JUGHEADS
Youth Juggling Company, LLC
5905 Concord Avenue
Edina, MN 55424
jugheads@comcast.net
or 952.926.0896

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January 2005

"Lessons from my 1-time track coach"

Several times in the past couple of months, I have quoted my one-time track coach, Paul Kelley. Having grown up as a "husky" kid (even going to "fat class" during lunch hours for a time in elementary school), long distance running intrigued me as I hit adolescence, despite the fact that I am built somewhat like a cube (short & stocky). With the movie character of Rocky to inspire me, I went out for the track team in 10th grade and became a miler and half miler. I ran about 1000 miles that year, got down to a 5:04.9 mile, and completed an Olympic Distance Triathlon that summer in about 3:04:00.

Paul Kelley offered a lot of life lessons along the way as I discovered some of my athletic limits. A hills workout or session of 25 x 200m sprints was rewarded by occasional runs to Dairy Queen and Orange Whips after practice. I learned to use my ample torso to my advantage, using my arms as much as my legs: up hills, into the wind, and even down straightaways. Paul also taught me how teamwork, camaraderie, and commitment are important, even in a sport as individualized as distance running. For my junior year, I had the lofty goal of breaking the 5-minute mile, perhaps even getting down to 4:43 and achieving the lettering standard. However, during my discovery of track and triathlons, my high school acting career was taking off.

In March 1986, I made one of the leads in the play during the first month of track. Faced with a tough decision, I quit the track team. My family (especially brothers Tom & Jim) taught me to face up to my responsibilities, so I went to Paul personally and told him about my opportunity and decision. He was so surprised by my action that he made an example of me to the rest of the team--in a good way. "Most guys quitting the team will just stop showing up to practice," I can recall Paul telling the team. "Paul Arneberg has done the honorable thing by letting me know instead of just walking away." Mr. Paul Kelley taught me a lot more than one column and one life lesson can tell. Memory of the 1985 Ramsey H.S. track team reminds me that even in an intense, seemingly individual situation such as distance running, respect, honor, commitment and integrity count. I run JH with that in mind, and I hope that 2005 will see these virtues (among others) thrive among the Jugheads. After all, JH is really not about juggling any more than for me track was about running.

JH is about character development that will last a lifetime.