The Perfect Race (2019) Movie Script

Set.
We did it.
We did it, young lady.
Half second to spare.
Full recovery, then three more.
- Okay.
- Proud of you, Brittany.
Proud of you.
Thanks, Coach.
Hey.
Hi, how are you?
I'm good, I'm good.
- How are you?
- Good.
I'm so glad to see you.
Yeah, me too.
Oh, Coach Michaels,
this is my high school
cross country coach,
Coach Donnelly.
Ah, so you're the one
that discovered Brittany?
Well, I think that
Brittany discovered herself.
Jeffrey Michaels,
please to meet you.
Courtney Smith-Donnelly,
nice to meet you, too.
And yes, she's the one.
Her friends Anna and Heidi
talked her into coming out
for cross country
her senior year.
Yeah and coach, I had
never run before in my life,
thought I was gonna hate it,
but I ended up making top seven.
I saw she had
some natural speed,
so I encouraged her
to go out for track.
She begged me.
I begged, I did, I begged.
I'm sure glad you did.
Me, too.
She ended up setting the
record in the 800 meter
at Orange Hills Academy
and wound up a state champ.
And that's where
I came on the scene.
Sure nice to meet
your first coach.
Thank you.
Perhaps we can talk some more
- at the conference.
- Yeah, I'd love that.
It starts tonight and
goes all day tomorrow.
Is it just for
high school coaches?
No, actually, it's
for middle school,
high school, college,
officials, administrators,
all the Christian
schools in the state.
Just a way for everybody
to get to know one another.
Sounds like fun.
Yeah, I think it should be.
But enough about me,
tell me about you.
Well, I like my
classes, the school,
I have some great friends, I
like track and I love my coach.
Coach Michaels trains
the distance runners
and he's also the head coach.
He seems very nice.
Yeah, he's the best.
Oh and I have a boyfriend.
- Oh?
- Yeah, his name is Chris.
He's on the track team
and he runs the 800.
Okay, okay.
So, can you beat him?
And now we'll get
an assistance plan
setup for you immediately.
Well, Doc?
Dr. Harris?
Have you ever
thought about retiring?
Yes.
But if I retire I won't
have anything to do.
- Do you play golf?
- No.
Why not?
'Cause golf is the most
frustrating game ever invented.
I can't argue with you there.
You didn't answer my well.
Something's not right
with your heart, Jeff.
You really should retire
before it retires you.
Like in the ground,
six feet under.
Well, we don't wanna
go there just yet.
What is it?
It's probably too much stress.
Look, you teach
classes all day long,
you coach cross
country in the fall,
indoor track in winter,
outdoor track in spring
and you've been doing
it like what, 100 years?
The stress is too much for you.
27 years.
I love coaching.
Then the love of it
is too much for you.
You're gonna need
extensive rest until
we can get this
thing figured out.
And Jeff, you need it now.
So, what events do
you coach in track?
Oh, I don't
actually coach track.
You coach cross country,
but you don't coach track?
Right.
You ever run track?
No again.
Okay, when I was in high school
I played golf in the spring
and couldn't do both, so.
Golf, golf is the most
frustrating game ever invented.
- Sounds like you play.
- No, not anymore.
For the exact same
reason I just stated.
Must be a pretty good golfer
if you didn't run
track in high school.
Orange Hills Academy,
that's where you coached
cross country, right?
Right.
That's about an hour from here.
Yes, sir.
Brittany's a junior,
I can't believe
we've never met before now.
I know, I've been meaning
to come out to watch her run,
and I'm gonna make it
out to a meet this year.
Good.
Got a home meet coming
up this weekend.
Yeah, I'm planning
on being there actually.
She'll appreciate that.
She's ranked second, you know?
Brittany's ranked
second in the conference?
Conference?
She's second in
the nation, NCCA.
I did not know that Brittany
was ranked second in the nation.
National Christian
Collegiate Association,
not the NCAA, we don't
get 'em confused.
We're a Christian
college, small.
NCCA is made up of many schools
around the country like us.
We're not gonna get the
elite athlete to come here,
but now and again God'll
bless me with a little gem.
She never told me she
was ranked that high.
She a ran 2:09.8 her
first race this year.
Granted the top girls in the
NCAA are gonna be faster,
but anytime a young lady
runs under 2:10 in the 800,
- pretty good.
- Absolutely.
Last year during the regionals
a girl tripped and fell
and Brittany and some
of the other runners
went down with her.
She didn't qualify
for the national.
This year the goal is
to get to the national,
place in the top three
and stand on that podium.
You must be doing a
great job training her.
Thanks.
You gave her a strong
endurance base.
Her high school
track coach did okay.
She's under my watch now.
I'm pretty old school.
Actually, my doctor is
saying that I'm just old.
- Hey.
- You ready?
Yes, I am.
Wait, what'd you say?
I said, "I'm ready."
Hi, McKenzie, did you hear that?
Hey, hear what?
This is the first time
she's ever been ready
when I came to pick her up.
- It is not.
- Yes it is,
you're never ready.
You're always in there
with the door closed,
right, McKenzie?
Don't drag me into
your family squabbles.
Oh, I see, two against one.
I can't win with you two, huh?
Make sure you have
her home by 10:00.
The movie doesn't
get out till 10:15.
Guess you'll have to
miss the ending then.
See ya, mom.
She's never been
ready and you know it.
Put everything together.
All right, is that it?
Let's see what
we're doing today.
200 repeats, 16 of them.
We just did this.
Coach Simpson, we just did
200 repeats a couple days ago.
Yeah, I know.
I combining everybody today.
Well, can the 400 girls
do something different?
Sure, you can do 20
of 'em, how's that?
You know, Leah,
you question almost
every workout I give you.
Sorry Coach, it's
just we just did these.
Well, I think
you need 'em again.
Our relay team has a
lot of ground to gain
if we wanna qualify
for the regional.
- I don't like her.
- Uh, yeah, we can see that.
She doesn't know
what she's doing.
Come on, Leah, she's a
good coach and you know that.
I'm not a fan.
Mrs. Price,
you wanted to see me?
Yes, Coach Donnelly, come
in, come in, take a seat.
Oh, how many times have I
told you to call me Karen?
I lost count, I'm a science
teacher, not a math teacher.
Ooh, funny.
- So, how you doing?
- Good, good, how are you?
Well, normally my job
as Assistant Principal
is about putting out fires,
but today I have some
good news to report.
I got approval from the board
and next spring we're going
to field our first ever golf
team at Orange Hills Academy.
Oh, that'll be good.
Every other private school
in the state's had golf
for years and we're just
now getting around to it,
but we finally arrived
and I need a coach.
