I went home this weekend to run in my last "track meet" of the season. The Ultimate Runner is organized by the Twin City Track Club of Winston-Salem and is hands down my favorite event of the year. Participants compete in each of the 1600, 400, 800, 100 meter runs and finish up with a 5k cross country. After a 5th-place finish last year, I was hoping to have similar success. I seemed to forget what kind of runner I am, turning in my best times in the 400 and 100 meter events. However, track season left me with tired legs, a tweaked achilles tendon, and a 14th-place finish this year out of a 108-person field. I blame myself, but Saturday just wasn't my night.
So track season is finished for another year. And while I return to the track each spring, eager and excited to run faster events, I am quite happy now to hang up the spikes for 8 months. So ends, also, the 2010-2011 running year for me. Yet a year that started with promise last August may look something like a sophomore slump now. My first 5k of the year at the Whirlie Alumni Run resulted in a PR, and in my first Carolina Club meet which was (supposed to be) 5 miles, I ran the first 5k of the race faster than that PR in August. Things were certainly looking good. I didn't know at the time, however, that I had fractured a bone in my foot. Cross country: over. After returning from that injury, I came back in 4 weeks to run a half-marathon PR before Christmas. In track, the couple of meets I got to run, I ran sloppy splits and never executed the way I should have, all while nursing a strained achilles. Then in the early summer, an abysmal (albeit 1st place) performance in the Whirlie Alumni Run was followed up by a 2nd place finish in an 8k road race and a disappointing Ultimate Runner.
All said, sophomore year running was a roller coaster. I was looking at the best season of my life, only to break my foot. Then after that encouraging half-marathon finish, track left me unsatisfied. Yet not all was lost. Prior to the foot injury, I was in perhaps the best shape of my life. With some solid summer training, I should be able to return to that point. After only 4-weeks back, the success in the half-marathon might provide a hint that my greatest potential is in the half/full marathon distances. And then, despite consistently poor execution in track and an accompanying injury, I manged to produce PRs in my two events. All told, a down year saw me run PRs in the half-marathon, 8k, 4-mile, 5k, 1500m, and 800m.
Improvement, however small, is improvement, I reckon. I'm going to take 2 weeks to rest and then it'll be time to gear up for cross country. Can't wait to see what next year holds.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Thursday, June 23, 2011
The Kinston Situation
Over the last couple of weeks, seven homicides have taken place in the eastern part of Kinston. Most of them have taken place in a neighborhood called Mitchelltown, an area of extreme poverty and gang activity. I received a call earlier in the week from a lady living in this neighborhood, concerned that the city was not doing enough to address the problem. Since the last homicide, the Kinston police have put 11 new officers on the streets in this 2009 "All-American City". The lady visited the Governor's Office today and I and Director Tate Johnson got a chance to discuss her concerns and what can be done above the municipal level.
After some research, I've written up a letter outlining the options that exist to deal with Kinston's problems. Yet each one, if pursued (and they are not mutually exclusive) could encounter problems.
Option 1: Law Enforcement- If the increased police officers are not sufficient, the State Bureau of Investigation can become involved. I spoke on the phone with an Assistant Attorney General at the NC Department of Justice who told me that for the SBI to become involved in a case, it must be invited in by the local police chief, sheriff, or district attorney. Having already increased officer numbers, the Kinston Police might be reluctant to make this call.
Option 2: Redevelopment Commission- North Carolina General Statutes authorizes counties to create Regional Redevelopment Commissions. These commissions can then research and recommend a direction for the municipality to take. The potential problem here is that in order for a county to create a commission, it must also have a contiguous county pass a resolution to also participate in the commission. It may be hard to convince a Duplin or Jones County commissioner to give their county's time and energy to solving Lenoir County's problem. If a commission is created, it must receive permission from the municipality to act within the city limits. The biggest problem would be funding. The State does not appropriate money for these commissions and so it would have to be funded by the county and/or the city. Most cities and counties right now are extremely strapped for cash.
Option 3: Legislative Action- Kinstonians could also go to their representatives in the Assembly and propose legislation be passed to provide assistance for municipalities in a situation like Kinston. Representatives William Wainwright and Stephen LaRoque may be willing, but this certainly isn't a quick fix.
After some research, I've written up a letter outlining the options that exist to deal with Kinston's problems. Yet each one, if pursued (and they are not mutually exclusive) could encounter problems.
Option 1: Law Enforcement- If the increased police officers are not sufficient, the State Bureau of Investigation can become involved. I spoke on the phone with an Assistant Attorney General at the NC Department of Justice who told me that for the SBI to become involved in a case, it must be invited in by the local police chief, sheriff, or district attorney. Having already increased officer numbers, the Kinston Police might be reluctant to make this call.
