Matt Maher '08 -- It’s not often that I actually sit down to write many things out, unless it’s a paper and it’s due in a couple of hours. But when Lambert asked me to write up a little ‘sum ‘sum about myself I figured, “What the heck, why not?” So alas, here I sit at the Lilly Library circulation desk (when I ought to be barcoding) and break the silence.

I grew up in a small town called Greentown in north-central Indiana, just east of Kokomo. I went to Eastern School of Howard County my whole life, and while in high school I played soccer (two years), ran cross (three years), wrestled, and ran track. I was a pretty good student and still am for the most part; high school was really an easy time in my life. If there is one thing college teaches you, however, it is that your high school is a cake walk, especially when it comes to sports. And I suppose that is where my Wabash experience really began for me all those (three and a half, haha) years ago…insert dramatic, dreamy flashback music…

I had wanted to run in college, but training really wasn’t at the top of my list when I came to Wabash, but all that soon changed the day Coach Roger Busch (AKA “Captain Blood”) put his chips on the table. Eager to help and ready to launch the Wabash distance men to national recognition, Coach Busch wasted no time whipping us all into shape in the winter of 2005, indoor track season my sophomore year.

Through the injuries and sicknesses and everything else, we have all suffered through the perils of dedicated distance running, and we are all better for it. With each mistake we make, we learn not to make the same error again; and hopefully a little something about ourselves. I suffered a stress fractured femur that indoor season from biting off more than I could chew, but Coach Busch kept my head in the game and I was able to return last fall and run a cross country PR by 3 minutes! I steepled for a bit in track, to mediocre success through an injured wrist and some lack luster training methods, but the cross country season was always in the back of my mind. As soon as track ended and summer began, a whole new set of motivations came to mind.

First, it is my last year of college and my last chance to really get out on the CC course and kick some…well…you get the picture. Second, it is Busch’s first season with us as head coach, and we owe it to him to get out there and kick some…well…you know. Third, we are returning 6 of our top 7 runners, and we should have a few young guns to step and kick some major…yeah… Keep consistent, have some fun, and stay out of trouble (trust me on that last one…) and I will see all of you in the fall!

This fall looks to be the strongest season yet for our squad, and with some consistent training and the added bonus of a healthy few others (Bly and Micah), we will be off to a great start. So I leave you all with a little advice: stick with it, because these will be the best years of competition of your lives. And with that I leave you all to your daily lives and the “Miles of Trials…the Trial of Miles.”

Oh and one more thing: “Everything in moderation…” (Coach Busch) “…including moderation.” (Me).