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
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