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************NEXT MEETING*************
WHEN: Monday, August 4, 2008 at 7:00PM
WHERE: Johnnys NY Pizza, Dawsonville Highway, Gainesville
SPEAKER: Charlie Patterson
SUBJECT: Applying the Principles of Distance Running to Life Situations
SPEAKER PROFILE: I was recruited out of a PE Class while attending Auburn University to try out for the Auburn Cross Country Team. By doing this, I would be able to register for my classes early. Cross Country and Track literally changed my life. I continued running after graduating from Auburn. I ran in the first Peachtree Road Race in 1969. I’m presently on the Atlanta Track Club’s Masters Competitive Team.
After retiring from Georgia Power Company in 2000 with 35 years of service, my wife, Ann and I moved to Hall County in 2003. After completing the Purpose Driven Life 40-day study in February 2004, I felt that I needed to seek opportunities to become more involved in my neighborhood, work with young athletes and teach Sunday School in my local church, Blackshear Place Baptist Church.
In the spring of 2004, Coach Sorrells, Boys Cross Country Coach at Flower Branch High School agreed to let me assist with the Flowery Branch High School Cross Country Team. After passing the GHSA requirements for a “Lay Coach”, I began assisting with the Flowery Branch High School distance runners in the summer of 2004.
Recognizing the importance of becoming more knowledgeable of all the principles of coaching distance runners, I completed USATF Level 1 Coaching Certification in January 2008. USATF Level 2 Certification is a week long course taught once a year in the Midwest with a limit of 60 participants per event group. I’m attending this course for Endurance Running, July 12-19, 2008 at Rice University in Houston, TX.
My goal has always been to encourage the young athletes to make distance running as a part of their life style. I believe that if a person applies the principles of distance running to their spiritual and other areas of their life, they will be able to successfully handle life’s tough situations.
Ann and I have a married daughter now residing in Buford, GA and a married son in Dublin, GA. My special interests include being “Dandydaddy” to my granddaughter, running, coaching, teaching, hiking, yard work and reading.
