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Leaves-n-Beans Open Mic Night By: Chase Coffey

           Leaves and Beans on Main Street, near campus town, played host to a slew of artist Wednesday night. The biweekly open mic event took place from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m., April 30, 2014. This week, due to the finals at Bradley University, was the last of the yearlong event.

            “It was a great turn out for the last event of the season,” said Kate, a store manager. “It’s always a great event, and really ties in the culture of our coffee with the Peoria’ artistic culture.”

            The open mic event was co-hosted by Writehouse Ink. Writehouse is local writing club within the Peoria community that fosters young poets or pros writers into published or spoken word poets. The group meets on Sunday nights at Bradley University.

            “Each month is broken up into four meetings,” said Nichole Pitenka, board member of Writehouse. “First week we just write. Writing is essential to growth. Then we workshop, then we edit with partners and finally we share. Whether it’s here or in our own meetings.”

            The event was one of largest turnouts of the semester for Leaves and Beans open mic night. With 22 different acts it was a packed three hours. Each individual artist was given the opportunity to read, sing, or speak, three or four items, but no more than ten minutes to perform.

            “It’s always nice to see people come and go,” said Nichole. “It’s a changing audience which really lets us as artists get a feel for what is received well and what isn’t.”

            The event also featured a few other Writehouse stand outs and local favorites. Christian Lyons, Jacklyn Weber (who hosts a traveling poetry event in the Peoria area), Nichole Pitenka, Sarah McMahon and local folk music star P.M. (Pete) Buys who made a surprising visit later in the night.

Christian Lyons performs at LnB Open Mic Night.    

        “We want different people to come to the events, and come to Writehouse,” said Christian Lyons. “We want people to be able to come to our community and have it a conversation between our club at Bradley and the Peoria community.”

            The audience grew in support as the night continued on with nearly 60 people inside Leaves and Beans coffee shop. Certainly it was a night to remember, as friends gathered to cheer on their own. It was a community celebrating a year’s worth of work in one swooping night.

            “Events like this are, I think, more than just speaking our own words, but it’s become a place for friends to meet,” said Christian. “Its developed a lot since we first started. I’m starting to have people request certain individuals to speak each event. I actually have to call and make sure we have local favorites come and join us.”

            Local favorite P.M. Buys finished off a night of poetry and music with a few tunes from an unreleased album.

            “You know, these walls have all heard those ragged songs,” said Pete. “I’ve played those a million times in this coffee shop, and I am among friends. I think it’s time they hear something new.”

Local Folk artist favorite sings a new song to the crowd at LnB Open Mic Night

            The crowd clapped and sang along as Pete and his fellow artist closed out another successful open mic night with a round of folk songs. The typical coffee shop vibe was alive and well on the Peoria hilltop.

            “I think it say’s a whole lot (the turn out) that people believe in this, our culture,” said Christian. “It’s now up to us to pass this along, to develop the next group of young writers that can keep this going. We had an amazing crowd tonight, and it’s up to us to keep that going when we resume next year.”

            As the school year at Bradley closes, Writehouse will no longer be hosting open mic nights at Leaves and Beans. They are scheduled to resume in late August as the student come back for their fall semester.

            “I’d like to see if we can’t do a few events during the summer, but who knows if we will have the audience,” said Kate.

            For more on the event or Writehouse Ink visit their Facebook page. For more poetry events in the Peoria area visit the events tab at Leavesnbeans.com/events.

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A for Effort: Ryan Lambert goes beyond the roles of a teacher.

By: Chase Coffey

It’s always funny isn't it? When you look all over the world to find something new, something exciting, maybe an escape or a new life, a new place to live, a family, a special someone; and yet, you end up right back where you started. At least Ryan Lambert, a high school teacher and media director for Farmington High School, thinks it’s humorous.

            “I was accepted into a culinary arts program in Europe right out of high school,” said Ryan. “It was exactly my dream, get away from this place.”

