Reminiscing on my best cross-country coach: “Appropriately, his initials are PB”
As students return back to school and the cross-country season starts, Athletics Canada's John Lofranco reflects on his high school coach.
As told to Sinead MulhernÂ
Paul Barry had a historian’s appreciation for research. In the early to mid-1990’s, any student with a keen interest in running who sat in this history class would have noticed that the entire back closet was stuffed with running books, old results, photos and notes. He was always learning and never thought he knew it all. He understood that to be a good coach was to evolve.
Barry was my history teacher at St. Michael’s College School in Toronto when I was a student from 1991 to 1996. He has been an inspiration for me for my entire career in coaching too. When I joined the team, he had years of experience behind him already having coached the team from the 1970’s onward. I believe he’s still there today and as a result, the team has earned quite the reputation: they have not lost a City of Toronto Catholic/Independent school team cross-country title since 1974.
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I remember those high school cross-country practices well. He knew that name of each of the runners despite the fact that the team was over 70 strong. I remember him as being quiet– incredibly shy. Actually, I must admit that he may be embarrassed about my mentioning him in a magazine story.
He was the silent type yes, but on race day, his reservedness would often disappear. When his students were running, Barry would sprint back and forth on the race course wildly cheering us on. I can still picture him windmilling his arms, shouting words of encouragement and jumping impressively high for a short-stature man who barely lifted his feet off the ground in his classic “marathoner’s shuffle.” He’d be that excited, exuberant man until the last of us crossed the finish line. Then, when it was over, he’d return to his calm, quiet self. He’d withhold praise and listen to our thoughts on how we ran.
I’ll always remember that guy. Appropriately, his initials are PB. He is definitely, without a doubt, my personal best coach.
Have a memory of a favourite coach? Email sinead@runningmagazine.ca.
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