~:[Day 335]:~ To Be Kept Warm

~:[Day 335]:~ To Be Kept Warm

It's my final post in November as I move into the final month of the 365+1 album. I was able to grab a bowl of ramen for lunch with three different types of work. It was quite delicious and it definitely was able to counter the cold weather and help me deal with this slightly sore throat that I have been facing. Regardless, the day was warm and toasty for the most part. I enjoyed very good food throughout the day (maybe too much) and just was able to relax and begin catching up on the editing I have neglected. I reached the 8-10 minute range of the video last night and just have to clean it up today and should be on pace to finish my first 1/3 to 1/2 of the cross country video by tomorrow night. It's strange how a conference for three days could feel so short, but I guess I am becoming a true veteran of this and time will begin to fly. Tomorrow we get to go to the place where the UN Charter was signed so I feel as if another piece of my Model UN puzzle will be added. Hot? Not quite, but I feel nice and warm today and I think that's good enough for me :)

~:[Day 334]:~ What a Climb!

~:[Day 334]:~ What a Climb!

After an early wakeup, I headed to the airport and met up with our team. The morning went pretty smoothly and we were able to get out on time and into the city without much of a hitch. Right away, we left our luggage and stuffed into the F-line and with a group this size, the conductor was pretty upset and just ended up telling everyone to board. We took a stop at pier 39 to grab some food (red chowder bowl, raw oysters) and headed through Fisherman's Wharf and up to Ghirardelli Square. We then did our hill like to the top of Lombard Street, down Lombard Street, back up Lombard Street and then down Lombard Street. Hill repeats anyone? We headed back and the students had a great time in committee, with a few fatigued from the day. I also was able to see Kent Chen who joined us for dinner. I love the food court at this place! I had pad thai, green curry, and sweet basil chicken and picked up some spicy poke for my midnight snack. Oh what a joy! 

~:[Day 333]:~ A Skip in My Step

~:[Day 333]:~ A Skip in My Step

Today's photo is actually a poem. While we had the longest high school basketball game in the world (over two hours with no overtime where we shot 55 free throws), the majority of my day was amazing and I just had a skip in my step throughout the day. It made me think, just why I should be happy every day, as I am blessed with so many things. I must remind myself on bad days, that I am lucky to have what I have, which is why I walk with this skip in my step.

POEM: Just a Smile (At Last)

to that person that can always make your day

~:[Day 332]:~ Dinner for Two - Cooking Classes

~:[Day 332]:~ Dinner for Two - Cooking Classes

Chicken Marsala was on the menu for tonight's cooking class. Jamie was a great student and was definitely a ringer in the kitchen. Just look at the presentation she piece together (lemon's perfect placed and chives perfectly cut). Regardless, it was a great time and the food turned out well :D the cheese together AND ALONE was also spectacular. The day was even better as we played the night away with Dance Central 3 at Chanson's with the crew, as Eric came to visit from the islands! Definitely just one of those nights where you appreciate all the great things in life!

POEM: Opportunity Lost (At Last)

sometimes people just don't realize how special you are and sell themselves short of what they really deserve.

~:[Day 331]:~ It's the "O" ... Ohana

~:[Day 331]:~ It's the "O" ... Ohana

 Coming back to school was a difficult chore, but this group makes it a lot easier to do so. It was just a normal practice, but when bringing it in, our team showed it's united and linked together. It's weird as we're in a transition phase right now with the cross country season wrapping up, a group taking their mandatory break, and a group just starting up for track. It's great to have a small sized group, as it allows you an ability to give more attention to each athlete. The day itself was one of catching up and trying to stay on top of everything. I had some good news throughout the day and it had it's rough patches, but in the end, the day just worked out fine. Productive and I'm alive. Who could ask for anything more?

~:[Day 330]:~ Elmer's Computer

~:[Day 330]:~ Elmer's Computer

I was GLUED to my computer all weekend, as I had to finish my banquet prep. Yes, I have begun my banquet prep, which included finishing our program, starting my video editing, and printing lots and lots of paper. My few breaks consisted of some time at the park, wrapping up our field marshalls for the Thanksgiving tournament along with a short stop at a potluck and of course a little longer time set aside for my pseudo-son's birthday. Through all the work though, it made me realize how much this all means to me. As much work as it is, why else would I be willing to spend so much time to put this all together. I guess this weekend is a good one to be thankful that I landed where I did. While time is a premium, I've made the most of it and have yet to feel that I have wasted a moment. That's what is telling me, be thankful, because you found something that you love to do. Hope you all had a great weekend!

