Flashback: IATCCC Hall of Fame Jan. 2010

This past January I had the honor of being inducted into the Indiana Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches Hall of Fame.

It was a lovely evening in Indianapolis with the people who made my running career possible: family, coaches, friends and supporters of all sorts.

Thanks to my last name, I was alphabetically the first inductee to speak. My speech was non-traditional and the crowd was silent as I approached the lectern. I felt butterflies in my stomach similar to those I used to get before high school track races. But unlike high school, I didn't down half a bottle of Tums and a mini Snickers bar to ward off the nerves.

Instead, I took a deep breath and blurted it out. It went over ok, I think. At the intermission a few ladies in the restroom told me they enjoyed my speech. It sure was different (and shorter) than the rest of the speeches.

Here's the text, along with a few photos from the evening:

"I wrote a speech for tonight, but it was kind of boring and it kept making me cry when I read it, so instead I put together a little poem, so here it goes...

People tell me I am crazy for running every day

I tell them, YES, I know, but I didn't start out this way.

First, I loved basketball, then later soccer I would play

Until I ran high school track, then I knew this sport would stay.

West Lafayette was a great place to go to school,

Teachers, coaches, teammates and friends - my motivation, they did fuel.

My soccer coaches let me run cross country, and that's when I got stronger

Steve Lewark met me for early morning runs, even though I wanted to sleep longer.

Lane Custer and Chris Williams kept me going on the course and on the track

"We laugh at inclement weather," Custer would say, and to state meets, I fondly look back.

Judy Bogenschutz Wilson took a chance on recruiting a girl from Purdue-land

Since I liked the school and they had kicked out Knight, Dad said - IU, he could now stand.

Coach Wilson was patient with me and we worked through tough times and many a mile

But the good times were more than worth it, and her corny jokes always make me smile.

I have to thank my dad, my sister, all my family and friends for their love and support.

Without their encouragement I would not have gone as far in this great sport.

I am very grateful to be here tonight, and honored to be in this Hall of Fame,

I don't know how all you high school coaches do it, I think those kids would drive me insane.

Thanks now to Brooks and Robert Chapman for letting me continue to compete

My addiction to distance running, I never will defeat.

That's all I have to say tonight, thank you for your time

I appreciate your patience while sitting through my rhyme."