To the runners of St. John the Evangelist’s CYO track program, these are special words.  Every Sunday during the month of March, we watch as the 50 to 60 runners of the SJE CYO track program focus their attention, tighten their muscles, and strengthen their determination.  Some runners will look at the person next to them and wonder if this will be their moment and others will think “it doesn’t matter how I finish as long as I am having fun.” While parents and siblings cheer them on from the stands, the runners embark on their journey to the finish line where with a combination of exhaustion and anticipation they await their times. As a coach, we can tell you that nothing is sweeter to our ears, then the words “yes, I lowered my time.” We know then that our mission has been accomplished for yet another season.

SJE CYO has sponsored a spring track program for the past 15 years, and from its earliest days the coaches have focused on the fundamentals of running: fitness, technique, and fun.  Our athletes compete at distances from 100 meters to 1600 meters, as well as in field events such as the long jump and softball throw.  Consequently, SJE young runners work on a wide range of skills.  At any given practice, the team may be doing 100 or 200 meter drills to develop speed and stamina; going on a longer cross-country run to build endurance; or working on strides, lunges, hops, and other drills to improve form and flexibility.  As we like to tell the runners, “You might be fast, or strong, or able to run a long distance, but isn’t it better to be all three?”

Over the years, the SJE CYO track program has seen many of its graduates move up to run in high school and college. Chris Brown, who started runningfor SJE and now runs track for the University of Maryland, says that "CYO track and field is responsible for igniting my interest in the sport, which in turn led me to have much successthroughout high school. My dedication to the sport has enabled me to compete at the collegiate level, but has also instilled in me discipline, the value of hard work, and a healthy lifestyle.” 

But our runners and coaches don’t define success only in those terms.  Rather, the program stresses that running is a lifelong activity that the whole family can participate in, and which keeps us healthy.  At any given track practice, you can always find younger siblings trying to get in on the action, while groups of parents walk or jog around the track getting in an evening’s exercise.  Why don’t you join us sometime?  It’s heart-healthy, family-friendly, and a lot of fun.