POEM: Time (At Last)

as time slowly ticks away, you find a way to make it stand still

~:[Day 329]:~ Fun and Games

~:[Day 329]:~ Fun and Games

While I had another long day of working on banquet prep, today also was about fun and games. Today was my pseudo-son's birthday. He was my cross country "son" when he was in high school and he has grown up as such still until this days. I almost cut him when he was a freshman, but we dealt with him and he became one of the fastest in school history. After dinner at Red Robin, we headed to Dave & Busters and enjoyed some fun and games, ultimately coming out with a smurf, a dog, and a shot glass as prizes. Not too shabby for a day's work. My favorite? Definitely the humungo connect 4! In any case, Happy Birthday Thien-Nam!

~:[Day 328]:~ Ongoing Feast

~:[Day 328]:~ Ongoing Feast

The feast continued as Rammmmmdy's cousin Eric came to town. With his talents, he fried up a bunch of food. It was great to see him again. It's amazing how welcoming and hospitable he is even when it's not his home. In their self-made board game, Eric lost to Rammmmmddy which is why I will later post his sad face photo. Most of the day was spent editing and working on our cross country banquet. While it is still two weeks away, the time will quickly disappear, as I will be traveling the next two weekends. It feels like once I pack one bag, I must back another. Oh well. We also started the turkey tournament. While I do not have to do much, the extra worry adds to the mounds of work I have left to do. Here goes nothing. Let's see if we can get this all done!

~:[Day 327]:~ Giving Thanks

~:[Day 327]:~ Giving Thanks

While there are so many great people around me, I could not imagine my life without the people I spent tonight with (and a few others who couldn't make it tonight). I have been blessed with a close family who have grown up together and spent so much time bonding. While I got picked on growing up, I also was protected. Every step I take, I know I can count on them for support and we always find a way to have a great laugh. In the most difficult of times, I can always turn to see that they are there, which makes it even more of a point for me to be there for them. As we have grown, it's great to see that we have not grown apart and our history makes us an even stronger unit. Thank you so much for all that you do and to all those around, Happy Thanksgiving! Each of you have done something that I am thankful for and I am glad and blessed to have known each and everyone of you.

PHOTO NOTES - After running turkey trot this morning, I went shopping and then made my famous chicken saltado that I normally make 2-3 times a year. I tried a new sauce and it didn't turn out too shabby! I'm probably going to make it again tomorrow for a potluck since I have enough sauce :D

POEM: Giving Thanks (At Last)

We would be nowhere without the support of those around us! THANK YOU!

~:[Day 326]:~ On Top of the World

~:[Day 326]:~ On Top of the World

Today was my last day in Vegas, as I enjoyed my last opportunity to see the view I awoke to each and every morning this week. As I said farewell, I may have burned a slight hole in my pocket, but it was worth every ounce of it. I took in a great opportunity to explore and enjoy a great vacation, which was atypical of my normal Vegas trips, but was somewhat nice. The drive home was great and I had the opportunity to enjoy a great dinner with my family on my first Thanksgiving dinner. In preparation for the Thanksgiving holiday, I want to say, thank you to everyone for all that you have done. The only reason I feel so refreshed and free and the only reason I am where I am today, is because of what you all have done for me. I hope that I can do the same for you all!

~:[Day 325]:~ Cry Me a River

~:[Day 325]:~ Cry Me a River

Today was wander and play day in our hotel, as we walked around the hotel and looked around and hit up the tables. I actually had a good run on the roulette table and had a great run in mini baccarat before taking a nasty turn for the worst. In the end, all the luck I had, slipped away as I cried my river. Without success, my dad and I ended up watching Lincoln at the Palms, which I enjoyed before eating a good Italian dinner at Dal Toro. I found my way to a great machine that was paying out pretty well for most of the night and let me play for almost an hour on a small amount of money. Unheard of?? My day was summed up by this ... I actually bet on the Lakers, they had a spread of -5.5, they won by 5 and that was the game I needed to win my parlay. I guess someone is reminding me that gambling is bad. Please learn a lesson from me ... DO NOT GAMBLE :) ... on another note, I am having a great time with my dad :D, that's all that really matters,

