Well it’s been to long since I updated this blog, but here we go, first of all two new members to the Dugganelite team, they are Richard McDonnell and Sara Day. Let’s start with Richard first: From Egg Harbor City, New Jersey now living in Greensboro and working for Lincoln Financial Group. I started working with Richard back in February almost a year after her started running. Richard is new to the sport but has already showed he can win races, the first time I raced against Richard was the Free to Breathe 5km race in Greensboro last November which was part of the Greensboro race series. He showed that day he was willing to give it everything to win as he battled with Tommy Boles over the last 200 meters for his first win  and spent the next 5 minutes on the ground trying to catch his wind after the race.

Richard called me early February and asked if I would coach him, I agreed, already two more first place finishes and he leads the Greensboro series, but that is only the start and we have a long way to go.

Sara Day on the other hand has been running since high school, a stand-out at Ledford high school, 1995 and 1997 North Carolina state champion in both 1,600m and 800m,  placed 3rd in state in cross country in 1994, Four-time all-state selection. Went to High Point University and before transferring to Wake Forest was 1999 Big South Champion in both 3,000m and 5,000m.

At Wake

Placed 5th at 2001 World University Games in Beijing, China in the 10,000m in a time of 33:21. Broke school record in 10,000m at 2001 US Outdoor Nationals, taking 10th place overall, and was the second collegian to cross the finish line, qualifying for the US National Team competing in the World University Games. Runner-up in 10,000m at 2001 NCAA Championships, earning All-American honors. Finished third in the 5,000m at the 2001 ACC Outdoor Championships, earning All-ACC honors and provisionally qualifying for the NCAA Championships. Placed eighth in the 3,000m at the 2001 NCAA Indoor Championships, earning All-American honors and breaking the school record. Ran the anchor leg of the Distance Medley Relay team that finished fourth at the NCAA Championships, earning All-American honors and breaking the school record. 2001 ACC Champion in both the indoor 3,000m and 5,000m, provisionally qualifying for the NCAA Championships in both.

Since her college days. Sara Day has been serving the military for the past 10 years, and is an Army Captain in the United States Army.  She is a two-time combat veteran, serving during both Operation Iraqi Freedom 06-08 and currently serving during Operation Enduring Freedom 11-12.

Last November Sara emailed me and asked if I would coach her again. I had worked with Sara while she was at High Point, known her talent back then and how hard she is willing to work I agreed but this was a new adventure for me as Sara is in Kuwait. So we talk every other week via Skype and I send her schedules each week. We have not set any goals yet but I already know what Sara’s goal is.

Next up the good, bad and Ugly