That's where you come in.
Now, I know you're
a good golfer,
so don't try to
tell me you're not.
I'd like to offer
you the job first.
The pay's about the same as
you get for cross country,
so I know that's not
really much incentive.
But here's the agreement.
Thank you so much.
I'm honored and flattered
and definitely interested.
If it's okay with
you, I'd like to talk
it over with my husband first.
Of course, of
course, take your time.
Take the agreement
home, talk it over.
Like I said, we're in no hurry.
It won't start till next spring.
Good job, Brittany!
Good job, Brittany!
2:08.5, that's a PR.
She bettered her
own school record.
I was hoping to break
2:09 and we did it.
We did it.
I've very proud of
you, young lady.
Thanks, coach.
That's a great time,
Brit, congratulations.
Thanks and Coach Donnelly,
thank you so much for coming.
It really means a lot.
Well, I'm happy to be here.
I wouldn't have
wanted to miss it.
- Brittany!
- Oh, it's my dad.
Go, go.
She's the best female
800 runner I've ever had.
I'm really glad for her.
Hey, would you mind if I asked
a quick question
about the race today?
Sure, go ahead.
I just noticed that
she ran her first lap
4.2 seconds faster
than her second.
Do you think that
if she evened out
those splits she
could go even faster?
I would agree with
you except it's the 800.
800 is the most unique
running event there is.
Ah, I'm not sure I understand.
You run the 5k in
cross country, right?
- Right.
- That's pacing.
This is an all out
endurance sprint.
Check the world records
in the distance events,
they are basically all even
splits, so I agree with you.
This 800, it's different.
Almost every world record
in that event through
the years has been
with positive splits.
Uh, well, she did one
and it was her best time.
She did and it was
and she ran great.
Yes, she did.
Hey, it was good
to see you again.
Thank you.
Thanks for coming.
- Glad to be here.
- We appreciate it.
Uh, since 9:45.
Oh, it's Leah and Tonya.
- Hey.
- Hey.
What's up, guys?
We are celebrating.
- Celebrating what?
- You got engaged.
No, no, no, no, not even close.
- Chris!
- I mean, we're close.
We are so close, just not yet.
We are celebrating a great
athletic achievement.
We know, good job, Brittany.
Yes, congratulations.
Uh, you mean good job,
Chris and congratulations?
I broke 1:55 today.
Are you kidding, that's nothing.
She broke 2:09 and
beat her school record.
You're just jealous.
Jealous, why would I be jealous?
I beat her by 14 seconds.
So, my doc says I gotta
take an extended rest.
Says I gotta take it now.
I told her track
season just started.
Can your assistants
finish this out for ya?
They can keep doing what
they're doing and run the team.
My graduate assistant
can help coordinate
the distance runner's workouts,
though he doesn't understand
the different training
I'm giving 'em.
Can you write the
workouts for 'em then?
I did that.
I got an idea.
The team is just average with
the exception of Brittany Ward.
She's my only athlete
that can get to national,
she's got a real good
chance of making the podium.
I'd like to recommend we
bring in another coach.
All right, do you
have someone in mind?
So, coach Michaels is
having trouble with his heart,
and his doctor said that
he has to stop
coaching immediately.
I'm sorry to hear that.
I know, me too.
He doesn't have an
assistant coach to help with
the distance runners and he
asked me if I would help out.
But specifically if I
would coach Brittany.
Okay, but, how are you
gonna pull all of that off?
He was thinking
that I could drive
over there three days a week.
And on those days, practice
could just start later
to accommodate my
drive and it would pay
and the school would
cover my expenses,
he's gotten it approved
by the athletic director.
What do you think?
I think it's totally up to you.
What do you think?
In here are all the workouts
I've done with Brittany
and the other runners
so far this spring,
and also what I have planned
for each of them the
rest of the season.
Thank you.
If you look at everybody's times
you'll see that Brittany's
my only distance runner
who can qualify
for the regional.
That's why I want your help.
Even though you
don't coach track,
you've coached Brittany
and she respects you.
I think that's a good fit.
I appreciate that.
You have any questions?
Yes, sir.
Coach, I'll leave
everybody else the same,
but I'd like the liberty to
modify some of Brittany's
workouts as we get into this
if that's okay with you.
That's okay with me.
I brought you on board because
of what you've accomplished
at Orange Hills, also because
of what Brittany told me.
I trust you.
Thank you.
Keisha Thompson set the NCCA
record last year in the 800.
She ran a 2:04.6.
She runs for Zion College
and it's about three hours
from here, about two
hours from where you live.
The regional meet is there this
year and also the national.
National moves around to
different parts of the country,
but this year it's
in our region.
Zion has a very nice facility;
The Henry Hall Track
and Soccer Complex.
I know Mr. Hall, he's
a legendary coach,
but he's retired now.
He's built a very
strong program there.
Coach, what do we
have to do to qualify?
For Brittany to qualify
for the nationals,
she has to place in the
top four in the regional.
She will be ranked
second behind Keisha.
We have six regions, so
that means 24 runners
would make it to the national.
Gotcha.
I've been coaching for 27 years.
I've never had an
800 meter runner,
male or female, make
it to the podium.
Brittany is our best chance.
I'll do my best to help.
Thank you.
I've asked the distance runners
and the coaches to
stay after practice.
Let's go meet 'em.
Okay, everybody, listen up.
May I have your
attention please?
This is Coach Donnelly,
she coaches cross country
at Orange Hills Academy.
She was Brittany's coach when
she went to school there.
Let me introduce
you to the staff.
This is Coach Simpson,
she used to run for
me a few years ago.
She coaches the springs,
the 400, and the hurdles.
Coach Rogers, he's the male
counterpart for the same events.
He ran for me in the day, too.
Coach Maxwell handles all field
events and he's our trainer,
and then Jess is my
graduate assistant.
He helps with the
distance runners.
And all of these beautiful
young men and women
are my distance
runners, 800 and up.
Coach Donnelly is temporarily
joining our staff.
She's gonna drive over here
three days a week and basically
she'll get here when you're
done with your workouts.
Brittany, I want
you to wait and work
with Coach Donnelly
personally on those days.
Now, some of you may be thinking
that this is a step down
going from a college coach
back to a high school coach.
I would be thinking
the same thing,
but I can assure you
that you're wrong.
Coach Donnelly will
have all of the workouts
I have planned for
you this season.
Okay, I'm gonna be taking
an extended vacation.
It doesn't mean I'm gonna
relaxing on some beach.
I'm gonna resting at home,
so you can come and
see me any time.
I love each and
every one of you.
I'm gonna miss
seeing you everyday.
God bless you.
That's it.
That's it.
Hey, coach.
