Thanks, Coach Bastian!

On this day of thanks-giving, I would like to honor the man who inspired my lifelong love of running: Coach Barry Bastian of Port Richmond High School in Staten Island, New York City. If there was any clique I belonged to as a shy, pimple-faced teenager, it would probably be "Rocker." Rock music was my obsession, and did the bare minimum in school to pass. This included gym class. There was a moment, after a required lap around the track, when the P.E. teacher pulled me aside and said, "I've been watching you on the track, and you've got a natural talent for running. I'm the track coach, and I want you to try out for the track team." He was persuasive enough for me to commit to tryouts, which I did well enough at to be able to join the varsity track team. I was now a "Rocker" and a "Jock." After many, many practice runs back and forth over the Bayonne Bridge, and several track meets, I was hooked on running. I never won a race, but the determination and competition (and the "runner's high") gave me the confidence to be a more well-rounded and healthy person for life -- just like Coach Bastian promised me.

Using the Internet, I've been trying to "track" Coach Bastian down, with no luck so far. It seems he was fired from Port Richmond High School a few years ago by the New York City Department of Education for deviating from micromanaging city procedures. Coach Bastian is apparently challenging this in federal court, and the city is stalling. Until then, details about this controversy are hush-hush.

I know Coach Bastian would much prefer being at the track than being in a court. Someday, I hope be able to contact him and tell him how much his coaching has inspired me. I don't think I ever told him, "Thanks, Coach!"

Here's an assortment of photos of me at various runs over the last several years. This healthy lifelong hobby of mine may never have happened without Coach Bastian.