You guys should have been lucky enough to have had Ghost of Igloi as a coach like I did. Some quick stories: I'm a 16 year old senior in New Mexico.(1976) Ghost is coaching at a local junior college. He takes me under his wing, takes me to his team's workout and says to me, "These guys may be able to help you run faster." (Insert evil grin). Yeah, guys like Kenyans: Ben Mokua, Julius Ogaro, William Mutai, etc. and future collegiate All-Americans: Terry Johnson, Bob Jackson, etc. etc. These guys eat me for lunch. I come back for more. (I'm a real slow learner.) After high school Ghost recruits me to his school. First brutally hot August New Mexico workout, the Kenyans and "All-Americans" are burying this high school "super star". I start whining about my pain and suffering. Ghost replies."Mighty, go home and get a big pail of ice-cold water." "Yes, Coach," as I wait for great words of running wisdom. (Ghost's evil grin, again), "Then soak your head in the water for 5 minutes. All your pain will be gone!!"
Fast forward two years. I'm now running for Ghost in balmy Kansas, in January. Its the old up-the-hill, down-the-hill, now sprint till you puke, now to the golf course for green-to-green intervals, etc. etc. I start whining again, (Did I mention I'm a real slow learner?) Ghost replies (same evil grin)," See that cemetary over there? You will rest many years there, but for now RUN!" God, what a fantastic human being! No excuses. Just train and train and Win. Here I am now, over thirty years later and when the excuses not to train enter my race-fried, only-know-how-to-win brain, I get my own evil grin and think, "I'm not resting in that cemetary yet!" Thanks Coach Ghost. Reid, you are the best.