Um, I just wanted
to say thank you
for everything that
you've done for me.
You're welcome.
Listen, whatever Coach Donnelly
tells you to do, you do it.
- Got it?
- Yes, sir.
And I'm gonna work really hard
to make that podium this season.
And if I do, then we did it.
That's right, we did it.
God bless you.
What do you want, Chris?
Coach, I just wanna say
thanks for everything and...
Hey, I couldn't
help but overhear.
What does we did it mean?
Oh, well, the first
thing Coach Michaels
told us as freshmen is
whenever we run and accomplish
something it's not I
did it, but we did it;
athlete, coach and
the Lord together.
He says to never
leave the Lord out
of anything that
you do in your life.
So, his saying to remind
us of that is, "we did it."
That's really nice.
Hi, so, what do you say we take
a little road trip
tomorrow morning?
Yeah?
What'd you have in mind?
A track meet.
Track meet?
Yes, Keisha Thompson
has a home meet
and I'd really like
to watch her run.
How far away?
Uh, two hours.
You know, I can't think of
anything else I'd rather do
on a Saturday
morning with my wife.
So, why all the way up?
Okay, I wanna be able to see
the 100, 200, and
300 meter mark.
Keisha's won the
national championship
in the 800 meter for
three years in a row.
Nobody in any of those races
has even come in under 2:10.
- Meaning?
- She's had no competition.
Ah.
Okay, once the race
starts I am going to click
my watch on her
100 meter splits.
Can you write down the
times that you see?
- Sure.
- Thank you.
Go Keisha!
Yeah!
Go Keisha!
- Let's go Keisha!
- Let's go Keisha!
So, if Keisha's four
seconds faster than Brittany,
how does she ever
expect to beat her?
In all honesty, she can't.
It's too much time to make up.
So, this was a wasted trip?
No, I wanted to find out
how Keisha ran her race,
and now we know she goes out
fast and then slows down.
Well, it didn't look like she
was doing much slowing down.
I mean, she killed everybody.
Her first lap was
five and half seconds
faster than her second.
And all the other
girls slowed down, too.
Ah, I see.
All right, look at her splits.
She gets a little
slower every 100 meters.
There's gotta be
a way to beat her.
So, we drove two hours
to watch a two minute race?
We drove two hours to
watch a 2:06.3 minute race.
- Hm?
- Those are cute.
Okay.
Hey, Chris just came in.
What's he doing here?
Does he know we're here?
No.
Hey, let's sneak up on him.
Hi, I'd like
to pick up my shoes.
We had to order them.
Okay, I'll check.
Oh, can I ask you something?
I'd like to get a gift
for my girlfriend.
I wonder if you had any ideas?
She runs track for Bethany.
Um, I'm not sure.
Did you have anything in mind.
Mm, not really.
Maybe a shirt she
can wear in practice.
Like a training shirt?
Yeah, um, do you have a
shirt with writing on it
that says, I don't know, "My
boyfriend is the greatest?"
You know, something
humble like that?
I don't think we have
anything like that.
Okay, how about
a shirt that says,
"My love for my boyfriend
is 800 meters wide."
No, wait, I got it.
How about I shirt that says,
"Why are you two spying on me?"
What are you up to?
Hey, I didn't know you
were coming in here tonight.
Well, I didn't
know you were coming.
I got a message
my shoes came in.
Ah, I see.
Actually, she was
gonna get you something.
Right, Brit?
- Uh, yeah.
- Well, that sounds great.
Don't let me stop
you ladies then.
Um, do you have
a shirt that says,
"My girlfriend is the greatest?"
You know, something
humble like that.
Hey, what you doing?
Watching some 800 meter
finals from the Olympics
and a couple of
other championships,
trying to see how
these people run.
Hm, picking up on anything?
Yeah, Coach Michaels is right.
Every single race has been
won with positive splits,
so the first lap is
faster than the second.
It's just not the
best way to run.
I mean, do you know anyone else
who thinks the way you think?
Yes, Dave Wottle, he won the
1972 Olympics with even splits.
He wasn't the favorite, but
he outsmarted the competition.
Hm, sounds like
your kinda runner.
There's gotta be a better way.
Hi, coach.
Hi, Jess, how's it going?
It is going.
We just finished up
800 meter repeats.
Everyone hit the
pacing Coach Michaels
had written for them
except for Chris.
What happened with Chris?
He ran them a lot slower
than he was supposed to.
Do you know why?
I do not.
Oh, hey, coach.
Coach Michaels left a small
present for you on his desk.
Be sure to grab it
before you leave.
- A present?
- Yeah.
You'll understand
when you see it.
Okay, thanks.
Hey, Chris, what's up?
Are you injured?
Oh, you mean my repeats?
Nah, I took it easy
because I wanted to run
with Brittany and push
her along if that's okay?
Uh, sure, that's okay.
It's just that
Brittany's not doing
the workout the way
you supposed to, so.
You're kidding?
Okay, yeah, a brilliant
move on my part.
You know what, you
can run with her.
It'll work out.
Hey, coach, I'm all
warmed up and ready to go.
Okay, good.
We're doing 800
meter repeats today
and I want all them at 2:36.
2:36, that's pretty slow.
Give me your first lap in
80 seconds, the second in 76.
I've never run 'em
like that before.
Run 'em that way a few times
and you'll see 2:36
isn't too slow.
Okay, I want even pacing
on both of these laps.
You're gonna have to 100
meters in 20 seconds,
200 meters in 40 seconds,
300 meters in 60 seconds,
400 meters in 80 seconds.
Sounds easy.
Yeah right.
When you come through and
you start your second lap,
you're gonna have to tell
yourself to pick it up a step
'cause then you've gotta do
100 meters in 19 seconds.
Tell myself to pick
it up a step, got it.
Uh coach, how many of
these are we gonna do?
78, 79, 80!
Good job, right on pace.
Pick it up a step.
So, how long have
you two been dating?
About two years.
We started dating end of
track season freshman year.
And I've been letting her
hang around me every since.
I gotta admit, coach, that
workout was different.
Yeah, we usually do 800
meter repeats pretty hard.
I don't see how running
800s at the pace we did
helped Brittany get any faster.
It was too slow.
It doesn't make any sense.
Well, Chris, if there's
anything I've learned
since becoming a Christian
it's that there's a lot
of things in life
that don't make sense.
I can think of examples
of those from running
or Christianity.
All right, I'm all ears.
Okay, all right, um, running.
Take today for example.
Brittany ran slower, but look
how many 800 meter repeats
she was able to do and with
limited rests in between.
That's what makes the
workout effective.
She's building strength and
endurance and over time,
those are the things
that make you faster.