            That place, was Farmington, IL. Lambert graduated from the high school in 2002 but not without a bumpy road. During his junior year, his father, suffered a massive heart attack resulting in kidney failure and open heart surgery within the same week. The result landed him in a wheelchair. Ryan and his two siblings, were then asked to help out his already struggling family.

            “Honestly, we were very poor growing up, and didn't really know where the next meal was coming from,” said Ryan. “Both parents worked two jobs.”

            At that point, the family’s income was cut in half, and medical bills started to stack up. Ryan was forced to start working multiple jobs a week and give up on a few aspects of his life.

            “The culinary school wasn't even an option,” Ryan said with a chuckle. “Even if it was paid for. I couldn't ship my scholarship money home. I had to take care of dad. I helped my parents as I could, by working four jobs, all minimal wage in high school. The extra money was very helpful to buy my dad’s medicine.”

            Despite the trouble Ryan remained unworldly optimistic.

            “I honestly wonder what I could of become if I had left,” said Ryan. “But I wouldn't trade the time with my dad for anything.”

            Ryan’s father would pass just two years after Ryan graduated high school.

            In those two years, Ryan attended a local community school close to home under a theater scholarship. He received a two year degree from Spoon River College located near Havana, IL. He was accepted to Knox College in Galesburg, IL., but had to quit school during his first semester after his mother underwent a relatively major surgery.

            “I had to quit school and take care of her,” said Ryan. “It wasn't a big loss to me, I was used to it at this point. It just taught me to put others before myself.”

            The following year, Ryan moved closer to home and attending Western Illinois University to obtain a degree in secondary education. After three years of schooling, in the spring of 2008, he graduated with both a degree in Secondary Education (6-12) and a BA in History.

            “I think the craziest thing about my journey through college is how little I actually had time for it,” said Ryan. “I don’t think I worked less than three jobs, whether it was Wal-Mart, tanning salon, tutor, mowing yards or even a vet clinic, I was always working. I guess the part of school that teaches you to be independent, I skipped. I don’t like to ask for help, I was very self-sufficient and still am today. I just assume I will do everything myself.”

            Currently Ryan is the District Media Specialist for District 265 in Farmington. He also heads libraries in the elementary, junior, and high schools, teaches two history classes, monitors the secondary language Rosetta Stone program, and is the head of several student body organizations such as, after prom committee, winter-guard, junior high flags, history club, student senate, students with advocacy training or (SWAT), Operation Teen Safe Driving fundraiser,

musical director, board member for the Peoria Riverfront Museum, book club, and recently raised money to transform the school libraries into research centers.

            “It’s honestly, very difficult for me to name everything I do,” said Ryan. “A funny story, one time my boss, the principal, told me I couldn't use a personal day during school because he had no one who could replace me or run things like me. I just smiled.”

            It seemed like the first time he realized Farmington needs him.

            “There is just something about good teachers,” said Ryan. “I am really not sure if I am good at what I do or not, but apparently I am doing okay.”

            But why did Ryan come back to Farmington? A man that likes to travel, he has been to China, France, Spain, Germany, England, Italy and Mexico. Basically all of Europe and every major city in the United States. It didn't make sense to come back.

            “I loved the big cities, the atmosphere of life there. I would love nothing more than to travel the world and finally make life about me,” shared Ryan. “But, there is always that (je ne sais quoi) about where you grow up. Painful or not. It’s that something that you just like. I know everyone, I like our school and our city. We don’t have much and it’s not the best, but we come together. Its home.”

            Ryan’s mother pasted shortly after he started teaching at his Alma Mater. Now Ryan has been tenured and has gained in his loses by extending his family the only way he knows how. Giving more of himself to those around him.