~:[Day 324]:~ Tranquility ... A True Vacation

~:[Day 324]:~ Tranquility ... A True Vacation

I woke up this morning before my alarm, allowing the natural light to awaken me, when I was ready and not a second before. After a relaxing morning and a little time on the floor, I traveled with my dad to TPC Las Vegas. The TPC (The Players Club) courses tend to be very nice courses and this was great as expected! With a nice desert and mountain landscape, each hole had its own flavor included a section of holes that had some nice canyon-type ravines. I opened with a great start over the first three holes, however, ended the front night in a dismal state. However, I brought it back on the back night, despite a few bad holes and closed out with a 40, which was decent considered we rushed the last few holes. I ended up going with my dad to Monta Ramen afterwards to warm us up after the long day. While we had a relaxing night in, as we were exhausted, I still sit here, in a state of tranquility, enjoying every moment and chance I have to spend with my father on this true vacation! Maybe I can go test my luck now! On a side note, Clippers won! :D

~:[Day 323]:~ No Greater Heights

~:[Day 323]:~ No Greater Heights

High above the strip on the 44th floor, I get to look out and see the amazingness that the strip has to offer. I watched the Treasure Island show from my window when I got in as I was trying desperately to book tickets for New Mexico, which seemed to go through (hopefully). I hate it when airlines go into oversold situations and I do hope that this is not one of those situations. I digress. Going back to Vegas, it was great driving out with my dad, who ended up driving the entire way. I sadly, fell asleep on him a few times but did mumble back as he talked, trying my hardest to stay awake. However, I am glad I got my rest since we ended up hitting the floor tonight. My dad won, I did not. He always wins :) ... in any case, we'll be sleeping soon since we have a tee time tomorrow at TPC Las Vegas, yahoo! This morning was filled with races, as some of my athletes competed in the regional junior olympic races. The races were packed with athletes and they were as fast as they have ever been. I ended up having ten athletes qualify for New Mexico and I think nine are going! Well, as I sit here and peer out into the distance, I could not imagine a much better way to spend today than having a great bunch of athletes this morning and some bonding with my dad tonight! Good night Vegas, for now!

~:[Day 322]:~ Storybook Days

~:[Day 322]:~ Storybook Days

Some days just end up being storybook days. Today was a great day all around. While I may have exaggerated the storybook to get my picture included in my entry, I did have an exceptional day. The MUN conference today went well, as I had good food, met up with a few alumni, had my Jamba Juice, saw pretty good debate by our students, and got to be in MUN mode today. While the traffic almost hindered my wonderful day, I ended the day with Earl of Sandwiches and also a visit to DCA and Disneyland, where the lines were much shorter than normal, as I got on a bunch of rides despite the short amount of time! While I was exhausted, it was a great time and time well spent. Yes, almost like a storybook :)

~:[Day 321]:~ The Return

 

 ~:[Day 321]:~ The Return

Taking a few days off, definitely takes its toll. I was running around trying to stay on top of everything and it felt as if this day was non-stop. However, after collecting all of the checks, squaring away the banquet, ensuring the Mira Costa grid was correct, running practice, and also going to the staff/coaches/alumni games, I've found some time to relax. It was great playing basketball again in the coaches versus JV game. We ended up pulling out a victory after a slow start. I played good defense, but I missed a number of layups, which could have put me at about 12 points and a good number of steals and boards. In any case, I missed an open layout, missed an outlet pass for an easy layup, and miss another layup, along with a few put backs. What a bad offensive day :P ... in the end, we had our alumni vs varsity game. The score was close, but these alumni definitely came ready to play! Welcome back to Cerritos gentlemen!

~:[Day 320]:~ Home Sweet Home :)

~:[Day 320]:~ Home Sweet Home :)

I stayed in the wonderful hotel room above in a cool, hip hotel that I wish I was able to stay longer at. With a great view, nicely decorated interior, it definitely was a great place to be! However, as with most things, they must go on and so did my schedule. I headed to the airport early and had quite the uneventful trip home after the craziness the day before. I made it back in time for practice. We had a great workout and had a team boba stop. While I have a lot of work to catch up on, it's been nice to just relax and enjoy the pleasures of home. Soon enough, I'll escape to the comforts of my bed and find the last day before Thanksgiving break and my next trip - Vegas! Here's my travel schedule in case you are in the area and maybe we can cross paths! I have more on my plate than what's listed below coming, but as for now, that's where I'll be!

