What's in a name?

RUNsselaer! I found out coming up with a blog name is one of the more challenging tasks around. This blog is going to cover Running, RPI (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute) XC/Track, some personal stuff, and coaching/educating. I hope to be able to use this blog as a vehicle of communication between our programs here at RPI, as well as me personally and our alumni, athletes, recruits, and fans.

 I began running in 1994 for Shenendehowa High School, and ran at Cortland under Coach Jack Daniels in college. Recently, I ended my first coaching job at SUNY Plattsburgh to come to RPI and coach the cross country team along with the middle distance and distance runners in track. I started this past September and could not be happier with my new job. The school, athletic department and team have been literally outstanding (picture Rob Lowe from Parks and Rec on NBC saying "literally outstanding" when you read it). Since I grew up close to RPI I know what the school stands for and the excellence it drives for. As a program here at RPI we are driving for the same excellence the school reaches for. I believe this past fall we started down that path. You can read up on our season by clicking on the links to the right.

One of my main goals in starting this blog up is to help the communication lines between our program and the alumni, fans, and community. I will be posting frequently, as well as through my twitter (some live updates at meets), which can be found on this page as well. Recently, with the help of recent alumnus Jeff Corelli, a facebook page was started to keep our alumni(ae) even more in the loop (If you are not a member yet please search for it and request to be a member (RPI XC/TF Alumni). As a coach I preach to my team how important communication is, I feel it is only right to communicate myself. We have seen the fan base of our sport grow in recent years due to websites like flotrack, letsrun, and runnerspace because of the opportunities they allow for communication. It is my goal to see the fan base of RPI XC/Track grow in response to more communication from our coaches, fans, and alumni! With student-athletes like we have here at RPI, how could it not!