NewsAthleticsFaculty/Staff
Wempe spends summers on the go
Jul 7, 2006 1:53 PM
By Tannika King - Faculty
Most faculty members consider the summer months to be a time for relaxation and vacation. However Ken Wempe, Middle School English teacher and cross country and track head coach, has spent his summer training for the upcoming season.
Wempe recently competed in the Atlanta Track Club Master Track and Field Competition, placing first in the 800m (2:07 minutes) and second in the 1500m (4:31 minutes). The annual competition is for runners age 30 and over.
Wempe’s started running at age 11 with his father, who was training for a 10K race. “He brought me along just for fun,” recalled Wempe. “When I beat him by seven minutes, I guess I thought this might be something I could be good at.”
Currently, Wempe competes in about 10 races each year, one of which is the Peachtree Road Race held in July. Last year, he finished in the top 100 out of 55,000. In addition to large races, Wempe also competes in local 5K races and the occasional marathon.
Wempe said it is important for track/cross country coaches to run competitively so they can stay sharp. “It helps with the little things as a coach, especially the mental aspects of racing and the pre-race preparations,” he said. “I feel I can relate to the runners because I can draw from my own experiences, especially when the race was, say, just last week.”
In addition to keeping himself in shape, Wempe will help other young runners train this summer when he serves as a camp leader at the Nike Cross Country Camp in Asheville the week of July 9.
“Former Darlington Cross Country Coach Rob Davis (’85) started us at the Nike camp a few years ago. I’ve wanted to do it for several years, but the timing never worked out,” said Wempe, who is looking forward to sharing the experience with several Darlington students including Elizabeth Buice, Grier Fricks, Martha Tucker, Caty Cambron, Laura Lynch, Breana Gurley, Ben Cantrell, Grover Brown, Alex Glass, Andy Montgomery, Jason Alred and Michael Ostbye.
Wempe believes this opportunity will benefit the runners by giving them many tools they will find helpful in competition. “We work on training techniques, racing strategies, mental approaches, goal setting, injury prevention, strength training and many other things,” he said. “It’s highly motivating to be around some of the top runners and coaches in the country as well as some of the nicest people you’ll ever meet.”
Wempe recently competed in the Atlanta Track Club Master Track and Field Competition, placing first in the 800m (2:07 minutes) and second in the 1500m (4:31 minutes). The annual competition is for runners age 30 and over.
Wempe’s started running at age 11 with his father, who was training for a 10K race. “He brought me along just for fun,” recalled Wempe. “When I beat him by seven minutes, I guess I thought this might be something I could be good at.”
Currently, Wempe competes in about 10 races each year, one of which is the Peachtree Road Race held in July. Last year, he finished in the top 100 out of 55,000. In addition to large races, Wempe also competes in local 5K races and the occasional marathon.
Wempe said it is important for track/cross country coaches to run competitively so they can stay sharp. “It helps with the little things as a coach, especially the mental aspects of racing and the pre-race preparations,” he said. “I feel I can relate to the runners because I can draw from my own experiences, especially when the race was, say, just last week.”
In addition to keeping himself in shape, Wempe will help other young runners train this summer when he serves as a camp leader at the Nike Cross Country Camp in Asheville the week of July 9.
“Former Darlington Cross Country Coach Rob Davis (’85) started us at the Nike camp a few years ago. I’ve wanted to do it for several years, but the timing never worked out,” said Wempe, who is looking forward to sharing the experience with several Darlington students including Elizabeth Buice, Grier Fricks, Martha Tucker, Caty Cambron, Laura Lynch, Breana Gurley, Ben Cantrell, Grover Brown, Alex Glass, Andy Montgomery, Jason Alred and Michael Ostbye.
Wempe believes this opportunity will benefit the runners by giving them many tools they will find helpful in competition. “We work on training techniques, racing strategies, mental approaches, goal setting, injury prevention, strength training and many other things,” he said. “It’s highly motivating to be around some of the top runners and coaches in the country as well as some of the nicest people you’ll ever meet.”