11/18-21 - Vegas

11/29-12/1 - San Francisco

12/6-9 - Albuquerque

12/26/-29 - San Diego

1/10-12 - New York

2/10-17 - DC

3/2-9 - New York

~:[Day 319]:~ A Wild Ride in the ATL

~:[Day 319]:~ A Wild Ride in the ATL

Today was simply crazy. I have never had so many things happen in one day, but in the end, it worked out. After an overtime game at UCLA, I got home late and got everything together. Unfortunately, it took until 1:45am, thus I only got an hour or so of sleep before showering and heading to the airport. Thinking I had enough time, at 4:30am, all but one lane of the 105 was closed at a point due to an accident. My quick trip to the airport became a need to push to get to the airport on time. Even worse, my jalapenos on my pizza kept consistent with my ring of fire diet, and I had to answer the call of the duece, the traffic would be a problem. No need to worry, as I had only a carry on, right? WRONG! Last night, the power went out at the airport and all the networks were down, meaning long lines, and no ability to check in. Needing to answer nature and check in to make my flight, which was slowly seeming impossible, after calling and going online, the networks went up, I got through security, took care of nature, and got my seat. The new problem? As I was getting on, the lady in front of me was not considerate of others. She rudely asked the lady in our row to move and on the way, she hit her headphones and bent her headphone cable. Sitting in the middle, the lady who had her headphone cable bent, yelled at the lady who bent it, as they argued and nearly fought on either side of me, drama! In any case, more problems ... how could it be??? The delayed flight made my chance of catching the new flight. My flight was scheduled to leave at 10:26am and we arrived at about 10:16am. Sprinting to the gate, I made it and had nice people to sit by this time. ATL's airport is huge. I knew this, but again, walked it and fell behind. I found out earlier that I was to get to the site of the concert by 4, however, it took awhile to get to the rental car area, get the car, and drive to the site. Finally I arrived, but not before the final snafu, I dropped my SLR and now the flash does not work :( ... however, what made it all better??? The concert! All those troubles went away, as I went to Vinyl, hung out at sound check, went to the green room and just hung out with everyone, and also hung out with the opening act, Kavi Vu. I got a picture with David, but not one with Clara because she was sick, I didn't want to bother her. The concert, while smaller than LA, was good, and it was nice meeting up with alumni Jeffrey Zhu who goes to Emory and met up with me. We hit up Vortex, where I had an amazing burger with pepperjack cheese, pepperberry rub and pineapple salsa - the Tasmanian Devil Burger! To end the night, I retreated to my room to watch the Clippers vs Heat game in a beautiful hotel that I am sad I only have one day to spend in, for a great night sleep! Hopefully tomorrow is much less eventful, as I would like a relaxing trip back.

~:[Day 318]:~ Close But No Cigar

~:[Day 318]:~ Close But No Cigar

The day was madness as it was a combination of doing things with getting more things done. I had so much to do on the day back after our break that it felt like I didn't even have a chance to breathe. In the end, I got it all done and was able to sleep since my brother drove to the game. Thanks to Mr. Nish, I was able to get good seats to the UCLA versus UCI game. I expected it to be a blowout with UCLA being ranked #13 and all but UCI out hustled, out rebounded, out shot, and simply wanted to win the game more. With two seconds left in the game, however, UCI missed two free throws and fell just short in overtime. It was an amazing game, but I do wish that UCI had won. In any case, it looks like a bright future for UCI. Now, it's time to hit the sack. A long day tomorrow!!!

~:[Day 317]:~ A Day of Rest

~:[Day 317]:~ A Day of Rest

Monday felt like the longest day ever, but it worked out, as I got a lot of work accomplished. From cleaning to laundry to the program, my day was filled with productivity and relaxation. I should have done few more important things, such as pack, but in the end, I think it was quite the day, especially because I stayed at my eight pound target! It was true later in the day as well and I celebrated with a bottle of Pepsi. Counterproductive? Well I hope to continue this until I shave off four more pounds and then, it will be amazing :) Haha ... my last post in this regard is this one because of my ring of fire diet :D

~:[Day 316]:~ The Competition is Ending???

~:[Day 316]:~ The Competition is Ending???

This was my last meal before my final weigh in to see if our weight competition was ending. A few of us cross country coaches and one alumni came together and set a weight loss goal and the first to reach it would get food! Of course, for us, the cost would be minimal if we lost, but the progress we made was definitely a plus. Once you reach your goal, you have to keep it off for three days and Monday is my last weight in. My last meal before this was a sashimi salad, since I fell asleep afterwards and did not eat dinner - that may have helped me. While the competition is over, I'm going to shoot for 3-5 more pounds THROUGH the holidays, which will be tough but not impossible! This weekend also marked the end of our CIF cross country season despite the fact that our team shaved off the time that they did. We made a lot of progress this season and hope we can continue that progress going forward. We also had a few athletes compete in junior olympics and it'll be exciting to watch a few more weeks of competition going forward! Yahoo!

