Poquoson's Burden 2nd at U.S. Master's Diving

As published in Hampton, Newport News, and York County/Poquoson Daily Press Town Square on Thursday, May 16, 2014

Poquoson’s Jim Burden continued his remarkable comeback to the sport of diving, recently placing second in the 1-meter and 3-meter events at the Masters Spring National Championships, held on May 2-4 in San Antonio, TX.

Burden, who returned to his collegiate sport after a 38-year layoff, qualified for the national event by winning titles at last November’s Mid-Atlantic Masters Invitational in New Jersey. His entrance into that competition was prompted by a self-fulfilled wish which had followed his 60^th birthday in February of 2013. With only seven practices prior to the event, Burden managed to retain enough of his youthful form to gain the regional crowns.

Burden with Danita Fox, his videographer turned coach

This time, the now 61-year old diver had “substantially more time to prepare,” but first needed a month to “heal up” after the regional meet.

“Not that I was necessarily injured, but my neck and shoulders were still pretty stiff and sore,” said Burden, noting the lack of flexibility which comes with advanced age.

He also realized that his skills would need to be sharpened to place at the national level.

“Even though I performed decently enough to win the gold medals in the New Jersey meet, the caliber of athlete at the national finals is stronger. Performing difficult dives requires more precise board work. If you are off balance when you leave the board, bad things happen,” added Burden, emphasizing the shorter B-word. “And bad things hurt.”

However, the diver’s training formula remained the same. He returned to his previous workout center, the Mid-Town Aquatic Center, in Newport News, and reunited with Danita Fox, the center’s Aquatic Director, who helped him in 2013.

“She filmed every dive of every practice from the board work and basic dives to the San Antonio meet.”

Bu Fox’s role evolved from videographer to bonafide trainer.

“She started learning the nuances of springboard diving and rapidly became more of a coach than just filming the practices, “said Burden, who works as a regional contractor by day. “I appreciate what she did to help me, along with the cooperation of the Newport News Parks and Recreation Department. My being able to attend the National Championships was directly related to their help.”

For the national competition, Burden stuck to perfecting the basics.

“It’s important to have your mind clear and focused on execution. If your balance is a little off for say a 1 ½ somersault with two twists, you have a very short period of time to make an in-air adjustment.”

While acknowledging the beauty and grace of diving, Burden did admit to have to take some calculated risks by performing more difficult dives because of the higher level competition. Asked if he had received any advice, he recalled a tidbit from wife Cindy.

“Her only request was for me to try and use a little common sense.” This may have been the best advice received as Burden noted “I had friends from all over the country sending me, what I would consider to be less than complimentary comments about what I was preparing to do.”

Armed with his pair of silver medals, Burden is now qualified for the FINA World Championships, which will be held in Montreal during the first weekend of August. “I have until June 1^st to commit, but I’m leaning that way now.”

In a closing thought, he readily questions how much longer he will be physically able to dive, so his excitement for having a place on the medal stand in Texas is genuine, but he can sum up the experience in one line.

“A lot of work, a lot of fun, and a little bit of pain, but well worth it!”

Menchville's Alex Moore Breaks Two Age Group State Swim Records

Menchville freshman Alex Moore capped a sterling indoor swimming season in late March, breaking two state records at the National Age group Swimming Association (NASA) Junior Nationals, held at the Doyle Aquatic Center in Clearwater, FL.

Moore, 14, who specializes at the shorter distances, earned his distinctions by placing sixth in the 50-meter freestyle (22.09), as well as 12^th in the 100-meter free (46.54).

Although he broke both records at the same four-day meet, they are the first state records he has ever held.

And at least one might not last for long.

Jeff Kincaid, coach of the Southeastern Virginia Seahawks Aquatic team, which Moore swims with before and after Menchville’s season, was quick to put his swimmer’s accomplishments in perspective.

“The 100 free might stick because it’s a 14-year old record, but there some Virginia kids his age  traveling to a meet next week that could have a shot at the 50 (record).”