            “What people don’t understand is that I may not have my own family, my own kids now, which is why a lot of teachers say I have the time to do what I’ve done for the kids, is because I don’t have any,” said Ryan. “But I do have kids, I have a hundred kids every year, and I have had thousands of kids. They may not be my blood related family, but when they pass through my door, they become my children, my friends, my persons to protect. Some kids don’t have a connection with their families. I know, I’ve been through it. If I can provide a bond that might get them to do something meaningful in their life, I’d provide it.”

            A current student, who has been asked to keep anonymous is following his dream of going into music and teaching. He told Ryan he wants to make an impact just like his role model. Ryan.

            “I worked with him daily on music, school, tutoring for his ACT, and things like that.” said Ryan. “He’s going to Tennessee on a band scholarship, it completely shattered me with joy. He’s going somewhere with his life.”

            Another student, Jeremiah Miller (2013 graduate) still writes and calls Ryan on a regular basis after forming a friendship with him during his time at Farmington.

            “Ryan was a mentor for me,” said Miller. “He just does good things for every person he meets. I've been out of his class for two years now and he is still impacting my life. I’m a huge Lord of the Rings fan and last week he mailed me The Hobbit just because he saw it and thought of me.”

            The principles to Ryan’s teaching are simple, there are no tests, there is no papers, but instead there is mentoring. Preparing his kids for college, for the real world as they call it, is done through life lessons. Each day they come to history class and open with a quote of the day by a famous person of history. From there they discuss how the quote can relate to their lives personally. Each Friday they choose a popular current topic in the news and split the class and debate, teaching the students both about an important issue and also vital communication skills.

            “At this point, when they are 17 or 18 years old, they don’t need to know what date Columbus landed here,” said Ryan. “They did that in elementary school. What they need is to be ready to take advantage of a given situation, to communicate, to want to be educated and most importantly to do what they are passionate about.”

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Winter weather brings construction to the Spring.

The worst winter in Illinois history is finally behind us. Spring is here. Warmer temperatures, the smell of grass, leaves, life and the color green. Or maybe the color orange is a bit more appropriate? It's construction season.

Due to the record setting winter snowfall and consecutive days below freezing, central Illinois roads are in rough shape. It seems every intersection is being barraged with lane closures, big orange traffic cones and stand still traffic.

Just in the the first week of spring Peoria has scene several intersection closings. The crossing of Main and University streets next to Bradley University is the most problematic. But lane closures on Nebraska avenue, Knoxville avenue, and Pioneer parkway are all culprits in the slowing of local traffic due to large amounts of potholes.

The Peoria Park district has responded to the amount of potholes in the road with a new quick fix app. The app allows drivers to pinpoint their location on Google maps and report potholes that need filled in.

Other well known traffic report cites have experienced high levels of user such as SeeClickFix.com. The site allows users to log in anonymously and express concerns about roadway conditions to city officials. One Peoria native took to seeclickfix.com, a website designed to report road construction, road damages and graffiti, to express their frustrations.

“Orange prairie road bounces you around like a buggy on train tracks,” wrote one user. “New businesses won't get the customers they were hoping for with that road.”

This winter has been specifically bad for one of Peoria's busiest and oldest intersections, the crossing of Main and University street. The intersection is currently under construction due to a water main break in September. The issue of potholes and broken concrete is one thing, but a water main heading into this winter proved troublesome for drivers.

Construction started in late February to replace the water-mains. The original schedule put out by city officials claimed the intersection to reopen as late as May 10. However the intersection remained closed for two weeks past the original deadline.

The city of Peoria is making light of the situation tho, using the closing of the intersection to upgrade the hilltop intersection. A new layout plan was issued for the reconstruction of the intersection following the September water-main break. The new intersection is going to use a relatively new pedestrian feature known as “curb-extension.

“The curb-extension is exactly that, an extension of the curb,” said Eric Delvo, a member on Bradley University's student council. “They pitched the idea to us in a meeting in January. It is basically a speed bump for cars and a raised cross walk for us (students).

