my form of Zen running. I spend the time enjoying the outdoors, listening to good music or books or lectures on my iPod, and thinking a lot about the upcoming season.
I also had another great substitute runner fill in for me last week while I enjoyed a day at the beach in Michigan with my family. On June 25, I received this email:
Good evening, Coach Avery:
So I've got the San Diego International Triathlon coming up this weekend...1000M swim, 30KM bike, 10K run.
Those 6.2 miles are yours if you need them. Why donate my miles to VU soccer? Valpo soccer gave me the opportunity to play Division I soccer and create memories/friendships that will last forever. I had a session with a client this afternoon who is a high school senior and about to embark on the next 4 years of college athletics. I told him how jealous I was of him, and that I would trade places with him in a heartbeat. Make sure your seniors tell the freshmen to cherish it.
Best of luck,
Nate Balfanz
VU Men's Soccer '06
Another great email and fantastic donation from one of our esteemed alums! Thanks Nate!
It never ceases to amaze me. There is something special about the four years one spends in college as part of a team. The soccer is important to us, to be certain, but really what counts are the people involved. Those are the emotions and the memories that fuel a lifetime. These are important times for our current roster, as well as our past team members (and future). This small campaign can play a critical role in enhancing that experience. Every step I labor to make towards the 1000 - and every nickel, dime or dollar that it represents - can make a big difference. So bring on July!
Talk to you soon,
Mike
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