After passing the A Hill and running about 100 yards, I would have been able to look the other direction and see the Agoura High stadium and track below me. The track upon which I began my running career in February of 1988 was made of dirt. I don't mean cinders, I mean actual dirt - it was packed almost as hard as rock, and would turn to mud and develop a network of miniature streams and rivers on those rare occasions that it rained. Now, however, the school has a very nice all-weather track:
When I first stepped onto the dirt track that was in this exact spot, I didn't know anything (I was a freshman in high school after all, and more oblivious than most). I didn't know that I was joining a program that had gone to the very first California State Cross Country Championship just that previous fall, and returned with the male and female individual Division I state champions (Bryan Dameworth and Deena Drossin, now Deena Kastor). I didn't know that I would be coached by Bill Duley, who was ahead of his time in so many ways and whose influence on me would be readily apparent even 25 years later. I didn't know that I was getting to run one track season with Peter Oviatt, who went on to become a very successful coach in his own right. Most of all, I had absolutely no idea that track & cross country would get into my blood, and become a life-long passion that would lead me through competition, coaching, and now reporting.
I found out one thing quickly, though - the kids I was running with were fast, and they worked HARD.
<h1 style="text-align: center;"> Coaches:</h1> <h3 style="text-align: center;"> If you would like to participate in a #MyRunningRoots article featuring North Carolina coaches, email me.</h3> <h3 style="text-align: center;"> Coaches with out-of-state running roots would be especially welcome!</h3>