The project will also include a reduction in total lanes. No longer will the intersection contain a double straight lane, and instead will feature a right, left, or straight lane only. This is an effort to promote pedestrian friendly neighborhoods around the Bradley's Campus.

One Bradley student is not worried about the construction. Instead is embracing the idea of a new and improved intersection.

“If they need to fix the roads, they need to fix the roads,” Said Becky Bucklin. “I would rather them do it right and make a new user friendly route for students who live in the area, then just fill in potholes and call it good.”

The construction from Main and University streets then flows down the block into the neighboring community, (Uplands). Where each street is gaining a series of speed bumps. The Each street running between Laura Bradley Park and University street will be equipped with a set of speed humps similar to those on Peoria Heights North Prospect Street.

“We have seen a lot more traffic through our neighborhood this spring, and it hasn't help that they decided to do construction on the detour route while the the construction of Main and University take place,” said Tom Coy, an Upland's resident. “It has created a lot of confusion among drivers and has resulted in several cars pulling u-turns.”

The mass quantity of roadside updates has cause much confusion to drivers this spring. But by springs end cars should start seeing a little less orange and a little more gray. For new concrete.

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This is a work in progress. A new blog that I started for a class project. Hopefully over the next 18 months It will grow into something more than just a blog. Below are my intentions toward this blog.

Daily post of workouts, team conversations, and other ins and outs of the team activities.

Weekly post including, athlete interviews, videos, pictures of workouts, races, runs and more.

Links To all of our social media posts, Bradley outlets, running logs, Facebook, Twitter, and all other training information.

Also look for BI-weekly and Monthly Feature stories covering each individual athletes, training styles, coaching interviews, workout, race, camp recaps, summer training information, season preview, race previews, race recaps, season recaps, conference predictions and notable performance reviews. 

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Olympic Size Problem: Russian Anti-Gay Propaganda Law

 The Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia haven't gone the smoothest. We all know about disaster hotel pictures floating around the social media realm. Not like Russia had more than eight years to prepare the media site for the Winter Games.

But regardless of their mishaps, there is one large issue that has been gently swept under the rug since the games began. Prior to the games beginning, every news station was covering Russian's anti-gay propaganda law. The law is subject to find a person $3,000 in Russia for being gay.

The idea was, that Russian LGBT activists may stage a large protest or choreograph a gesture from athletes in order to raise awareness against the gay propaganda law during the Olympic games. However, we are now a week into the games and we have yet to see much from the organization.

But does that mean everyone is hush hush about gay rights in Sochi?

Unfortunately, it seems that way. The Russian government set up a protest zone for LGBT activists about 30 miles from the games. But the site remains relatively scarce of any major protest.

Then you have the athletes. With about a third of the games being completed we are yet to see any major remarks against the Russian propaganda law. A dutch snowboarder, Cheryl Mass, has been the only to make even the slightest gesture toward the law, when she gently raised her rainbow covered mittens into the camera for all to see.

The only real effort to promote gay rights in Russia has come from participating countries. Take Canada for example, as they recently released a 30 second television PSA for the Olympic games. The add depicts two men enjoying each others company while participating in the “two-man luge.” After twenty seconds of the men thrusting, they speed down the track together as Human League's Don't you want me playing perfectly in the background. Then the statement comes up; “The games have always been a little gay. Let's fight to keep them that way.”

*Click to watch:

We can only hope that the comedic approach to gay rights hits some chord to the Russian public.

On the more serious side, Russia Freedom Fund, a group in collaboration with Russian LGBT released their own two-minute PSA to promote The Fair Games Project. The PSA shows a gay couple being beaten by a team of Russian rugby players while a stadium full of fan's erupts into cheer in approval of the gay couple receiving the beating of a lifetime.

*Click to watch:

This serious approach is the one shining moment on a very serious issue that has been tossed away. The Olympic games is not just a place to proclaim greatness in a sporting event but is and always has been a platform for social change.