Okay, I'll buy that.
I think.
Okay and Christianity.
Jesus said, "Whoever will
save his life, shall lose it.
"But whoever will lose his life
for my sake, shall save it."
I've never really
understood that verse.
What does it mean?
It means that in
Christianity you win by losing.
Win by losing?
That doesn't make any sense.
I think I get it.
As Christians, we surrender
our lives to gain his,
and with running you can get
faster by training slower.
So, win by losing.
Yeah, you got it.
And now you see why I've been
letting her hang
around me very since.
Morning, Sharon.
I just got off the phone
with Coach Michaels,
and there's a real good
chance that he will
not be back in the fall, so
it looks like we're gonna
need to start a search.
Coach Donnelly,
you're here early today.
Yeah, we're on spring
break at Orange Hills,
so I can actually get
here when you guys do.
- Coach, I'm Leah.
- And I'm Tonya.
I'm Candice.
Nice to meet you guys.
We run the four by four
and we were wondering
if you might have any advice
on how we could get faster?
Oh, well, I'm sure that
your coach is doing everything
she can to help
you run your best.
She is, but we see how
you're working with Brittany
and it's different than
what she normally does,
so we were just wondering if
maybe you had some advice.
I'm sorry, I'm not your coach.
You'll just have to
ask Coach Simpson.
Coach Simpson said it would
be okay if we talked to you.
- Really?
- Yeah.
Um, okay.
What times are you
guys running right now?
My best 400 is 54.8.
Janine's run a 58.
I've run a 56.4.
57.5.
Do you remember what
your 200 meter split
was on that 54.8?
I ran 26 seconds
for my first 200.
Okay, and you came
back on almost 29?
Right.
Try going out at 27
and maintaining that.
That'll get you down to 54.
Same with you guys,
even out your splits.
On the 400, you sure?
Yeah, try it and see.
Okay.
And what order are you
guys running your event in?
I lead off, then Jenny, then
Candice, and Leah anchors.
Okay, so you're starting
with your second faster runner,
handing off to your two slowest
and then finishing
off with your fastest?
Right, coach likes
to get a good start.
Okay, well, I would
try starting with Jenny,
handing off to Candice,
then Tonya, then Leah.
Why in that order?
Because you wanna get faster
each time you hand
off the baton.
Oh, okay.
Well, thanks.
We'll try that.
- Hey, coach.
- Hey.
Coach Donnelly, do
you have a moment?
Sure.
Um, look, we appreciate you
helping Coach Michaels with
his distance runners, but I
don't need any help with mine.
What are you talking about?
Well, quite frankly I
don't appreciate you coming
to my relay team,
changing up their order
and then telling them to go
out slower for even splits.
It's a 400 meter run, it's
not a 5k cross country race.
Coach Simpson, they...
Plus we don't need a high
school coach coming in here
and making it seem
like we don't know
how to train our athletes.
That's very embarrassing.
Do you understand?
Yeah, yeah, of course.
Thank you.
Why'd you do that today?
Do what?
Tell Coach Donnelly that
Coach Simpson said it was okay.
'Cause I don't
like Coach Simpson.
That doesn't make it all
right saying what you said.
It's no big deal.
Leah, come on, girl.
Come on, girl, what?
Tell the truth, don't tell lies.
I didn't lie.
No?
So what was that you
said to Coach Donnelly?
I didn't lie, I told you
I don't like Coach Simpson,
and that's the truth.
So, the gun sounds and I
decide to go right for the lead
and my reasoning is
is that both Strong
and Wicoff are in the race,
and those guys are
better than me.
So, I thought let
me grab the lead
and maybe I can hold them off.
Wrong.
I hit a wall after 500 meters,
ended up finishing dead last.
I should've been no
worse than third.
Yeah, well, Chris, that's
what happens when you try
and run somebody else's race.
What do you mean?
Well, I would know because
I did the same thing.
When I was 13 I played golf
and I entered into a youth
tournament on my home course,
kids from all the
surrounding counties came in,
I was put in the top foursome
and ranked number one.
God on the first hole,
three other girls
go before me and all
hit great drives.
So, I start getting worried.
I go out and on my first
shot I drive it 20 yards.
Yeah.
I dubbed my next two
shots and ended up
with like a nine
on the first hole.
I lost that tournament
by 12 strokes
even though I was ranked first.
And I went back the next year
when I was 14 and I lead it
wire to wire and ended up
winning my three strokes.
The difference was that
when I was 13 I was looking
at everybody else and
worried what they were doing.
The next year I
focused on my game.
So, you gotta do that.
Focus on your race, you
do what you do best.
Can't expect to win by
running someone else's race.
Well, I finished last,
so I can attest to that.
All right, you guys,
Jess has your workouts.
Hey, Brittany, I'm not
gonna be here Friday,
so can you meet
Saturday instead?
- Yeah, sure.
- Okay, good.
We're gonna take a little drive
and do a really
important workout.
- Sounds good.
- All right.
I know you recognize this place.
Yeah, it's where we run
the state cross country meet.
That's right, they've
got something here
that's hard to find.
It wasn't apart of your course,
but it is right next to it.
All right, that's 400
meters right there.
You see where I
marked 100 meters,
200, 300, and now 400 meters.
Right.
All right, let's
go back to the start,
and talk about how you're
gonna run this thing.
Now, what's special
about this course
is that it's slightly
uphill the entire way.
Each time you pass a flag,
I need you to tell yourself
to speed it up a little, okay?
First 100 meters,
run at about 20%.
Your second you're
gonna pick it up to 40%.
Third, ramp it to 60% and
finish your last one at 80%.
You don't have to
run all out, okay?
The main thing is, each
time you pass a flag,
you have to tell yourself
to pick it up a step, okay?
Got it.
I'm gonna go about half way.
From there I can get your
100, 200, and 300 splits,
but when you run
across at the 400,
throw your arms up so
I know you're done.
You're gonna walk back to
recover and you're gonna go again.
Got it.
Uh, coach, how many of
these are we gonna do?
All right, way to go girl.
Pick it up to 60%.
Hello, this is John Duncan,
the Athletic Director
at Bethany University.
Yes, sir, Karen Price,
Assistant Principal
Orange Hills Academy.
Well, it seems we
have one of your coaches
helping us out over
here this spring.
Yes, I heard, Coach Donnelly.
Yeah, I'd like to ask you
about her for a moment if I may.
Sure, how can I help?
Well, I'd like to know
if you could give
her a recommendation?
Can I recommend Coach Donnelly?
Yes, ma'am.
Oh, Mr. Duncan, I've been
an administrator for 14 years
in three different schools
both public and private,
and Coach Donnelly is
as fine as they come.
