June 4, 2003
Hello Fellow Runner,
Here's an update on what's going on since Track season ended, what's planned for this summer and a little nudge to
get you out there and running in your "spare" time, not to mention to get you out for Cross-Country this fall (hey,
we have a good time). First off, for those of you who don't know me, let me introduce myself to you (returnees can
skip the following paragraph):
I'm Hank Lawson and I've been coaching X-C at Lynbrook since 1994. Before that, I coached at Gunn High School
from '88 - '92 and ran there from '69 - '73. In between, I ran for De Anza JC, San Diego State, founded and coached
the Hewlett-Packard Track Team in the SF Bay Area, worked and ran for Runner's World Magazine and my last stint was
programming/running/coaching at Maxtor Corporation. I'm very involved in Community Theater along with being a sound
engineer at my kids plays. I still run and race competitively (when I'm not injured) and plan to run with you all
this fall.
Stephanie Hovancik graduated from Lynbrook HS in 1994 and from St Mary's College, in Moraga, in 1998. Stephanie
was a 4-sport athlete during her days as a Lady Vike. As a swimmer, she was MVP her Sophomore and Junior years (she
ran XC as a Senior). During Soccer she was a starting varsity member as a Freshman and was MVP her Senior year. As
a trackster, she made it to the State Meet in the mile with a 5:07 best. In running XC, only her Senior year, she
competed in the State Meet and was MVP that season. She continued her running career at St Mary's College and was
Varsity her entire four years there with a 8th place finish in the West Coast Conference Championships her Senior
year being her greatest achievement. She now teachers First grade at Ponderosa Elementary School, is the Head Girls
XC coach at Lynbrook, and competes for Team SCVAL in Corporate Track Meets having run a 2:29 800 at the 2002
Corporate Nationals. Come summer of 2003 she'll be taking on her next endeavor... that of marriage. With a team of
Stephanie, Eric and the Vikes - Watch Out!
OK that's us in a nutshell. You can do the "300 Mile Club" again this summer. This is where you have 60 days to
run 300 miles (5 miles a day average). Just keep a log of where you ran and how far each run is. You can start any
time between June 12th and June 26th. Then, just turn your log into me at the beginning of school and you'll get a
"300 Mile Club" T-shirt. We had a few runners do it last year, let's try and get some more this year. If you're
really ambitious, you can go for the "500 Mile Club" (Jr & Sr only) and get a "Custom Design" T-shirt for your
effort. Los Gatos is having their standard "All Comers Meets" starting June 26th at 6:00 PM and going every
Thursday until August 14th. It's $3.00 entry fee and you can run as many of the races as you want. All sorts of
ages and caliber of athletes show up to these races and it's fun (plus, if you win your division, High School, you
get your name in the paper the next day, usually). At WV College every Wed night at 5:15 a group of runners (headed
by the Wilcox coach) work out on the track. Finally, on Mon & Wed (starting June 16th) at 6:00pm at Lynbrook we
will be running organized workouts (most likely in the hills). Check www.LYNBROOKSPORTS.com for more information on
races and workouts. One big event we will be doing this year is going to HAWAII for an XC race in Sept. We'll be
taking the Top 7 guys & gals that Steph and I feel have shown a commitment to running over the summer. We'll be
basing our selection on Commitment, Speed & Attitude so If you want to be considered for Hawaii you better make
yourself known over the summer. There is also the VIKING 5K (Aug 24th) that we will be hosting as a fund-raiser for
Hawaii. As you can see, lots of action is happening this summer - be a part of it!
There are also a number of local Road Races that you can compete in. To get a listing pick up a magazine
called "The Schedule" in your local running store, or if you have access to the web, they're at:
"http://www.theschedule.com".
Speaking of cool Web Sites, check out the Lynbrook XC web page at
www.LYNBROOKSPORTS.com - click on FALL / CROSS COUNTRY
for all sorts of info on running camps, course records, past results, meet schedule, and our workouts for the
summer months (posted every 2 weeks).
We start X-C training on Aug. 18th at 9:00 (we meet at the Football shed by the new Gym). We'll start off with
an easy 3 miles that day and then work our way up from there. By the end of the season, you'll be able to run 9
miles in the hills without breaking a sweat. Attached is a PRELIMINARY race schedule. We'll have our standard
Pizza Party, Rallye Run, Hash Run, Ice Cream Run, Turf & Surf, and some others I hope. You need to have your
HEALTH CARDS in before you can OFFICIALLY run for the team. So please get your packet and get your physical ASAP.
I suggest you print off the PRE-SEASON CHECKLIST form found on the XC web site to see what's needed for XC.
I'll be around most of the summer, trying to get in shape. I'll be running at the Corporate Nationals in San
Ramon (July 19th & 20th), with some of the other area coaches. Coach Hovancik/Bambury (Stephanie) will also be
back this year to help whip everyone into CCS shape. Have a good time and looking forward to X-C.
See you in the fall.
Hank Lawson (408) 446-9063 hm (408) 460-6785 cell
Stephanie Hovancik/Bambury (408) 423-8245