The only hope now is for some athlete or team to make an even louder statement in the closing week of this Olympic games. It takes one person to show an enormous amount of support to LGBT and gay rights. This is an issue that needs more attention and it will take one person to stand up and speak out against the woeful treatment of gay's. This is not about gay rights, it is about human rights. 

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Shane Parrish Storify

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Good read on two teams playing similar ball with different results.

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Flea Fakes it

By: Chase Coffey

Let's clarify something right away: The Super Bowl halftime show is called a show, not a halftime concert. The idea behind the entire 12-minute extravaganza is to entertain not only those attending the big game, but the 111.5 million people who tuned in for Bruno Mars and guest stars Red Hot Chili Peppers (RHCP).

So what's the big deal? Rolling Stones magazine published an article yesterday about the bands lack of playing, or as they called it miming. So the photos show a completely useless electric bass guitar strapped around the jarring neck of a 51 year old Flea. Where's the argument against Bruno's back up band rocking out in their gold suits pulling dance moves while playing a trombone like a high school marching band?

This year's halftime show, may have made the instant jump to a top three half time show of all-time. (It will be hard to dethrone Beyonce after last years performance.) Starting off the night with a drum solo, which most individuals had no idea he could do such a thing, and then moved into a classic pop dance move/choreography. Soon after the crowd was begging for more Bruno, the Peppers came flying out of a cannon and erupted with heavy head banging, mush-mouth lyrics and funky bass lines; oh and don't let me forget to mention that two of the members, Anthony Kiedis and Flea, were completely shirtless.

It was the perfect mix for one song and one song only, of the new king of pop (Bruno) and the sexed up funky punk mash to drive home the performance of all ages. They faded off the stage after just three minutes with Bruno and then slipped quietly into the second half.

So if the performance was so good, whats the problem? The problem was or is said to be that the music was pre-recorded. I call hogwash to this pointless argument. Yes it was proven that the music was “faked,” and the vocals were the only live portion of the show. But what does it matter?

It Doesn’t. The band has been around since the 1984 and have been tearing up venues ever since. Granted as they age their music may be diminishing; but these are rock legends we are talking about. They join a very short list of bands that can stand the test of time without changing their entire core values and what their music stands for. I think by now we know they can play. Instead of doing back-flips because they didn't strum a few chords, we ought to simply appreciate their ability to rock on into their fifties. We don't see many bands at this stage of their career taking leaps to play along side an entirely different genre such as Bruno Mars. As they did so during their first major hit in 1991, BloodSugarSexMagik, the group got on stage and created something fresh for the music world.

The guys may not of been plugged in but their pre-recorded funk rock record was entertaining. Exactly what it was supposed to be. We don't need another music malfunction on stage (much like Black Eyed Peas train wreck of a performance) during the most watched music event.

In an interview with Rolling Stones, Flea, went on to be bluntly honest and admit to the mimic job. But it wasn't really the bands choice.

"When we were asked by the NFL and Bruno to play our song 'Give It Away' at the Super Bowl, it was made clear to us that the vocals would be live, but the bass, drums and guitar would be pre-recorded," he wrote. "I understand the NFL's stance on this, given they only have a few minutes to set up the stage, there a zillion things that could go wrong and ruin the sound for the folks watching in the stadium and the T.V. viewers. There was not any room for argument on this, the NFL does not want to risk their show being botched by bad sound, period."

Looks like the public owes the Chili Peppers a heartfelt apology. Next year do us all a favor and appreciate the show for what it is; a show, to entertain.