Option 2: Redevelopment Commission- North Carolina General Statutes authorizes counties to create Regional Redevelopment Commissions. These commissions can then research and recommend a direction for the municipality to take. The potential problem here is that in order for a county to create a commission, it must also have a contiguous county pass a resolution to also participate in the commission. It may be hard to convince a Duplin or Jones County commissioner to give their county's time and energy to solving Lenoir County's problem. If a commission is created, it must receive permission from the municipality to act within the city limits. The biggest problem would be funding. The State does not appropriate money for these commissions and so it would have to be funded by the county and/or the city. Most cities and counties right now are extremely strapped for cash.
Option 3: Legislative Action- Kinstonians could also go to their representatives in the Assembly and propose legislation be passed to provide assistance for municipalities in a situation like Kinston. Representatives William Wainwright and Stephen LaRoque may be willing, but this certainly isn't a quick fix.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
North Carolina Military Summits
One of the bigger things going on at the Governor's Eastern Office is preparing for a series of military summits to be held this summer and fall. I have been assisting Director Tate Johnson in planning and coordinating these summits. There will be four mini-summits that will lead to a larger summit to be held later in the fall. These summits will be a chance for the Governor to meet with military leaders, state and local officials, and North Carolina citizens on issues affecting the relationship between North Carolina and the armed forces.
I was totally unaware of how large a military presence we had in this state prior to arriving in New Bern and planning these summits. We have here in our state significant bases for the Army, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard. Governor Perdue often speaks to the military friendliness of the state and how much we value the presence of these forces in North Carolina. The primary fighting force for the US Marine Corps is the Marine Expeditionary Unit. The Corps has 7 MEUs spread across the globe; 3 of them are stationed here in the state. The famous 82nd Airborne Division is based out of Fort Bragg. No matter where American forces may be engaged in the world, there's a good chance they've been through the Tar Heel State.
I was totally unaware of how large a military presence we had in this state prior to arriving in New Bern and planning these summits. We have here in our state significant bases for the Army, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard. Governor Perdue often speaks to the military friendliness of the state and how much we value the presence of these forces in North Carolina. The primary fighting force for the US Marine Corps is the Marine Expeditionary Unit. The Corps has 7 MEUs spread across the globe; 3 of them are stationed here in the state. The famous 82nd Airborne Division is based out of Fort Bragg. No matter where American forces may be engaged in the world, there's a good chance they've been through the Tar Heel State.
The sites for the four mini-summits are listed below with their respective military installations.
- Havelock, NC- Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point
- Jacksonville, NC- Camp Lejeune, Marine Corps Air Station New River
- Goldsboro, NC- Seymour Johnson Air Force Base
- Fayetteville, NC- Fort Bragg, Pope Air Force Base
Monday, June 20, 2011
North Carolina's State Sport?
This week, Governor Bev Perdue will sign a bill making NASCAR Racing the official sport of the State of North Carolina. This led me to wonder whether the stock car racing association is the suitable candidate for the position. I've hashed out below why NASCAR should and should not take that title, as well as other possible contenders.
The Candidates
NASCAR
Why? More than any state in the country, North Carolina is the home for stock car racing. Many attribute the birth of the sport to moonshine runners in the mountains of North Carolina. The state, up until a few years ago was home to two tracks on circuit in Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte and Rockingham Speedway. Also, two NASCAR royal families, the Earnhardts and Pettys, call the Old North State "home."
Why Not? The case against NASCAR being the state sport will be the trouble labeling it a 'sport'. I'm not saying that it isn't a sport, but with almost no physical exertion involved on the part of the competitors, it struggles to justify itself as one. It would be a stretch to say that NASCAR requires any form of physical giftedness, and thus may not deserve the title it gets in this legislation.
College Basketball
Why? Simply put, Tobacco Road. The basketball program at UNC is among the four most-storied in the nation. It is in company only with UCLA, Kansas, and Kentucky. The school has 6 national titles to its name. Arguably the second-greatest head coach in the game, behind John Wooden, is Dean Smith. Then there's Michael Jordan, Wilmington Laney graduate and the greatest to ever play the game. Consider also Duke's program which has won a respectable four titles. Although not as storied and prolific as its light blue rival, Duke, led by coaching great Mike Krzyzewski, has earned itself a top spot among the new elite in college basketball. Throw in NC State's two titles, and you've got a convincing argument to have college basketball as the state's official sport.
Why Not? For what it counts, North Carolina does not mean nearly as much to college basketball as it does to NASCAR. While the state is special having programs like Carolina and Duke, it is not as significant to the sport as the state's contribution to NASCAR. Plus, outside of the Tobacco Road fanbases, college basketball is not nearly as important as it seems to the blue-bloods.