With the swimming season getting ready to transition from short course (25-meter pool) events to long course (50-meter pool) meets, Moore is aware of the realities which come with holding age group records.

“I’m not swimming any other short course races before my birthday,” he notes, adding that he will race in one final long course event this month. Then, his age group will bump up to 15-16 after he blows out the candles for his cake on May 7^th.

Kincaid is proud of his swimmer’s accomplishments so far this season.

“We set some goals last September, and he hit them,” says the Seahawk coach, now in his second year of working with Moore.

And the new age group shouldn’t have an adverse effect on Moore’s performance, especially from a mental standpoint. His state records came in 16-and under races in which he posted the best time for his age, while defeating dozens of older swimmers to qualify for the finals.

Moore credits his experiences of racing older swimmers as a large key in his formula of success, Finding high-level age group meets also helps, and he has one particular favorite.

“The Eastern Zones meet has helped me because the top swimmers always go there. I raced the long and short course meets as a twelve-year old, and will compete in the long course meet this summer when it’s in Richmond,” pointing out that the River City’s Poseidon Swimming facility which hosts the Zones was also home of the 2008 Olympic swimming trials.

Racing in top-notch meets is a strategy which Kincaid also embraces.

“Going to meets like that (Eastern Zones) have helped Alex gain experience.” 

Racing as a freshman in high school also helps, and Moore usually competes in two individual and two relay events for the Monarchs team during the winter. But the young swimmer has already displayed versatility and endurance, entering as many as eight events in a full meet. Counting preliminary and semifinal races, this can lead to as many as 20 races in one meet, truly a feat reserved for the likes of Olympian Michael Phelps.

But Moore takes it all in stride, while keeping a firm grasp on reality.

Asked about the possibility of being an Olympian like Phelps, the 18-time gold medalist from Baltimore, Moore says that he’s not really looking hard at a future Summer Games unless his times start going “way down,” and then downplays the challenge of racing in multiple events at meets, using the NASA championships as his example.

“In Florida, the meet lasted four days, so I only had to swim three events the first day, three the second, and two on the final day.”

No big deal.

Moore’s training regimen is also a reflection, as well as by-product, of his enhanced level of fitness. He just enjoyed a week off in early April following a series of championship meets, including the NASA, but will not see another break until he gets a well earned two-week respite in August, after the completion of an outdoor season that will include more national level meets. 

However, his future training plans could add another nuance in the near future. Asked about his college plans, Moore is ready with one response, an answer which he knows because of already having attended camp and meeting the head and assistant swim coaches at the school, yet another show of preparation for the next task.

“I want to attend the United States Naval Academy.”

"Life Treats You The Way You Treat It" - A Book Writing Venture

As many who follow the Wall may know, over the past two years, I have developed a professional and friendly relationship with D'Shawn Wright, the owner of Body By D Gym in Yorktown. It started when D'Shawn contacted the Daily Press with information about the growth of his gym. The e-mail transmission found its way to Lynn Burke, the community sports editor and webmaster for HRVarsity.com, and he forwarded the information to me for a piece which was published in the York County/Poquoson Town Square section of the paper.

Standing outside of Body By D Gym with D'Shawn
Wright after our first book meeting. The book will
be ready for the holiday season.

At our first meeting, I had the opportunity to view the gym and talk with D'Shawn and Peter Castaldo, the vice-president of BBD. As they talked about the five principles of the gym and their plans for the future, it became abundantly clear that these guys were on to something that transcended far beyond the world of barbells and free weights. There were plans for expansion, a Community Day, college signings for gym members, and something about the dynamic duo hosting a weekly radio show called "Man in the Mirror."

As I left the gym on that first day, my thought was, "Wow, if they can get half of these goals accomplished, it would be an amazing feat.

Fast forward to 2014. BBD has quadrupled in size, and was recently named the top gym in Hampton Roads by a local magazine. The radio show attracted the Governor, Congressmen, Miss Virginia, entertainers, and other notable guests. Over two dozen high schoolers have signed Division I scholarships. In the meantime, D'Shawn worked his way to become the Virginia NPC Bodybuilding champion, as well as a motivational speaker and true community leader. My first article led to five or six more simply because so many things are always happening.

