Ottawa

[rl]

Hey guys,
could somebody point me in the direction of somebody to contact regarding University of Ottawa track/cross country. I emailed the head coach a couple of weeks ago and got no response. It's a pretty busy time of year, so I figured I'd try to track down somebody else if he's got a ton on his plate. Thanks!

[Desy]

Try the Ottawa Lions website and you want Andy McIness

[ottlcoach]

What would you like to talk about? I'm one of the assistant coaches

[ess92]

What is the best way to get in touch with one of the university coaches (in general)? I am in the same position as the original poster where I have emailed coaches and haven't received a response.

*sorry for the divergence from the original question

Thanks

[rl]

Mar 17, 2010 14:11:20 GMT -5 ottlcoach said:

What would you like to talk about? I'm one of the assistant coaches

I'd like some information on recruiting and such. I'm a high school coach with an athlete who is interested in the program. Is there an email address I could reach you at? Thanks!

[macattack]

To get more information on University of Ottawa's track and field program you can contact the head coach Andy McInnis by phone at 613.830.1993 ext 225 or by email at [e-mail]. If you want any info from an athletes point of view, especially on the distance side, feel free to email me at [e-mail].

[pq]

I'll weigh in with a hearsay perspective from a local observer. Someone from the Lions or U of O can correct me if I'm wrong.

The distance training at U of O and the Lions club appears to be heavily weighted toward MD. I believe they generally do three "hard" sessions a week, most of which I think I would consider to be working toward the faster end of the distance runner's energy/speed spectrum. I don't believe they tend to do a lot of slower, longer fast work. And hence I think they tend to produce distance runners whose strength is more on the "speed" end of things and less on the "endurance" end of things.

I'm not saying this like it's a bad thing. I think they've produced some fine MD runners from their recruiting classes. But I don't think you'd expect to see many strong 5k/10k runners emerge from the program.

I'm happy to be told I'm full of it if my perspective is wrong. I like the Lions organization, they put on a lot of great meets and I like the people that run the program. It's just my perspective that their focus is more toward MD than LD.

[ronb]

Andy Mc. is a former long time colleague and friend. So I mean no disrespect when I suggest that he would support a more speed-oriented approach, and thus develop distance runners whose range is shorter and faster. Is John Halvorsen doing any coaching? How about Alain Boucher, Richard Charette, Bob Rice, or Dennis Landry. Those great Ottawa teams from the 1980's were doing some good distance running, that is for sure...

[ottlcoach]

I'm coaching multi-events, so I can't really speak to what the distance group is doing. Alain Boucher does some work with the club, but sure the extent. Ray Elrick would be the primary distance coach. Our team manager, Brennan Loh can be contacted via email: [e-mail]

I can be reached via email: [e-mail]

Dennis Landry past away in September 2008.

[pq]

Ron,

I've only ever seen Andy working with the sprinters and hurdlers.

I am not aware of Halvorsen doing any coaching, but of course he's in charge of the Ottawa race weekend.

Alain Boucher races for the Lions. I don't know if he does any club coaching, but I think he has a high school XC/track team, or at least organizes some of the local meets. He's a high school gym teacher, and still one of the top masters guys in the country, having set a raft of new 45+ indoor and outdoor records a year or so back.