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Observations

Nothing seems to bring the childhood memories back like the sound of big yellow school buses idling in the grade school parking lot. Kids come flooding out the door and pile on the bus, screaming, yelling, ranting and raving about their days. Playing silly games, with not a care in the world. Just that schools over and we still have a gallon of energy left in the tank. The parking lot is crazy. Just off the corner of west Bradley avenue and north Cooper street. Parents pack their cars as close to the exits as possible waiting for their child. Most of them driving SUV's but the occasional sports car. One stands out; a 1996 mustang, all white. The kid jumps in and his friends all said hi to his older brother. The cars and buses filled, left the lot and made a less then half ass stop at the four way intersection, doing nothing but pissing off the poor crossing guard. Must hate his job, no one pays attention and the only ones walking by are the college students heading home from their three o'clock classes. It's quite a hectic intersection really. Cars, trucks, bicycles, and civilians walking, riding and driving through with their own intentions in mind. Get home, or whatever their destination is. Such a rush. Seems like no one has the time to enjoy a moment. It's the middle of October and it's a beautiful 75 degrees outside. Just as we typically describe the perfect day. Light fall breeze, smell of cut grass and foliage, blue skies with nearly fake, painted on pitch white fluff clouds. Something you'd see in a Bob Ross PBS show. There goes the serenity. Broken down pick up truck, loud muffler and rap music came blasting through his windows only to mask the sounds of my neighbors strumming a guitar on the front porch. But the cicadas never fade. A none stop buzz in the air. I wonder if it's only a mid-west thing? “Say my name, Say my name,” Destiny's Child, I can't help but sing along. But then it's gone, down the street with the rest of the cars, the bicycles, the kids. All gone.

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American Running has a (commercial) Baby Boom

Nothing strange about it, waiting in traffic at an intersection as you watch 200 runners decked out in bright clothes, headbands, singlets, jog past the hood of your car; seems to be the thing to do these days. Need a benefit? Assemble the fliers because there is a 5K for that. Local road racers from middle aged men and women, the old the young, Jr. high, high school to collegiate runners, all come together to compete in the same race around the neighborhood. Is there anything like it?

An advocate for the running community, Adam White, owner of Running Central, a specialty shoe and apparel store located in Peoria, Ill., spoke on the idea of a nation wide running boom.

“What we have here is two separate phenomenons,” said White, “While one is at the youth and collegiate level, the other is in the public and its source of exercise. But there is one thing that ties those two together, the internet. Everyone knows what everyone is doing. It’s knowledge.”

He makes a great point, while running may not have been the biggest of sports, and still may not be today, the internet can certainly grow a trend. Between YouTube, Facebook or Twitter it’s hard to miss out on national outbreaks, from the Harlem Shake to #StopKony with the Invisible Children. It serves as a way between everyone’s personal lives, ideas and interest. Specifically to this national involvement in running, several running websites (FloTrack.org, USATF.org, and Letsrun.com) have given running a whole new atmosphere to interact, mold and educate individuals who either participate as middle pack 5K joggers, or competitive athletes on the high school and collegiate levels.

“Everyone wants to feel good,” said White. “Running is a way to what I call, be apart of a tribe. As a whole, running is a very excepting community. At this day and age people are looking for answers and running offers that as a community and as an individual. People are more aware of the benefits from running.”

Again that stems back to the root of Adam’s statement, the internet is driving a runners world. Knowledge is the key to any movement, everyone is seeing those ads for a local 5k race all over their Facebook and Twitter feeds. As a consumer friendly America this idea of fitting in, and consuming a good to feel good, is a growing movement. Is there a better good then that of self accomplishment? I mean people are forking over $35 to exercise on a city street. But when you see results of others, your friends participate in a road race, post pictures, rant and rave about the experience on these social media sites, you to begin to want in on the craze. It’s a self promoting idea that revolves around running.

Company’s like Nike, Brooks, or Adidas all have played into the consumers thirst to be apart of something new. Five years ago you wouldn’t see individuals in bright mismatching shoes much like every running shoe today seems to be. Nearly impossible to find a neutral shoe in the stores. These companies used to produce gear for the quote on quote athletes, stuff the pros wore. But with running, everyone fits in, everyone is accomplishing something, at the end of the day being able to say, “I’m a runner,” to all there friends at the office. The clothing and shoe lines have been catered to fit this commercial need to be a “runner.” You can go to an NCAA sanctioned track and field meet and see all the athletes wearing the same gear as those local 5K joggers.