Golf
Why? Again, rather simply, the argument can be summed up with Pinehurst. The Pinehurst No. 2 course is a regular stop for the U.S. Open Championship. And for a tournament regarded as the toughest test in the golfing world, Pinehurst is one of its toughest courses. Home to the tournament in 1999, 2005, and 2014, the course may be best known for Payne Stewart's immortal photograph after winning in '99.
Why Not? Those North Carolinians who play golf love the sport, but those who don't, couldn't really care less. And while the state likes to claim itself as the "Home of American Golf," a single course may be the only significant contribution.
Honorable Mention
Baseball Behind Georgia, maybe the best youth baseball state in the country. However, without a professional team of its own, and with the last college world series title coming from Wake Forest in 1950, it merits little more than honorable mention.
Soccer Props to the Carolina women and vibrant youth leagues in the states's larger cities. Liked by those who play it. Forgotten by those who don't. How are the Railhawks and Dynamo doing as of late? That's what I thought. Still a European sport.
Not Even in Contention
High School Football No great tradition (as compared to a Texas), and outside of Charlotte Independence, no national programs of relevance.
Pro-Football Panthers are terrible, and if it weren't for the Super Bowl trip in 2004, the franchise would be irrelevant like it was before.
Pro-Basketball The Hornets left the state, and the Bobcats are just kinda...there.
Hockey Yankee sport.
Lacrosse See hockey.
Let me know what y'all think.
The Candidates
NASCAR
Why? More than any state in the country, North Carolina is the home for stock car racing. Many attribute the birth of the sport to moonshine runners in the mountains of North Carolina. The state, up until a few years ago was home to two tracks on circuit in Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte and Rockingham Speedway. Also, two NASCAR royal families, the Earnhardts and Pettys, call the Old North State "home."
Why Not? The case against NASCAR being the state sport will be the trouble labeling it a 'sport'. I'm not saying that it isn't a sport, but with almost no physical exertion involved on the part of the competitors, it struggles to justify itself as one. It would be a stretch to say that NASCAR requires any form of physical giftedness, and thus may not deserve the title it gets in this legislation.
College Basketball
Why? Simply put, Tobacco Road. The basketball program at UNC is among the four most-storied in the nation. It is in company only with UCLA, Kansas, and Kentucky. The school has 6 national titles to its name. Arguably the second-greatest head coach in the game, behind John Wooden, is Dean Smith. Then there's Michael Jordan, Wilmington Laney graduate and the greatest to ever play the game. Consider also Duke's program which has won a respectable four titles. Although not as storied and prolific as its light blue rival, Duke, led by coaching great Mike Krzyzewski, has earned itself a top spot among the new elite in college basketball. Throw in NC State's two titles, and you've got a convincing argument to have college basketball as the state's official sport.
Why Not? For what it counts, North Carolina does not mean nearly as much to college basketball as it does to NASCAR. While the state is special having programs like Carolina and Duke, it is not as significant to the sport as the state's contribution to NASCAR. Plus, outside of the Tobacco Road fanbases, college basketball is not nearly as important as it seems to the blue-bloods.
Golf
Why? Again, rather simply, the argument can be summed up with Pinehurst. The Pinehurst No. 2 course is a regular stop for the U.S. Open Championship. And for a tournament regarded as the toughest test in the golfing world, Pinehurst is one of its toughest courses. Home to the tournament in 1999, 2005, and 2014, the course may be best known for Payne Stewart's immortal photograph after winning in '99.
Why Not? Those North Carolinians who play golf love the sport, but those who don't, couldn't really care less. And while the state likes to claim itself as the "Home of American Golf," a single course may be the only significant contribution.
Honorable Mention
Baseball Behind Georgia, maybe the best youth baseball state in the country. However, without a professional team of its own, and with the last college world series title coming from Wake Forest in 1950, it merits little more than honorable mention.
Soccer Props to the Carolina women and vibrant youth leagues in the states's larger cities. Liked by those who play it. Forgotten by those who don't. How are the Railhawks and Dynamo doing as of late? That's what I thought. Still a European sport.
Not Even in Contention
High School Football No great tradition (as compared to a Texas), and outside of Charlotte Independence, no national programs of relevance.
Pro-Football Panthers are terrible, and if it weren't for the Super Bowl trip in 2004, the franchise would be irrelevant like it was before.
Pro-Basketball The Hornets left the state, and the Bobcats are just kinda...there.
Hockey Yankee sport.
Lacrosse See hockey.
Let me know what y'all think.
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