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Special Edition: A Tribute to Weldon Bradshaw, by his VBXC runners

10/26/2012

The varsity boys cross country team asked permission to publish a special collection of quotes in honor of their coach, Weldon Bradshaw, who is on leave due to ill health.
Read their words and those of Coach Bradshaw....

NOTE: Words in plain text are those of the boys on the team. Words in italics are Coach Bradshaw's.

He has coached cross country since our parents were young. He coached our teachers. He is the living embodiment of everything that sports stand for at Collegiate.

“Others know him for his mastery of words, but those of us who know him from cross country and track get to see a side of him in which he doesn’t have to use words to convey his overwhelming knowledge of the sport. His actions and presence alone often speak louder than his words.”

"The words of wisdom that he imparts on us are short on syllables, but filled with insight for both running and life:"

“One step at a time, one rep at a time.”

“Stay as close as you can, for as long as you can.”

“You know you can finish.”

“Coach Bradshaw always knows what to say, because he has no doubt been in a similar situation at some point in his life. Whether you step into his office in the middle school or his ‘office,’ by running next to him during a workout, his words flow effortlessly from his enormous heart."

“At one point this year, he referred to the team as his second family, a feeling that is mutually felt throughout the team- not just a team, but a close-knit family that Coach Bradshaw has been a part of for so long.”

“He knows me more than my own father and while we are running for him, it feels like, over the past few years, we have been running with him. There is something special about a group of people who finds it enjoyable to run together for an hour of each day. Running, the punishment workout for many sports, is what has united us. We find energy at the end of our day to get in one more mile, one more rep, or five more minutes of core exercises. Many call us fools for picking such a sport, but this has no effect on our determination. A determination which stems both from the bond from runner to runner and more importantly, the bond from coach to runner. Coach Bradshaw does not simply coach us to be better runners; he coaches us to be better people. His spirit infects us all with the ability to find success in everyday.”

“Collegiate XC is like the Hotel California: you can check out anytime you like, but you can never leave.”

"The Hotel California, perhaps one of his favorite analogies about the team, is often repeated by Coach Bradshaw in reference to the lasting effects of a “Former Collegiate Track and Cross-Country Star of Yesteryear” on the program. Yet, the analogy seems to overlook the significance of a man who has spent more than the maximum of six years in the program. To any of the residents of the hotel, it is obvious that the owner of the hotel will always be Coach Bradshaw."

“When I was younger you taught me grammar and how to write, now you teach me dedication and how to succeed.”

“Coach Bradshaw’s dedication and perseverance sets the tone for the team and has inspired success for decades. Recently, this has been amplified as he has been constantly running against an opponent that seems determined to take him out of the fight. Against such odds, he has continued on, unwavering.”

“I Will Dance At Gracie’s Wedding”

"Gracie is Coach Bradshaw’s granddaughter who is only a few years old. He knows that he will make it to that day, much like he tells us that “You know you can finish” during our races."

“We want to be there just like you have been there for us. We know you can finish just like you know we can finish a race.”

"Thus, as you continue your race, we hope that you remember five words: You know you can finish."

– COL XC

TO READERS: If you'd like to send Weldon and his family words of encouragement, you can comment below, email him at wbradshaw@collegiate-va.org (or via his wife Emily at ebradshaw@collegiate-va.org), or mail a card to: Weldon A. Bradshaw, 1722 Willow Wind Circle, Richmond, VA 23238.

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