Well, that's high praise.
I'm glad to hear that.
May I ask what this is about?
It looks like our
cross country coach
is going on an extended leave,
so we're starting to look
for somebody to take his place.
I see.
I'm aware that Coach Donnelly
has her Master's Degree?
Yes, she does.
Well, I appreciate
the good word about her.
Thank you for your time.
Yes, sir.
Goodbye.
Shecky Greene now drops back.
Coming on a bit is Forego.
Our Native on the outside.
Now and they're in the stretch.
It's Secretariat,
Secretariat on the outside
to take the lead.
Sham holding in second.
It's Secretariat moving away.
He has it by two and a half.
Sham and then on the
outside Our Native.
At the wire it's going
to be Secretariat.
He wins it by two lengths.
I just saw a perfect race.
Your best time is 3.9
seconds behind Keisha's.
Now, in an 800 meter
race that's a long way.
Yeah, I know.
So, we've got two tasks.
One, we've gotta get you
two to three seconds faster.
Two, we've gotta get Keisha
one to two seconds slower.
What?
Our first task is
to get you faster.
We're gonna change the
way you run your race.
You're not gonna be going out
fast and then slowing down
on your second lap the
way that you're used to.
You're actually gonna be
doing the exact opposite.
Secretariat is
the horse that won
the 1973 Kentucky
Derby in record time.
The race is a mile
and a quarter long,
and each quarter mile he got
faster than the one before.
These are his splits.
The science behind
running says you maximize
your ability with
a 51 to 49% split.
Meaning, starting out slower
and getting slightly
faster as you go.
It's exactly what
Secretariat did,
it's exactly what
you're gonna do.
All right, I want you to
run your first 100 meters
in 16 seconds with 3/10ths
of a second on either side.
Now, it may take a few times
to get the pacing down,
so let's try a few.
Start in lane two for me.
Set.
All right, 15 seconds.
Let's try it again.
17 seconds, try again.
16.8.
16.7.
Coach, I can't do it.
It's too hard.
Brittany, do you remember
the story in the Bible
about the rich young
ruler who asked Jesus
what he had to do to
have eternal life?
Yeah.
That story kind of asks
the ultimate question, right?
What do you have to do
to have eternal life?
And you'll remember in the
story it says that he asked
Jesus and Jesus told him,
he didn't like the answer,
so he walked away and the Bible
said that he was sorrowful.
Think about that.
Here's somebody asking
how to have eternal life,
he was standing there
staring right at it,
and he walked away.
Why?
'Cause he didn't
want it bad enough.
You wanna try this again?
16.5.
16 seconds.
Hey.
Your favorite thing
to do as of late.
I know, I'm sorry.
I found Keisha's championship
race from two years ago,
and the one from
last year and she ran
them both exactly the same way.
There was nobody near
her, they were easy wins.
And she's the one
you need to slow down?
Right.
You know, I've never heard
of a runner intentionally
slow down so that a slower
one can beat her, have you?
No.
So, how do you intend
on beating her then?
I have an idea.
The last two years we ran
together everyday in practice.
Now I hardly see you.
Coach Donnelly said you
can come to my practices.
Yeah, but I gotta
run with the guys.
I don't know why Coach
Michaels brought her on anyway.
You could just run with us.
I'm just sayin'.
What's wrong?
Nothing.
I just don't understand why
you get your own
personal trainer.
It's like we don't matter.
That's not true and you know it.
Oh, how come I don't get
my own personal trainer then?
I'll tell you why.
'Cause I'm not going to
regionals or nationals, that's why.
Chris, Coach Donnelly is my
high school cross country coach.
She's the one who
convinced me to go out
for track in the first place.
I wasn't going to.
If I didn't have track
I wouldn't have you.
Yeah.
That was hard.
Really, I thought
the test was easy.
I bet I aced it.
Yeah, right.
No, really, I bet I
got every question right.
How'd you know all that?
I studied.
There is no way
you knew all of that.
Okay look, she gave
the same test yesterday.
- So?
- So, one of my friends
snapped a picture.
You cheated?
No, I had advanced information.
32.1, good job.
I want five in a
row just like that.
Five?
Yeah, make sure they're all
within 4/10th of a
second on either side.
You gotta get the pacing down.
Coach, I can't run five
200s in a row at 32 seconds.
Uh, yes, you can.
And we're gonna stay
here till you do.
33, try again.
32.9, half a second off.
32.2, great job.
Four in a row, one more.
Coach, I can't.
I'm too tired.
Yes, you can.
No, I can't.
That's too many.
Brittany, this is exactly
how you're gonna feel
in the final 200
meters at nationals.
You're gonna be this tired.
So, what are you gonna do?
Are you gonna stop or
are you gonna keep going?
What was my time?
Most athletes would have
given up a half hour ago.
Did I get it?
Most athletes would have quit.
What was my time?
31.9.
There's an inter satisfaction
that comes when you work hard,
when you don't give up and
when you give it your best,
and I'm really proud of you.
- Good job.
- Thanks.
All right, take tomorrow off.
I'm not gonna see you Friday,
but I want you to get
a workout in, okay?
I want you to do 10100
meters in a row at 16 seconds.
You gotta get the pacing down.
Okay.
Have Chris time you, text
me when you've done it.
- All right.
- Hey, you did it.
We did it.
- Hey.
- Hey, so, I got a call
from the athletic director
at Bethany this afternoon
and they are
looking for somebody
to coach cross
country this fall.
And they need a distance
coach for track in the spring,
they've got a science
position available.
You're serious?
Yeah and he asked me
if I was interested.
- Just like that?
- Just like that.
So, what did you tell him?
Well, I told him I had to
talk to you about it first.
- Wow.
- Yeah.
- I just didn't expect it.
- Yeah.
Okay, so what do you think?
Well, my first thought
was that Coach Michaels
is either retiring or that
his condition's more serious
than he's letting on,
and I'm flattered.
I just, I don't know,
Michael, I don't know.
My girlfriend, she's
training to run like a horse.
We're all practicing to run
and she's learning to gallop.
Will you stop?
I'm just kidding.
Well, it's not funny.
You know that horse
set a record in 1973
that still stands today.
Can't think of a runner
that's done that.
Ooh.
Hey.
Hey.
You okay?
Yeah.
I just hate it when
he makes fun of me.
He does that a lot.
When I was a freshman in
college I dated a guy that made
jokes about me like that
and I hated it, too.
We were together for six
months before we split up.
And when I was a sophomore
I started dating Michael,
and he's never made fun of me
and embarrassed me not once.
I'm really glad I'm
married to Michael.
Why does he do that?
