FlintLand: Hey, Fat Girl.

FlintLand: Hey, Fat Girl.

You are a runner, and no one can take that away from you. You are relentlessly moving forward. You are stronger than even you think, and you are about to be amazed by what you can do. One day, very soon, maybe tomorrow, you’ll step outside and marvel at your capabilities. You will not believe your own body, you will realize that you can do this. And a new horizon will open up for you. You are a true inspiration.

I bow to you.

VIDEO: State track previews - BakersfieldCalifornian.com

The CIF State Track and Field Championships begin Friday in Clovis, and Kern County has some serious medal threats. Start with Stockdale sophomore Blake Haney, who is among the national leaders in the 1,600 and 3,200 meters. But that's not all. There are 24 local qualifiers in 30 events, plus two relay teams, so Friday's preliminaries will be full of Kern action. Several have a better-than-average shot of qualifying for Saturday's finals, which are for the top nine only.

The major headliners — Haney, his teammates Cameron Miller and Evan Eggenberg, Bakersfield triple jumper Scotty Newton and Burroughs thrower Jayson Kovar — are on the boys side. Here's a boys preview from myself and The Californian's Louis Amestoy.

VIDEO: State track previews - BakersfieldCalifornian.com

Over the Peak and Through the Pines: Wilderness Training

 I have a few mountain 100 maps in my office. When a visitor examines a map and weighs the prospects of running that far through the mountains, there's some serious doubts:

"So do you run in the dark at night?"
"What about animals? Aren't you worried about bears, mountain lions, snakes?"
"What if you get lost?"
“Don’t you get tired?”
"What if you chafe or get blisters?"
"What if you run out of food and water?"
"What if your ipod dies?"
"What if you break your ankle?
"Is there cell service?"


Over the Peak and Through the Pines: Wilderness Training

Footfeathers: Race Report Writing: The Story of the Race

Footfeathers: Race Report Writing: The Story of the Race

 After the Build Up (part 1), you now have your audience just where you want them, willing to accept almost anything you write as fact and sitting on the edge of their seats waiting to learn how you overcame harsh weather, wild animal attacks, and fierce competition comprised of probably the best athletes in the world.  Or, they're just reading further in the hopes that you fell off a cliff and are now flying piecemeal in the bellies of several vultures.  Either way, you have to give the performance of your life over the next few paragraphs that make up the bulk of your race report:  The Race itself - part 2 of How to Write An Amazing Race Report.

Haney -- the nation's top sophomore -- will have opportunity to add yet another chapter to his already remarkable young career.

2012 CIF-State Track & Field Championships Meet Preview - ESPNHS via kwout