~:[Day 315]:~ Our Ohana

~:[Day 315]:~ Our Ohana

This team has been the core of my existence. I have grown even more in love with this sport and have met so many great young people along the way. Our team performed exceptionally and while moving to Division II was a tough last minute change, our athletes stepped up and improve greatly from the Mt. SAC invitational with the boys improving by just under three minutes and the girls improving by about five minutes. Afterwards we had one of our largest post-race meals together and it was a great way for us to end the season as our ohana. We also brought back our old Ohana shirts, which is a reminder of why we must stay united and always live each day to the fullest ~ RNR. In a late night last minute decision, I hit up Disneyland with Jamie and grabbed some and also a quick late night delicious meal. It was wonderful catching up and truly topped off a wonderful day!

~:[Day 314]:~ Stepping Forward

~:[Day 314]:~ Stepping Forward

Today was our last CIF practice before the prelims and we had a good meeting and discussion with both teams before sending them off into the night. It sounds like most of them will be turning in early, as our bus will leave at 5:45am. For me, however, it was off the Shakey's for Makoa's fundraiser for his school. However, when we got there, it was massively packed and an impossible situation so we ended up at an asian buffet! While the food is average, it was a good place to eat and get a sampling of a variety of seafood. Since I was on my weight challenge, my second serving was very small, as you can see in the picture. All in all, the day went well and I can't wait for tomorrow.

~:[Day 313]:~ The Core

~:[Day 313]:~ The Core

Tonight we had our CIF dinner and enjoyed the night as usual as we indulged in the delicious food at Macaroni Grill. The athletes all dressed up and looked wonderful. This season has gone by quick, yet I have thoroughly enjoyed it. For the past few years, I have been lucky enough to have this core of support (plus Ali, not pictured since she was beasting it up at the hockey rink). Each of us have a different role in the program and it has been great to have each of them around to make sure that the program that we run is successful and that the team enjoys the experiences, yet learns in the process. While there are so many things to do and so much time to put in, spending time with this group of coaches (including Ali too) have made it all worthwhile. Thank you!

~:[Day 312]:~ Investing, not Wasting

~:[Day 312]:~ Investing, not Wasting

It's days like these that make you understand that while some may say that you are wasting your time and money and should focus on other things, you truly are investing your time and money in something much more valuable. I've long thought how much easier life could be, but in the same thought, I thought of how much less fulfillment in life I would have. To be able to coach such fine young athletes, to watch them grow and mature, to see them when they leave school and mature into adults, makes all that you put into it worthwhile. The letters I received yesterday, were the icing on the cake. I love CIF week and all these wonderful messages truly topped it off. While very few, if any, of them will read this, I have been so blessed to have coaches such a fun and wonderful group this season and am also am blessed to have coached hundreds of more athletes over the nearly decade and a half of coaching I have done! You truly have been worth every penny and every second that I have invested.

POEM: Challenge (At Last)

Sometimes the most impossible of situations provides us with unforseen opportunities.

POEM: Music (At Last)

For those who are the music that create harmony in your life.

~:[Day 311]:~ Suffrage

~:[Day 311]:~ Suffrage

Today was the day that we got to cast our ballots for those who we backed. No matter who you backed, at this point it is time to see if this country can work together. Another four years under any leader is pointless if the executive, judicial and legislative branch can't work together. If we cannot accomplish what we need to, then maybe it's time to rethink this whole political process. It was actually kind of nice being able to use the election to incorporate into our greeks and romans/democracy unit as we selected a president by random selection, by popular vote, and then we simulated the race based on the current polls. Our count had it about 62 million and change for Obama and 60 million and change for Romney and those polls are closing in on those numbers. However, it looks like a lot more people may have voted than in 2008. After all this, however, the race I've paid the most attention to was prop 30, as our district and union have been looking at this prop to make sure we didn't have any more cuts that we couldn't afford. As of tonight, it's up about 300,000 votes with 40% left to count. Let's hope the evening is nice to us. As a side note, I got re-inspired to write poetry and have begun creating some works that I will eventually be piecing together for my trip to Atlanta next week. We'll see how it all goes, but it appears that all is well with that and I will have it all ready! What an exhausting day! Good night!

POEM: Sailing (At Last)

Don't be afraid to discover what the world has waiting for you.

POEM: Timing (At Last)

Sometimes it's not about the people but the time that stands in the way.