He's jealous and joking
like that is his way
of covering up his own
insecurity and hurt.
Brit, he may say
that he loves you,
I just think he probably
has a little bit to learn
about what real love and
commitment are all about.
What makes you say that?
Well, the Bible says
love isn't envious.
So, you should be happy
for somebody's success
and not jealous of it
when you really love them.
Well, then how will I know
when he really loves me?
You'll know.
We can start whenever
you're ready, okay?
Uh, not tonight.
I just got in and I
have a lot of homework.
No, I don't want you
to help me study.
Look, I just need to get a
shower and get to work, okay?
Um, no, no, I'm just
gonna eat something here.
I just don't feel like
talking right now, okay?
I need to go.
Chris, I need to go.
Bye.
You're gonna run your first
200 meters in 32 seconds,
the second in 31.5,
the third in 31,
and your final 200
meters at 30 seconds.
You do that, you're
in at 2:04.5.
That would beat her record
by a 10th of a second.
Yeah, but I'm not
trying to beat her record,
I'm just trying to give you
a chance to win the race.
Today, we're gonna work
on your first 400 meters,
so let's go to work.
Would you
like something to drink?
I'm okay, thank you so much.
I was just gonna
stop by for a minute.
- Okay.
- Thank you.
Hey, Coach Donnelly.
Forgive me for not getting up.
Please come on in and sit down.
I thought I might stop
by to give you an update
on how Brittany was doing,
but first, how are you doing?
Well, not doing too good.
Doc says I'm gonna need surgery.
I'm sorry.
Me too.
So, how are things going?
Brittany's doing well.
We're working on
strength right now
with some hill workouts,
she's learning pacing.
It's not easy, but you
know she's a hard worker.
And I think the
combination of things
that we're doing is gonna
give her a good chance.
Give her a good chance?
To beat Keisha.
Nobody's expecting a miracle.
I just wanted to
make the podium.
I do too, sir.
I'm just aiming
for that top spot.
Uh, I just wanted to
stop by for a minute.
I still gotta make
the long trip home,
but we'll be praying for you.
I'm not just saying that.
My husband and I, we have
been praying for you.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Hey, coach?
Mind if I ask you, you
been a Christian long?
Uh, yes, sir.
Since I was a junior
in high school.
You take Christianity
very seriously, don't you?
Yes, sir, I do.
Do you ever think about death?
Occasionally.
I've been thinking about
it quite a bit lately.
And even though I'm a Christian,
death is something I am
not looking forward to.
I understand.
What do you believe, coach?
What do I believe?
About life and death, God.
Well, I believe that the
God of the Bible created me,
and I was born a sinner.
And that means one day I'll die.
I also believe that Jesus is
God, that he came to Earth,
he died on the
cross for our sins.
He rose and he's seated at
the right hand of the Father
and he'll return one day.
I believe that faith in Christ
is the only way to go to heaven.
I believe that there's nothing,
nothing more important than
following him in this life.
That is very well
said, young lady.
Thank you.
Thanks for coming by.
I hope you get better, sir.
Thank you for
helping with Brittany.
You're welcome.
Coach?
I think she can beat her.
Can I ask you a question?
You just did.
Still not talking to Chris?
I'm taking a break from Chris.
Why?
Why do you ask?
'Cause he keeps
asking me what's wrong.
I told him we needed
a break from each other.
Yeah, but he doesn't know why.
That's for him to figure out.
1:33.8, okay, good job.
Half a second faster
than you wanna be,
but you still got
something left, right?
Yeah.
Good, this is where those
hill workouts are gonna come in.
I know you might
not like doing them,
but the final 200
meters of the race,
you're gonna be glad you did.
Okay.
Take a full recovery.
We're gonna go again, 600
meters in 1:34.5 this time.
Yeah, I think I've only
got a couple of jumpers
that are going to
regionals this year.
That's about it.
Short workout today, Brittany?
Uh, yeah, just three
600s, but all at race pace.
You got your first crack
at Keisha coming up
in the regionals.
Think you can catch her?
I don't know.
She's pretty far ahead of me.
We'll be pulling for you.
Thanks.
I hear you've been
working the hills.
Yeah, Coach Donnelly's
pretty big on that.
It's good for ya, help
build some strength.
She's trying to get me a
couple of seconds faster.
That would still leave
a couple of seconds
to gain though, wouldn't it?
Well, yeah.
But Coach Donnelly
said she's gonna
try and slow Keisha down.
Wait, what was that?
She's gonna try
and slow Keisha down.
I don't know how or
what she means by that.
Well, see ya.
Bye, Brittany.
Bye.
Slow down a runner?
Beats me.
Save one second for
her and who knows.
- See ya.
- See ya.
See you guys.
- See ya, Jess.
- Later, Jess.
Coach Donnelly we were
just talking with Brittany
and she mentioned you had a
plan to slow down a runner.
I've been around
track a long time,
and I've never heard a coach say
they can do something like that.
Especially with somebody
like Keisha Thompson.
You do know she's
a three time champ?
I'm well aware of
her success, yes.
I saw Keisha run
the final last year.
She'd have to trip
and fall before
anybody would have a
chance to beat her.
Is that what you have in mind?
No.
Okay, well, I didn't know
'cause I've been to some
high school meets and
stranger things have happened.
Well, I can assure you the
thought never crossed my mind.
Please don't do anything
to disgrace the
name of this school.
Slow down a runner.
What's Keisha gonna do?
Run right up to the finish
line, stop just before crossing
and go, "Come on,
Brittany, it's all yours."
No, she hasn't
said anything yet,
but I don't believe for a moment
she's going to turn it down.
She'll get to coach
at the college level,
teach a couple of
entry level courses,
and her pay will double.
Well, maybe not double,
but it'll surely go up.
You could always
match funds with some
of your principal salary
and keep her here.
Oh, here's the clincher.
Her husband's an accountant
and their firm has two offices.
Guess where the other one is?
We're going to need to look
for a nice science teacher,
a new cross country
coach and a golf coach,
because Coach Donnelly is not
going to be here in the fall.
Yeah, I'll be sorry
to see her go, too.
Nice job, ladies.
How's it going?
It's not.
We've got one meet left
to qualify for regionals.
My relay team has a lot of time
to make up if we wanna get in.
How much?
A little over three seconds.
- Ouch.
- Yeah.
Right now I've got Leah
going in the open 400,
but she's my only runner.
Relay team is a long shot.
Can Leah make the national?
No, no, not a chance.
I mean, at least she's
going to regional.
I can't seem to get these
girls to go any faster
or put together four good legs.
Well, why don't you try a
couple of different things then?
Oh, grad assistant
has some advice.
This should be good.
