After eight years, it's time for a change. Putting together the RunIndiana.com website and monitoring the message board have been fun. But I've decided to call it quits. I simply want to get back to my own training and running, go to races as a participant only, not as a reporter, and go to cross country meets only as a spectator to cheer for the kids I know.
Everything is fine on this end - no personal issues, no mid-life (or old age) crisis, and no hard feelings with anyone, not even the antagonists on the message board. You guys are great. I'm just tired, I guess.
You'll see me at as many races as before. As many of you know, that's what I think this sport is about. But I'll be there next time just for the fun of running and the challenge of racing.
Stepping back from the cross country scene will be tough but there is probably no easy time. Having watched so many great kids grow up, become good runners, achieve their goals, and move on to college and life will be memories I'll treasure forever. With some of these kids now coaching, it brings to a close a big part of what I tried to do and the fun I had doing it.
The increasing cost of the message board was only a minor factor. We had options to keep it going. But the increase came at the right time to make me think about the whole site and how much time I was putting into it. I didn't want to let the website flounder, nor do I want to maintain the level of commitment it takes. I'll leave that to someone else. No doubt others will keep up their great sites and we'll see new ones come online.
Couple my personal desire to step aside with that fact that Team Bird is now folding too --- it seems like the right time to quit.
To those of you who worked closely with me on the website, I thank you immensely. And to those cross country coaches, parents, and runners who I got to know over the years, who talked with me, who confided in me, and who shared your love of the sport with me, I certainly appreciate it. Good luck next season and the seasons after that.
But most of all, thank all of you who came to RunIndiana.com. You made it fun. You made it challenging. You made it worthwhile. Thank you very much.
Jed Pearson