And now, D'Shawn is ready to tell his story. To my surprise, and absolute delight, he has asked me to collect the details and serve as the scribe.

"Life Treats You The Way You Treat It - Motivation the BBD Way" is the working title, and we are aiming to have the book ready for Christmas shoppers. For now, I am busy transcribing hours of tape and getting more ideas together. But one thing is already becoming obvious. This will not just be D's story. It will also show personal accounts of successful people who have overcome adversity, individuals who refused to listen to the words "You can't."

Since this will be the first book writing venture for me, I guess it's time to join the club. Stay tuned for more details.

Dr. Luke Coker, at 76, Wins First Age Group Title at Richmond's Ukrop 10K

Originally printed in Newport News, Hampton and York County/Poquoson Town Square sections of the DAILY PRESS on April 24, 2014.

Dr. Luke Coker is a modest man. At the age of 76, he was happy to run in last month’s Ukrop Monument 10K race, held in Richmond, because his son Tad and grandson Will were also entered. It would be a chance for three generations of Coker men to compete together. For the semi-retired dermatologist from Hampton, the day was going to be a chance to bond with his family, and to wear his son’s Coker Dental hat during the race.

Dr. Coker, running with trusted camera perched upon
bicycle helmet.

Although the elder Coker had been running for over 40 years, and even qualified for the Boston Marathon in more serious training days, he had never won any race title.

Until March 29th.

In a testament to the beauty of what can happen when one person defies the realities of growing older, Coker captured the 75-79 age group win at Richmond, covering the 6.2 mile course in an evenly paced 1:02:19, just under ten minutes per mile.

For Coker, the victory was satisfying, but not totally unexpected.

“I came in second (in the age group) last year. Really, (wife) Gloria and I go to the race to see our kids. But after last year’s race, my son (Tad) told me, you ought to train harder because the guy that won is about to turn 80!”

Three generations of Luke Cokers competed at the
recent Ukrop 10K in Richmond

Instead of switching gears, Coker continued his training regimen, which is smooth and repetitive.

Says Gloria, “He’s up at 4:30 every morning and running by 4:45.”

Even his course is carefully planned.

“I run 2-3 miles a day. I like to get out early because of the morning traffic. It can get crazy out there, so I run the same route.”

Weather was not a discouraging factor, as rain and snow became excuses to cross-train with swimming and elliptical workouts added to the mix.

Coker’s introduction to running came early, long before Jim Fixx’s “Complete Book of Running”  in 1977 made distance running a fad, which would later become a movement, and eventually a full fledged sport.

“I was in residency in Houston back in 1967, and later working as a submarine medical officer. My first pair of running shoes was a pair of Fred Perry tennis shoes.”

Gloria adds, “I don’t even think Nike was around then.”

The couple eventually settled in Newport News, and according to Gloria, found their new home through geometry.

“I’m from Connecticut and Luke is from South Carolina, so we drew a line between the two and found what was in the middle.”

Settled in their new home, Luke started his post-military medical practice, and upped his weekly running mileage to 75-100 miles per week. There were some races, but nothing serious.

Says Coker, “I ran 4 or 5 marathons,” almost forgetting to mention that his personal best  for the 26.2 mile run is 3 hours and 12 minutes, just over a 7:15 per mile pace.

But you qualified for the Boston Marathon?

With typical modesty, he responds, “Yes, but there was a time when they would let all doctors run  the marathon (Boston).”

However, there was also a qualifying time, and 3:12 was probably under it.

But there was one aspect of winning the Monument race that stood out for Coker.

“It’s quite a race. You look back from the starting line and it’s humanity as far as you can see.” With over 36,000 entrants, the Richmond race is one of the largest 10K events in America.

“They have parties for the neighborhood, and so much food. It’s amazing that they pull it off.”

So will he defend his title next year?

After a moment of reflection, he calmly says, “If I’m still able.”