~:[Day 310]:~ It's The Season

~:[Day 310]:~ It's The Season

No, not the holiday season, basketball season. Tonight, I was unable to watch the second half of the game and no it was not because they were playing horribly (which they were), but it was because I couldn't keep my eyes open. I'm not sure what got me so tired so early, but regardless, I woke up on the floor with a slight hint of getting a cold. Luckily I woke up in time to put on my sweats that have kept me from that road down pneumonia alley. The Clippers look like they will have a very solid team but do need to reduce their turnovers and do a better job on the perimeter. It will be great to have Billups and Hill back, however, they just need to play with who they have. We have the Spurs on Wednesday, so we'll see if we can bounce back against an undefeated team.

~:[Day 309]:~ Falling into Winter

~:[Day 309]:~ Falling into Winter

Yes, it is still November and yet, I cannot tell what season it is, as the weather has been nuts. The superstorm Sandy caused havoc on the east coast and on a daily basis, I am not sure what to expect from the weather. Yet, these confetti flakes are a sign that winter is on the verge. A time of thanksgiving cheer, time to spend with the family over the winter, and just great memories. In all the craziness of the world, to pause and think about it for a second, to be taken away in the happiest place on Earth, was quite reviving. There is hope on the horizon and I look forward to days where these storms are gone and life, itself, will flourish.

~:[Day 308]:~ The Spice of Life, Again!

~:[Day 308]:~ The Spice of Life, Again!

I have found that spicy food has been a part of my diet this week. Starting with roasted hot peppers to different types of salsas, Thai food and now the Peruvian aji spread across my food. It was quite the delicious meal and they were able to serve our entire group pretty quickly, except for one meal which they messed up on. Regardless, we made it in and out of these and onto our night with our CIF team in our annual CIF event. Each year, we do something different and this was part of our adventure. While the lines at SpeedZone were incredibly long, I think it was nice just to get out and enjoy time together. Earlier in the day, we had our practice and in between, the coaches snuck in a trip to Disneyland to catch all the festivities. I was able to catch the tail end of Ghoul Galaxy and wrapped up the day on Grizzly River Rapid Run and did not get soaked for the first time in awhile, of course, on a hot day though.

~:[Day 307]:~ On a Quest

~:[Day 307]:~ On a Quest

Today was our first day with our CIF group. It was kind of nice because we had a good number of young athletes join us for a few last runs before they ended their season. We held our annual team CIF photoshoot before running over to Quest for a team run. It was a good time and I discovered that their chicken is quite good! You can taste the tea in their milk tea, which is a turnoff for some, but I actually like it. Above are my five amazing captains who guided our ship throughout this season! In any case, I ended the night watching the Clippers take down the Lakers. While it's still early in the season and this is just another game, it is great to start off 2-0 when we haven't played our best basketball yet. I attribute our wins to our much improved bench thanks to Chris Paul's off-season recruiting work. It should make for a good hallway series. BTW, there is no more vacancy in Clippers nations for wishy washy fans so if you join us, its gotta be 100% :)

~:[Day 306]:~ These Boys

~:[Day 306]:~ These Boys

I had another day dedicated to cross country, as I spent the morning print, organizing, and loading before the Suburban League Finals. With each team with a chance to win the league title, it made the day even more nerve-wracking. Of course, as a coach, there isn't much more you can do at this point. You just have to hope that all you've done is good enough. Our girls junior varsity team ran a smart race and after being down early, moved their way up in the last mile. My first girl made up a good distance in the final 1000m and claimed the individual crown. On the boys side, I also was fortunate to have the individual leader, however, our boys came ready to run and were able to take eight of the top nine spots including one of my freshmen stepping up to take third overall. The girls were in a three-way tie for first and I knew it would be quite the battle. While we didn't have "that" race that we hoped for, the girls fought hard and still shaved off minutes on their time. My tenth fastest girl improved over six minutes from her first cluster meet at this park just about a month ago! Finally it was the boys race. Norwalk has been dominate the last two decades and in the last two clusters as well. They had an injury among one of their top athletes, but our victory today came because our boys kept their focus and pulled out their best race of the season, running our fastest time on the course in at least the last decade by over five minutes! They shaved off fifty seconds on average each over the course of the last month. We ended with a team meal at Sweetee Thai and how can you beat that day? Twenty three athletes in the top ten in four races (23/40) and three league titles. While four would have been amazing, I am more amazed at how much each individual sacrificed to leave their imprint on this season.