HOW IT ALL STARTED

I began running Track and Field in college after about 20 years of being highly un-athletic. It was through Ultimate Frisbee that I noticed I had a knack for running. My freshman and sophomore years of college I played nearly every night. It was through these games that I realized I had a little quicker step than most and an engine that could go significantly longer than nearly everyone. My junior year my school started a Track and Field team, and I was overly eager to try and learn pole-vaulting. I went to the tryouts and failed to excel in any of the pole-vaulting tests. However, the coach saw my potential as a middle distance runner. I knew nothing about running at that point. Actually, I specifically remember trying out in a pair of borrowed Saucony casual wear shoes and swimming trunks because I did not own athletic gear. The coach told me I would likely be an 800m (half mile) or 400m (quarter mile) runner. Knowing that I was already behind in physical ability, I did not want to be behind in knowledge, so I began reading, researching, discussing, and watching any and everything I could find about the 800m race. I would stay up until sun rise some nights watching video after video. I would take this information to my coach and we would discuss strategy, workouts, technique, nutrition, and anything I could think of to ask. Slowly I gained a foundation of knowledge, but it was not enough. How did the 800m differ from the 400m? The 200m? The 1500m? I had to know in order to figure out what was unique about my race and what my race had in common with others. During two years of Track and Field, I developed into a leadership role. Not because I was some amazing runner, but because I was relentless. There would not be anyone who worked harder than me, and there would not be anyone on my team that failed to give 100%. For my last year of collegiate running my coach recruited me to run Cross Country as well. I went from an 800m to an 8000m (5 mile) race. I was faced with the same situation as my first year of running, I was behind and had to get a leg up knowledge wise. So I started the obsession all over again. Throughout the course of my 3 year collegiate running career I ran the 10k, 8k, 5k, 1500m, 800m, 4X800m, 400m, 400m hurdles, 4X400m, and I threw the discus. I am far from a running stud, but everything I took upon myself to do, I did to the best of my ability and to the best of my knowledge. 

FROM ATHLETE TO COACH

When my collegiate eligibility ran out the coach offered me a job as assistant coach, seeing as I already did most of those responsibilities. It was at this time that I was pursuing my masters degree and began teaching full time at a middle school. After a year of juggling the three I knew something had to go, so I stepped down as the assistant coach only to start a Cross Country and Track team at the school where I taught. It was a heavy transition moving from collegiate runners to middle school girls, but surprisingly many of them had more heart than most collegiate runners. I built a small empire of running culture at this small private school in the middle of nowhere. I turned no one down that wanted to join the team. I told everyone I had a spot for them. In return, I had to learn how to coach throws, jumps, blocks, hurdles, and everything else. After a year of this, I realized my own personal running goals were fading and lacking. 

TALK THE TALK AND WALK THE WALK

This is when I began meeting up with a group of runners called the Pine Belt Pacers. We met every Monday night for a 5 mile loop followed by red beans and rice at a local restaurant and every Thursday night for a 4 mile loop. The 9 mile weeks were quite the step down from the usual 40s, 50s and 60s. So I began collecting a group of runners that appeared to me to be skilled. It is important to note that at this time the maximum distance I had ever raced was a 10k. These guys were much more focused on half marathon and marathon distances. Regardless though, I slowly formed a group of guys that would later become highly significant to my life. We would do the occasional long run here and there and we were good friends don't get me wrong, but the substance of team spirit was not there, yet. That is when this guy Arrmon, popped up on my coaching radar. I knew him before, and we had run together numerous times, but I never really made an effort to cultivate our friendship. Until he started putting up 20 and 30 mile runs. I had never heard of this type of running. I was barely scraping that together in a week. This guy was knocking out 30 miles for fun. So one night over a bowl of red beans we were talking. He was going on about this 50 mile race he was going to run. I was jealous that he believed he could do something I couldn't, so I mentioned how I would really love to do one, but just can't find the right day. He told me to sign up for the one he was doing. So I casually agreed I'd look into it how people do when they don't want to talk about something anymore. He saw right through it though. He said come on man just do it. So I was like okay you maniac. Then he looked me in the eyes and said, "post the confirmation email on facebook and tag me." I am likely the most competitive person you will ever meet, so when he said that I nearly erupted in rage. I got in my car and drove as fast as I could to my house. I immediately signed up for the race and posted the confirmation email.

The race was 3 weeks out. For three weeks I trained as hard as I could, doing more mileage than I ever thought was possible. I went on my first 20 mile run, longer than any before by a lot. We ran the race side by side for 12 hours, we were the only ones to finish the race. No music, no podcasts, just each other. 

FORMING THE WOLF PACK

After that endeavor we both hit the top charts of popularity at the running club. We were inspirations. However, we both were sliding into a slight depression. Because it was this feeling of, "what next?" We were talking one day, and he said he wanted to qualify for Boston. So I said okay let's do it. I convinced two other guys from the club to train with us under my training plan, and they consented. It was 22 weeks of hard work. Come race day we were nervous but prepared. The course was ideal, weather ideal, our bodies felt great. We were shooting for sub 3 hours. We ran 18 miles together with each mile within seconds of our goal pace. The plan for months had been that after 18 it was okay to split away from each other, but never before. So at 18 myself and another runner took off. I ended up running 2:56 something, another 2:57, then 2:59, and the 42 year old in our group was around a 3:02. It was just an incredible day of accomplishments.

ROCK BOTTOM

Until we received an email from the race director the following Tuesday apologizing for the race being short by .2 miles. All of our Boston Qualifying times were voided. We were mad, we were angry, we were furious, depressed, hopeless. After the marathon our bodies were brutalized. The 22 weeks had taken its toll on us. I gave the team an ultimatum because I knew some would have hesitation. I said, "The only way I will continue doing this marathon training is if everyone consents to continual training to qualify. We will run exactly to my plan, take the rest days when I say so, no extra training, and no excuses. You have until midnight to agree." The hours go by and no one responds. It is nearly 9:30 and the chat is silent. Then one person speaks up, a long message saying he will train exactly to my specifications. Then another and another. The team was back.

Within two days we were signed up for another marathon 14 weeks out. It was in this 14 weeks that I would experiment with a VO2 max marathon training plan. We rested for 2 weeks, built a base for 3 more, then began 8 weeks of hard training. None of us had ever pushed to these extremes, but it payed dividends when we started seeing the PRs. The guy who ran a 3:02 ran a 2:57 and the one who ran a 2:57 on a course .2 short ran a 2:56 on the Boston course of 2018 with wind and rain like the race hasn't seen in years. We have established ourselves as a sub-sect of the Pine Belt Pacers, the Wolf Pack. We are a competitive group of guys and gals that push each other to limits never thought possible. I plan on having 10 of the Pine Belt Pacers qualify for the 2019 Boston Marathon. We are selfless in helping our members achieve their goals. Whether it be pacing 36 miles continuous of a 100 miler, showing up at 9pm to watch someone do a speed workout so they aren't alone, or cutting someone's grass while they are out of town. I know many of you will be from all over the world, but it is to this type of running community I want to welcome you. Allow me to be your coach and gain much more than training plans or how-to videos. Gain a seat at the table of a running group that aspires to inspire. 

Thanks, 

Josh Moore (Coach)