Brooks Inspiring Coaches Program: Nominate your coach TODAY, release from Brooks, note by Larry Eder

Paul Raley, is from a tiny little town in upstate Wisconsin. Last September, I drove two hours on coutry roads to see Paul get the Brooks Most Inspiring Coach of the Year award. I was so glad that I did. It is really amazing to see men and women like Paul, who support their programs with little fanfare, in towns where a track program and a person such as Paul means changing people’s lives.

So, runblogrun.com readers, send this piece far and wide and nominate the coaches you love, the coaches who not only listen to your bad workouts, but bad hair days and encourage you to finish the English paper that was due two days ago.

Coaches change lives. Brooks recognizes that, and I really love this program. I robustly enourage your participation!

Nominate a Coach Today

Does your high school track or cross country coach INSPIRE you to RUN HAPPY? Do they deserve an AWARD for everything they do? Now here’s your chance to salute them … and earn new gear for your team!

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Check it out: We just kicked off the third year of the Brooks Inspiring Coaches program, which gives you the opportunity to HONOR your track/XC coach for the TIME, ENCOURAGEMENT, DEDICATION, and MOTIVATION they give you and your team. This year Brooks is continuing its commitment to the unsung heroes of running by again honoring 25 finalists in 2013.

Think your coach deserves the crown? All you have to do is nominate them.

Then what? We’ll read all the entries, pick the 25 most stirring stories, and eventually crown the 2013 Inspiring Coach of the Year. But it’s more than dishing out bragging rights. We’re awarding coaches who INSPIRE their athletes and others in their communities to RUN AND BE ACTIVE with great prizes like running gear and cold, hard cash to help keep their programs strong.

What could your coach win? The top 25 finalists will each receive:

$5,000 in Brooks performance running footwear, apparel, and accessories for their team
$500 cash for team expenses (paid to the school athletic department or booster club)
Membership into the Brooks Inspire Daily (I.D.) program for 2013

And the winner? The 2013 Inspiring Coach of the Year will receive all of the above PLUS:

Another $5,000 in Brooks gear
An Additional $2,000 cash for team expenses (paid to the school athletic department or booster club)
A trip for two to the 2014 Brooks PR Invitational in Seattle

What do we need from you? Just your amazing stories! Fill out our Inspiring Coaches nomination form explaining why your coach rocks your running world and encourage others who’ve been inspired by your coach to do the same.

Do you have to be a high school athlete to nominate a coach? No way! We also encourage parents, other coaches, former athletes, school administrators, store owners … anyone who’s inspired by a high school track or XC coach can nominate. Check out the full rules here.

We’ll accept applications through May 19, 2013. In June, Brooks will announce the top 25 finalists and profile them here. You’ll then have the opportunity to vote for your favorite coach. The 2013 Inspiring Coach of the Year will be chosen from the group of finalists and announced in August.

Want to read about some truly inspiring coaches? Check out last year’s Inspiring Coach of the Year, Paul Raley and all of our 2012 finalists.

*To qualify, nominees must currently coach high school track and field and/or cross country in the U.S.

Want to know more?

See program rules and regulations>>

Author

Larry Eder

Larry Eder has had a 52-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself." Also does some updates for BBC Sports at key events, which he truly enjoys.

Theme song: Greg Allman, " I'm no Angel."

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