I knew Mike only casually. I did not participate in the two programs he coached -- the experienced marathon program (XMP) (MCRRC's fall marathon training program) or Boston Bound (winter/spring marathon training program). Jordana did XMP for the past four years and Boston Bound the past two. So in a way, Mike was my indirect coach as I often relied on the XMP or Boston Bound program for my own training plan, and Jordana often relayed questions to Mike about my training. I think he knew me more as Jordana's husband.
What I know about Mike is inspiring. He gave up his law practice years ago to do what he loved -- coaching others, as a personal trainer and as a running coach with MCRRC. He was also an accomplished runner himself - running numerous marathons and ultramarathons. Indeed, only just this summer, mere weeks before his diagnosis, he ran and completed the Western States 100 miler -- one of the more difficult ultras around.
Not content to focus solely on his own accomplishments as a runner, most of the club knew him as a coach -- Coach Mike. He was the face of XMP and Boston Bound, and my guess is that few marathoners in the club (whether they did XMP or not) did not benefit from his wisdom in some fashion. For me, it mostly from comments Jordana would make. Indeed, just this morning Jordana and I were doing an easy 3 miler together. I made some comment about the key to marathoning being lots of slow miles (which I learned from Mike). Jordana started to say "Well, as Mike would say..." and then cut herself off. "I won't be able to say that anymore" she said. "Yes you can" I said. "You're right" she said, and she proceeded to elaborate for the next 1/2 mile or so on Mike's philosophy of many miles at slow pace and other marathon training techniques. Good wisdom never dies and in that respect Mike will live on.
I first learned of XMP back in 2003 when I was doing FTM (first time marathoners program): Mike was promoting XMP to my pace group for 2004. When some of us questioned whether XMP was just for the fast runners, Mike assured us that XMP was for anyone. I think XMP and Mike embodied the MCRRC motto of a place for every pace. If you were serious about the marathon, Mike had a pace group for you in his training programs. As much as he got satisfaction when his fast runners became faster, I like to think he took even greater pride when the not-as-fast runners he coached became faster.
I think an email Jordana sent to Mike on October 27 (just before her 6th Marine Corps Marathon and little over a week before he died) best sums up, for me at least, the best part about Mike. She wrote:
As I prepare for MCM #6, I was remembering MCM last year. I did not feel well and you ran with me twice at mile 10 and around mile 15. This really picked me up and my speed and I qualified again for Boston. I appreciate all that you have done for my running. I was always the slowest kid in PE and the last to be picked. XMP has given me a sense of accomplishment and enabled me to qualify for Boston, one of the biggest/most difficult accomplishments in my life.Mike replied: "Thanks a lot Jordana-that really makes me feel good to hear stories like yours :)"
I am and always have been my wife's Number One fan and supporter, but as important as my cheering and support may be, it won't transform a runner into a Boston qualifier. For that, she had XMP, Boston Bound, and Coach Mike.
Thanks, Mike