But how is the first phenomenon correlating to the later. Runners are getting faster. Lets look at some stats, from 2009 to 2012. According to the High School Athletics Participation Survey by The National Federation of State High School Association, the amount of participants in Cross Country alone has jumped from 429,651 to 527,569. This is nearly 100,000 participant increase in a mere four season gap. 25,000 more high school students have joined the cross country each year for the past four years. Let that stat sink in. No other sport is seeing such an increase in numbers Unlike other high school sports, there is no cut line, there is no one to tell you no in cross country, as Adam said, it is a tribe. Running is accepted now as normal sport. The popularity increase may be brought on by the overall societal acceptance and how normal it is to see joggers around the neighborhood. It no longer is just for those awkward kids who don’t find a need to smash into other guys wearing tight pants fighting over a pigskin ball.

This increase in participation and acceptance has caused an growth in the amount of quality runners. Lets get at what is causing this larger number to be faster, haven’t we all heard the line quality over quantity?

These phenoms are linked with the internet. It brings a new behind the scenes look. “Lets say I’m a small fish in a big pond,’ said White. “Now when I’m in high school I got to be the biggest fish in my big pond, but I had no idea there were other big ponds out there. Now with the internet people are asking questions. How does my pond look compared to a pond ten states over? With the internet these questions are answered. There is now a science to being fast, it’s no longer going out to run each day.” This new runner friendly community is able to publicize their results and what contributed to them.

One example of the quality increase, in the past three seasons the IHSA (Illinois High School Association) State Cross Country Championship record has been broken, three times. All by different individuals. From 14:48 in 2010, to 14:34 in 2011 and last year another 12 seconds off, with a 14:22 three mile time. There are more individuals ahead of the game. A former state champion in 2008 spoke on the idea, Dustin Emerick, Southern Indiana University standout in the 10,000 meter, just took a dive into a really big pond. Dustin after smashing a 27:46 10K at the NCAA East Regional, grabbed a professional running contract from Brook’s Hanson Brothers, a running shoe company and post collegiate training group for Olympic hopeful was able

“I was lucky, I got to college at the beginning of this running revolution,” said Emerick. “I chose Southern Indiana as my school because they were ahead of the movement, they had it the winning formula, the speed formula figured out already. Sure I was a stand out in high school, but I just ran a lot. College that won’t cut it. It’s all the new ideas,” said Emerick.“You see it in all the sports not just running. I had a regular running regiment in high school to adding, weights, core, band work, a proper diet, sleep pattern, chiropractic work, deep tissue messages, all the little extras lead to faster times, and better longevity.”

He makes a great point. The pure knowledge for the sport has made it easy for coaches and athletes at all levels to see the little things needed to be better. No longer can individuals just pound the pavement without thinking about injury prevention, workouts, stretching, therapy, ice baths, and all the science behind the sport. More and more high school programs are professionalizing, Taking care of the little things, much like that of Dustin Emerick’s school. With the use of the internet they are able to produce smarter, tougher, longer segments of training blocks., which eventually lead to a larger quantity of quality runners. It has become more than a sport, but a science, a process, of refining information that is easily reached, and applying it to athletes at a much younger age then ever before. The ability to sculpt lifestyle into a sport is producing mass amounts of quality competitive runners. The competitive side of the sport is growing in a way like never before scene. While these are two separate phenomenons they both have been groomed by the use of social media and knowledge powered by the technology boom.

Assistant coach at Bradley University and former Iowa University stand out Matt Esche said, “As the sport progresses more and more teams are getting together a year round training schedule for their sport. And with year round training comes a year round facilities.. “This is something we never had 10 years ago,” said Esche. “In high school if a big snow storm came in the middle of winter training, you were shit out of luck for the next ten days or so. No one was able to get onto the track for workouts until the spring came. Yes it’s a nice addition, but it’s not the root of this phenomenon. That stems from knowledge. Everyone has figured how to take advantage of what the college systems are doing.”

