"Lou's Why" - Chapter 7

Louis Serafini wears many hats: the organizer, captain, coach, Tracksmith Community and Events Manager, and athlete. He’s the first to say that juggling six things is preferable to just one. In June, two of his roles collide: coaching five amateur athletes for a 2:45 OTQ Standard and chasing the mens “A Standard” for the marathon at Grandma’s Marathon.

“Running’s going really well for me right now…but I really do love coaching this group”

Photo Credit: Tom Flanagan

The training group toeing the line in June in pursuit of the Standard seemed to come together brick by brick as these similarly-situated runners all came to Louis with the goal of running fast. He said that it was easy to bring these athletes together in pursuit of a greater goal. Louis recalls going to the 2016 Olympic Trials and seeing a group of ten athletes coached by Terry Shea who all were racing together. “Why can’t that be us,” Lou pondered.

Leading by example, Louis will also be racing Grandma’s Marathon in June in pursuit of the “A Standard.” Hard work this spring has laid the groundwork for success and a little flair for the dramatic in June. After a 10th Place finish at the Cherry Blossom 10 Miler, Louis nailed the OTQ Standard twice within the span of a month by clocking a 1:04 flat at the U.S. Half Marathon Championships in Pittsburgh and a 1:03:14 course record at the NYRR Brooklyn Half. With his safety net, Louis can set his sights on pushing the envelope further.

Just keep raising the bar.

Louis says that Grandma’s can be a great day. It could be a day to run well, and ride the train as long as he can on the day. Chasing “faster” as an abstract is and always will be his motivator to perform in the sport more so than any OTQ Standard. According to Louis, you train hard, you put yourself in good opportunities with good competition and you go race and know that you’re fit.

Louis is fit. Louis is ready. Louis is just getting started

Listen to his full interview below: