Run from the Norm - Episode 9: Coaching Legends - Tracy Harris’s Journey from Runner to Mentor

Howdy, friends! Welcome to the Run from the Norm podcast, where we celebrate the unique and passionate individuals who turn the outdoors into a playground, one run and one adventure at a time. I'm your host, Jayk Reynolds. In this episode, we dive into the world of coaching, and it is my honor and privilege to share with you my conversation with one of the most successful high school track and cross-country coaches in the state, Tracy Harris. Here are a few interesting facts about Tracy: he has kept a personal training log every year since 1980, he started as a Division III athlete before becoming a successful D1 collegiate runner, which led to running professionally for global brands such as Reebok and Brooks. He became an assistant coach at Boise State University under legendary coach Ed Jacoby before eventually taking over as the head cross-country coach at Meridian High School, where he promptly won his first state track and cross-country championship in only his second year as the head coach. He continued his winning ways with additional state titles with Meridian before moving and taking the head coaching job at Mountain View High School, where he has accumulated a total of 15 track and cross-country state titles over the course of his amazing coaching career. Throughout our discussion, Tracy shares his insights on the power of empathy, as well as some unique motivational tactics he has devised that challenge and inspire his student-athletes to truly learn what they're capable of accomplishing. We were joined by a good friend of the podcast, Sid Sullivan, as we recorded this conversation inside Bandana Running and Walking in downtown Boise, a store he co-founded with his brother Rich, so you will hear a little bit of noise in the background during our chat. And with that, please enjoy this inspiring conversation with 15-time state-winning track and cross-country coach Tracy Harris. It's time to run from the known.