Have you considered having
your girls go out slower
the first 200, so that
they can come back faster?
Even splits for a 400 meter run?
Yeah, something like that.
And change up the
order of who leads off.
Start with your slowest runner
and always hand off
to a faster runner.
You sound just like
that high school coach.
That's where I got it from.
What did she do, talk to
everybody about my relay team?
She didn't talk to me.
Well, how do you know
what you just said then?
Your girls went up
to her and asked her
if she had any advice for them?
Wait, what?
My girls asked her?
Yeah.
How do you know that?
I was standing right
there when it happened.
Wait, so they asked for
her advice on what exactly?
How they could get faster.
And Coach Donnelly told them?
Not at first.
What do you mean not at first?
Explain.
She won't answer the phone,
when I see her on campus
she says she doesn't wanna talk.
What's going on?
- I don't know.
- But you're her roommate,
you must know something.
Well, I'm sorry, I don't.
Something happened
I don't know about.
Could be.
I never knew how much
I really cared for her.
Well, you should tell her that.
How?
She won't talk to me.
Coach Donnelly,
can I talk to you for a minute?
Sure.
Is everything okay?
When we talked to you a
while ago about our relay team,
Leah told you that Coach
Simpson said it was okay,
but Coach Simpson didn't
know anything about it.
And I felt guilty every since,
and I wanted to come to
you sooner, but, I'm sorry.
Thank you for telling me.
Coach, Leah's not doing so good.
What do you mean?
Well, she lies,
she cheats in school,
and she doesn't seem to have
any conviction about anything,
and I'm scared that she's
not a real Christian.
Why'd she come to
school here then?
She has a partial scholarship
and her father went here,
and he's a pastor.
And you're not sure
she's a believer?
She's herded her whole life,
but I'm not sure she's
ever really herded.
I see.
I'm sorry that we lied to
you and I went along with it.
But I'm a Christian, coach,
I struggle with things,
but I'm a Christian.
And Leah's my friend,
she just needs help.
Well, Tonya, thank
you for coming to me.
So, we can transition over
to the new office
whenever we're ready.
It's totally up to us.
Wow, that, that's good to know.
Yeah, seems like everything's
falling into place.
Yeah, it really does.
So, the decision's all yours.
No, the decision's ours.
No, it doesn't matter
to me either way.
I can stay here or go there.
I mean, this decision's all up
to you, miss Courtney Smith.
Hey, Jess, how'd it go today?
It didn't.
No one ran.
How come?
We don't run when
it's raining hard.
Is Brittany here?
Yeah, she's in there.
He's so cool with that dance.
Coach, I didn't think
you'd be coming today.
You do know they run track
meets in the rain, right?
Well, yeah, but it's
raining pretty hard.
Coach Michaels doesn't make
us practice when it rains.
Yeah, I mean it's this year.
Hey, coach, does
your high school team
run in the rain like that?
Yeah, as long
as it's not lightning we run.
But why?
Because we're runners
and that's what we do.
I mean, nationals
could be in the rain.
It was pouring,
that's ridiculous.
Why would you run in the rain?
Do you really wanna know?
Sure.
Seriously, Chris, do
you really wanna know?
Yeah, sure.
Can I ask you, are your
parents together or divorced?
They're together.
Anybody else here have
parents that are divorced?
Raise your hand.
Yeah, mine too.
Anybody here with
their hand up wish
that never would have happened?
Look, chances are you're all
gonna get married someday.
You'll pledge to make a
commitment for life and there will
come a day in your marriage
that you experience rain.
You're gonna have a really
big decision to make.
You can choose to do
the easy thing like
our parents did and get
divorced or you could choose
to stay together in the rain.
Chris, it's really easy to
run when the weather is nice.
It's easy to follow the
Lord when everything's good,
what about when it's not?
It's not fun to run in the rain,
and it's not easy to follow
the Lord when nothing's
going right and you're
wondering where God is.
But regardless of the
conditions, you still run.
And regardless of the
circumstances, you still follow.
That's why we run in the rain.
Brittany, good job today.
I'll see you next week.
Where are you going?
To see Chris.
Okay, your surgery is
scheduled for Saturday the 18th.
Here's some information for you.
I want you to come in
a couple days early,
so plan on being
here on the 16th.
Saturday is the
day of the national.
What time's the surgery?
Two o'clock.
One of my runners should be
in the 800 meter final then.
They're gonna run
her race at 2:30.
I wanted to listen
to it over the phone.
Sorry, coach.
Can't you push it to
another day or time?
Jeff, the line
waiting to get a table
at this hospital
is 800 meters long.
I'd rather listen to the race.
And I would rather not
have to perform this surgery.
Can we do it in the morning?
I play golf on
Saturday mornings.
Didn't I tell you
golf is the most
frustrating game ever invented?
You better hope I
have a good round,
so I don't take my
frustration out on you.
Hey.
May I speak with you a moment?
Sure.
I, uh, I owe you
a little apology.
There's been a misunderstanding.
I'm sorry for the way
I spoke to you before.
I thought you had
approached my girls
and given them
advice on how to run.
I did not know that they
approached you and told you
I said it was all right
to share your thoughts.
They were wrong to say that.
I apologize for
my hasty response.
No apology necessary.
Leah and I have had a
little tension all year.
I understand, I have
been there before.
Thanks.
Yeah.
They missed qualifying for
regionals by 9/10 of a second.
They all tried to
run even splits,
and each ran their best time.
And I like the idea
of getting faster
each time you hand
off the baton.
All four girls are back next
year and they're pretty pumped.
That's great, I'm
really happy for you guys.
Good luck with
Brittany in the regional.
Thanks.
- Hey.
- Hey.
Hardly anybody around, did
you just finish your workout?
Yeah.
Ready for the regional?
Uh, yeah, I guess,
but I don't stand
a chance at nationals.
Sure you do.
Uh, no, I don't.
The only girls that
don't stand a chance
at nationals are the
ones that didn't qualify.
I ranked seventh out of eight
and only the top four get in.
Okay, but what if
three of those girls
got disqualified,
what if they cheated?
Cheated?
Yeah, you know,
steroids, doping.
It wouldn't surprise
me if some of them are.
Or what if some of
their coaches submitted
faster times than
they actually ran?
That's be wrong.
The cheating or the lying?
Both.
Oh.
That reminds me, in my
class I have this thing
that I say to my students
before every test.
I say, "Get it wrong
before you cheat."
You know, that way you can
feel good about yourself.
Sleep at night.
That's my only rule.
Get it wrong before you cheat.
That's a good rule.
Yeah.
What year are you?
Junior.
Bethany University and Orange
Hills Academy where I teach,
they exist for the same purpose.