Makes sense, as most trends or social phenoms do, they come full circle. As the years progress and these runners get older, much like Esche who competed in 2005 and Dustin Emerick who competed in 2009, they begin sharing there knowledge and training regiments with those below them.

Esche went on to state, “More high school coaches have been through the system. We are at a point where the knowledge is catching up to the high schools. Coaches like me, are taking what they adapted as an athlete on the largest lever and down scaling it to fit their individuals at a high school or collegiate program.”

Athletes are able to experience a longer history and deeper understanding for what it takes to become good at the highest levels now. It’s no longer a secret. The use of the social media and a coexisting consumer runner phenom is allowing competitive runners to advance themselves as an elite sport that all can enjoy. These factors have caused way for two worlds to collide. Both the competitor and consumer are able to share the same experiences. Starts with knowledge, moved to experience, and finishes with results, in both phenomenons.  

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New Year’s resolutions are not supposed to be January resolutions. However, that is when most people give up. According to Forbes magazine, just eight percent of Americans achieved their New Year’s resolution. Here are seven ways you can join the eight percent, in 2014.

1. Set Goals

Everyone has heard time and time again to set personal goals. One that is attainable, yet challenging. But what most people lack is a series of goals. Make a list of your long term and short term goals. Have fun with it and make a daily goal that is easy to complete. The short term goal will be both gratifying and encouraging. Soon enough, these will pile up to a longer goal, and eventually your yearly goal.

2. Enlist a Friend

A college campus is perfect for accomplishing a resolution. Use a friend for company or motivation. Whether your goal is to lose weight, quit smoking, save money, or find true love, there should be family and friends to cheer you on. A friend can be the moral support you need when things get tough.

3. Find a Rhythm

Habits often carry a negative connotation. However when it comes to resolutions, it’s exactly what you need. Form a habit of morning exercise, pack a healthy lunch, or chug a few cups of coffee to fight off the urge to smoke. Regardless of the activity, it is best to get into a routine. Having success could come from forming a new and positive habit early in the new year.

4. Write it Down

Writing down your thoughts and ideas has its benefits. There is a sense of gratification when you see what you have accomplished, or wish to accomplish, written down with ink and paper. This sounds old school, but it will surely give you the sense of satisfaction at the end of the day.

5. Don’t Beat Yourself Up

We are nearly a month into the new year. If the resolution hasn’t gone south yet, just wait. There will come a time when it gets harder to stick with that new diet, or avoid splurging on a new pair of jeans. Sometimes, you will fail, but the worst thing to do is dwell on it. Avoid letting failures snowball by creating new negative habits to replace the old. This is how bad habits are formed.

6. Cheat

If you gave up sweets for New Year’s, and you have a sweet tooth, you are not being realistic in the resolution. Instead of avoiding them all together, let yourself cheat a bit. Sneak a sweet once a month; The occasional cheat will prevent any major set backs. Key word is occasional.

7. Reward Yourself.

Make sure to reward yourself when things are going well. Make a plan to do something fun, whether it’s active (maybe a hiking trip) or something lazy, like renting a few movies from Red Box and spending a Saturday doing nothing. A reward will keep the incentive high for maintaining your New Year’s resolution.

Top 10 New Year’s Resolutions & other resolution facts: 

Join the Eight Percent. Seven Tips to Having a Successful New Year's Resolution.

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Am I doing hipster right!?! #coffee #skinnys #boatshoes #colorjeans

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Love you mom and dad! Thanks for the support. (at Newman Golf Course)

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Porch chillin at the house. I love Peoria. Been good to me.

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#tbt senior year, super fan! #WorkForTheDream

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My anxiety is unbearable.