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Volume 9

Issue 6

September 4, 2009

Online: http://isite.lps.org/bkabour/lecc.html

Lincoln East Cross Country Newsletter

East High Coaching Staff:

• Kirk Skiles, Head Coach

• Brian Kabourek,

Asst. Coach • Kevin Hubbell,

Asst. Coach • Andrea Kabourek,

Asst. Coach PRACTICE SCHEDULE

Monday, September 7th Practice at 9:00 a.m.

Tuesday, September 8th Practice at 3:40 p.m.

Wed, September 9th Practice at 3:30 p.m.

Thursday, September 10th Practice at 3:30 p.m. PASTA FEED at Kate Janike’s home 327 Park Vista Street Directions on back

Friday, September 11th MILLARD SOUTH INVITE

Saturday, September 12th Practice at 8:00 a.m. at The Zoo

“The Pursuit of Excellence with Honor”

I was nine years old when the first Rocky movie came out, and I remember having to ask my sitter what happened. It wasn’t until a year later that I saw the movie, and I was hooked. Rocky Balboa, the ultimate underdog, given the shot of a lifetime. It could not make for better drama.

In 1979 I got to see Rocky II in the theatre and I remember every punch as Rocky won his battle and hoisted the championship belt and screamed, “Yo Adrian, we did it!”

As a kid, I just loved Rocky III. What wasn’t to love, Mr. T, the song “Eye of the Tiger”, and another Rocky victory in the end.

Rocky IV came out in December and it was my senior year of high school. My cousin and I drove up to the big city of Lincoln and pulled the movie double-header during the holiday break. I can’t remember the first movie we saw, the the night cap was Rocky IV. USA vs. USSR. Rocky pitted against the ultimate challenge. Again he finds a way and wins.

Rocky V was for the most part a theatrical flop, but I still remember heading out to the theatres because I cared about the character. His new challenge, finding peace with himself in his retirement and coping with losing all of his money and going back to where it all began.

And finally, the last chapter in the Rocky saga, self titled, Rocky Balboa. We find Rocky has lost his wife to cancer, and his relationship with his son is strained. Rocky is trying to bring meaning back to his life and reconnect with his son.

The most poignant line in the movie comes when his son confronts Rocky and divulges his displeasure in having to live in Rocky’s shadow, blaming Rocky for his problems. Rocky tells his son:

“Let me tell you something you already

In the Chute . . . with Coach Kabourek

know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It is a very mean and nasty place and I don’t care how tough you are, it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard you hit; it’s about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward. It’s how much you can take, and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done. Now, if you know what you’re worth, then go out and get what you’re worth. But you gotta be willing to take the hits, and not point fingers and blame other people. Cowards do that and that ain’t you. You’re better than that!”

Yeh, I know, these movies are not masterpieces by any means, but I think there is a message there. As runners you all need to keep moving forward. We all have to deal with discomfort, disappointment, and fear. But whatever is thrown at you, you must compete, you must keep moving forward.

I love looking for hidden messages in movies and shows. And I remember Sly Stallone once saying this movie sort of was a reflection of his life, and the ups and downs it had taken.

Everyone gets hit with something during their lives, and it is important that you work hard to get up. I don’t believe successful people just luck into things. Successful people prepare for success and expect success; they don’t let things set them back, they simply battle through.

Rocky was right, ‘the world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows.’ What are you going to do to prepare yourself to be the best you can be? When you do get hit, will you have what it takes to get back up? With the right mindset, we can all get back up, and we can all keep moving forward.

“The winner ain’t the one with the fastest car it’s the one who refuses to lose.” – Dale Earnhardt

Lincoln East Cross Country Newsletter

“My great concern is not whether you have failed, but whether you are content with your failure.” - Abraham Lincoln

Monday, September 7th PRACTICE TIME AT 3:30 P.M. Tuesday, September 8th PRACTICE AT 3:40 P.M. Wednesday, September 9th PRACTICE A 3:30 P.M. Thursday, September 10th PRACTICE AT 3:30 P.M. Pasta Feed after practice at Kate Janike’s home (address: 327 Park Vista Street). Driving Directions: • Head west on A street to 56th street • Turn right on 56th and head north • Take a right on L Street and head east • You’ll go past Eastridge School and

the street turns into Park Vista Street Friday, September 11th MILLARD SOUTH INVITATIONAL Dismissal Time Students dismissed at 1:10 p.m. Bus leaves at 1:30 p.m. Race Times Girls JV 4:00 p.m. Boys JV 4:30 p.m. Girls Varsity 5:00 p.m. Boys Varsity 5:30 p.m. Chute Assignments from Left to Right Lincoln East – Box 5 Awards JV Boys & Girls Top 15 Medals Varsity Boys & Girls Top 15 Medals Varsity Team Plaque to Winner

Varsity Team Medals to Winners Teams Competing Bellevue East Bellevue West Lincoln East Lincoln Southeast Creighton Prep Omaha Marian Grand Island Omaha North Millard North Millard South Millard West Papillion LaVista Lawrence Free State Omaha Westside

Practice Schedule Notes

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Morgan Lunders Junior

Scouting Report The girls field has seven of the top ten teams in the state, and then you can throw in Lincoln Southeast and perennial Kansas cross country power Lawrence Free State you have one of the most talented fields of the year other than the state meet. The boys field has five of the top ten teams, and also has Southeast and Lawrence Free State to compete with as well. It will be important for everyone, especially new runners to get out and see the course when we arrive. You may want to pack some bug spray, as in the past we’ve had problems in the park with bug bites. Just as a precaution. Driving Directions to Walnut Grove 155th & Q Street Exit I80 to the right at the Millard

Exit. Turn left and go across the bridge and follow the highway to “Q” Street. The light will be at the bottom of a hill. Make a fishhook turn to the left. Follow “Q” Street west past Millard South High School which is on the left – Walnut Grove Park will be on the right shortly after the high school.

An alternate route would be to drive

through Gretna. Saturday, September 12th PRACTICE AT 8:00 A.M. AT THE LINCOLN CHILDREN’S ZOO There is some construction going on around that area, so be sure to give yourself a little extra time leaving the house that morning. This is a great run. This is one of the flattest routes we have all year, and it is a very unique route. Those of you that are new to the team will love this run.

Justin Kohl Sophomore