Our Future Running Champions

The second annual adidas-McMillanElite High School Distance Camp was a huge success.  In all, 170+ campers, coaches, and staff members (a sold-out affair) enjoyed cool runs in Flagstaff's high altitude environs, lectures from the experts, and bonding with not only fellow teammates but with other runners from all across the country.  Runners from more than a dozen states made the trip to northern Arizona this year.  Lectures on nutrition, sports psychology, injury prevention, flexibility, college recruitment, shoe selection and construction, gender-specific running-related issues, and what it takes to be an elite runner were punctuated with runs from Flagstaff's diverse network of dirt roads and trails.  Once again adidas came forward and set up the popular adidas Lounge and Store.  Before we get to the story in photos I'd like to thank the camp co-director Emily Harrison, Coach Greg McMillan, adidas, Team McMillanElite, our panel expert lecturers, the folks at the Kinlani Flagstaff Bordertown Dorms, Team USA Arizona, McMillan Running, and all of the campers and coaches for making the week such a safe, learned, and memorable event.  See ya'll next year!

Our camp digs:  the Flagstaff Bordertown Dorms located on the west edge of town.

Getting ready for the storm:  adidas' Chris Hollis and piles of new Adios await the first camper to arrive.

Emily Harrison (camp co-director) oversees camp registration.

Campers collect their gear on the first day:  water bottles, backpacks, shoes, and notebooks.  Everything one would need for a week of running and learning!

Coach Greg McMillan greets the campers and introduces the Elite Team.

Icebreakers!  Toilet paper and beach balls!  How could we not all be friends after throwing that stuff around!

Amanda Carlson-Phillips talks nutrition and sets precedence for the week.

Our keynote speaker, the legendary Coach Joe Vigil, is flanked by aspiring young runners.

A morning of drills and strides.

Phil Wharton gives the thumbs up as he presents active isolated flexibility.

Everyone gets involved.

Meghan Herrick drops the 411 on injury prevention and care.

Running was aplenty:  Here we are on Woody Mountain Road.

Doing a few loops in Flagstaff's Buffalo Park.

Running the dirt roads from the Dorms.

Utilizing some of the 50+ miles of the Flagstaff Urban Trail System.

Lining up for our long run on A1 Mountain Road.  It looked more like the start of a race than a day's jaunt for a running camp.

See what I mean?

Another glimpse from A1.

Paul Herrick, of Team USA Arizona, ran the water station.

A fine view upon finishing.

If the campers weren't tired after a two hour run...basketball, dodgeball, and frisbee awaited them back at the dorms.

The choices in the adidas Lounge were endless:  pool, ping-pong, air hockey, pop-a-shot...

...board games for the more sedate...

...and sleep if you've already cashed your chips.

adidas brought forward their new line of shoes...

...did on the spot shirt screening...

...and sold heavily discounted items at the adidas Store.

The trip to the Grand Canyon was a hit!

As were the camp T's.

Casa Grande Union High School

Window Rock High School

San Francisco University High School

The adidas Dream Milers:  Ahmed Bile, Ammar Moussa, Jantzen Oshier, Maddie Meyers and Cami Chapus played the role of part-counselor and part-camper.  They brilliantly bridged the gap between high schooler and adult.

Lest we forget the last evening's dance:  Black lights, bubble machines, strobe lights, balloons, streamers, and some of the loudest music I've ever heard came forth.  Witness, here, the dance circle...

...good, wholesome craziness...

Fun was had by all!

Your Moment of Zen

Gulp!  This is what 150 high schoolers look like when you're front and center.  You had better choose your words carefully and make your directions clear!  Oh yeah...and for those ultrarunners reading this:   We did show "Unbreakable" for movie night.  It was a big hit with the kids, a conversation piece during the remainder of the week.  Just doing my part in preparing the next crop of younger and faster ultrarunners.