This morning I went to the high school track closest to where I live to put in some speed work as I train for my first marathon. Arriving very early, I found that the track was in complete lock down. Every gate closed, every opening shut, chained and padlocked. Not one soul running. It was frustrating and more so, it was very confusing… I began to ask myself questions like, “Why aren’t any of the school’s athletes out there? Why aren’t other area runners training? What is going on?” So I drove a few more miles down the road to check the next high school. The track was wide open, and sure enough it was packed. There were 50-100 student athletes getting in their before-school training. Area runners were doing speed work. The track was even humming along with a few house moms getting in some circuit training.

So who sets the tone of desire and drive for the organization? Is it the security guard who unlocks the gates? Is it head of the athletic department? Is it the conditioning coach? Or is it the athlete who gets up early to train? You know the answer… each of them do, but the driven athlete will always find a way to train, just like the driven leader will overcome obstacles to achieve his goals.

* It shouldn’t surprise you to know that the high school with the closed track only has a few state titles in it’s history. Conversely, the high school with the open track has many and is considered by some to be the premier academic AND athletic school in the entire state.