That's to teach
people about Christ.
We've all lied and
we've all cheated,
I know I have in my life.
But that's why we need Christ.
When I was a junior in high
school this girl told me
that Jesus died for all my sins.
She lead me to Christ.
Uh, coach, do you have a minute?
Sure.
Leah, you okay?
Coach, I owe you an apology.
You and like half of
the people on campus.
Brittany.
I'm so nervous.
I understand.
You're not gonna
run your race today
the way we've been
training for it.
What?
Keisha's gonna
go out for the lead
and I want you to go with her.
Stay right on her shoulder for
600 meters and then slow down
and make sure you
finish in the top four.
Wait, why do you
want me to do that?
Stay with Keisha for
600 meters, slow down,
make sure you finish
in the top four.
I'll see you at the
end of the race.
Coach?
Hey, you win by losing, right?
Ladies, move up to the line.
Get after it Brittany,
you can get her.
Good luck, Brittany.
- Let's go, Brittany.
- Come on, Brittany.
All right, Jasmin!
- Let's go, Brittany!
- Come on, Brittany.
- Come on, Keisha.
- Come on, Keisha.
Come on, Kei!
Runners set.
Stay with her,
Brittany, stay with her.
You're right there,
keep it up, keep it up.
Looking good,
Keisha, looking good.
Good job, Keisha.
Great job, Brittany,
stay with her.
- Way to go, Brittany.
- Good job!
Go Brittany!
Where did the girl
in blue come from?
I was just thinking
the same thing.
What's wrong with her?
What, what is she doing?
Why is she slowing down?
Is she hurt?
Come on, Brittany!
You gotta make
top four, Brittany.
- Come on.
- Come on, Brittany!
Almost through!
Coach Dunn, any idea why
that runner pulled off?
Why are you afraid somebody
might beat your girl?
No, I'm just wondering
why she slowed down.
I mean, she looked great
up till that point.
I mean, you know
how these coaches are.
They tell their
runners to start out
with the leader and
try to stay with them.
Well, she did for
about 600 meters.
Yeah, but Michaels is his coach,
and I've never seen him
coach a runner like that.
Nah, Michaels ain't coaching.
He had to time some time off,
having some heart trouble.
Oh, wow, I'm sorry to hear that.
So, who's coaching her?
Some high school coach.
I can't remember her name,
but I've seen her at some
of the cross country meets
when I've been recruiting.
Something didn't seem right.
What do you mean?
Well, I mean, she
deliberately slowed down.
Well, if you're worried
and you shouldn't be,
in two weeks when
you run the national,
just tell Keisha not to go out
so fast and to stay with her,
and then in the last 100 meters,
Keisha kicks it in
and blows her away.
You got nothing to worry about.
- Like we talked about.
- Brittany,
why did you slow down?
Coach told me to.
Why did you have her slow down?
She was right with her.
Dad.
The goal wasn't to
try and beat her today.
But that's the way
she needs to run.
Just go out and stay with her,
see if you can beat
her in the end.
Brittany can't win
if she runs that way.
But she was right
with her for 600 meters.
If she gets a little more
training in she might be able to.
I'm sorry, sir.
It doesn't quite work that way.
Okay, coach, if
and this is a big if,
Brittany can run a 2:06,
how does Keisha
Thompson run a 2:06?
If Keisha goes out slower
than she normally does
than Brittany has a chance.
Wait, I don't
understand, please explain.
Keisha usually goes
out in 60 seconds,
finishes the second lap in 65.
So, if she goes out
slower than she's used to,
then Brittany has a chance.
How do you figure?
Because Keisha's body
is used to going out fast
and then slowing down and if
she goes out at a slower pace,
it's gonna do the same thing.
- What?
- If Keisha goes out slower
it's gonna be easy for
her to maintain that pace.
Yeah, and then she'll
just turn on the jets
and blow Brittany
away down the stretch.
I'm sorry, I mean no
disrespect to you guys.
I really don't, but I
think that you're mistaken.
Keisha's body
isn't used to that.
She hasn't trained that way.
She's gonna go out, she's
gonna slow down like
she always does and
she's not gonna be able
to turn on the jets
like you guys think.
Coach Donnelly, I appreciate
all you've done for Brittany,
I really do, but I have to
agree with the coaches here.
Brittany needs to do
what she just did,
go out hard after Keisha
and try to hang on,
and see if she can
beat her in the end.
And what makes
you think her coach
is stupid enough
to slow her down?
Yeah, why would he ever do that?
Brittany can't win by
running Keisha's race.
She needs to run the way
that we've been training.
You did a great job
today, Brittany, okay?
See you Tuesday.
Excuse me.
Brittany what did
she tell you to do?
Stay with Keisha for 600 meters
then finish in the top four.
Why'd she slow you down?
I don't know.
She didn't say.
It doesn't make any sense.
Wait till Michaels
hears about this.
- Hey, Jess.
- Hey, coach.
The lineup for the
heats came in today.
Keisha's in heat one,
Brittany heat two.
Okay, what are the top
qualifying times in Brit's race?
One of the girls
has run a 2:11.8,
two are over 2:12 and the
others 2:13 and above.
Okay, thanks.
So, what time's
your race Saturday?
2:30, but I run a qualifying
heat before it on Wednesday.
I thought you already qualified?
That was the regional
to get into the national.
So, there are 24 runners that
made it to the national meet.
So, on Wednesday
there are three heats.
The top two from each heat
plus the next two best times
make it to the final,
which is on Saturday.
So, eight runners
total in the final?
- Right.
- I see.
But we're all
planning to be there.
Thanks.
Are you nervous?
- Nope.
- No?
- No.
- You are to!
I am not.
Don't get overconfident now.
I'm not doing that.
I never do that.
I have respect for my opponents,
they just can't beat me.
What about the
girl from Bethany?
What about her?
Is she in your heat?
No, but it doesn't matter.
Look, see this side of me?
Yeah.
That's the only side any runner
is gonna see of me
at the end of a race.
Okay, so you won
your heat today,
but you can't run a 2:10 and
expect to win in the final.
I know, but I
didn't run my hardest.
I told you that.
But I haven't seen you run hard
since Coach Donnelly took over.
I mean, you ran a faster
time with Coach Michaels.
Well, Coach Donnelly has a
race strategy and there's been
no reason to use it yet,
but we will on Saturday.
That doesn't,
I was gonna say something
negative and I caught myself.
I'm becoming a new man.
Race strategy, Coach
Donnelly on Saturday, got it.
- Hey, Brittany.
- Yeah?
I hope it works.
Thanks.
Brittany ran a 2:09.8
earlier in the season
and then two weeks
later a 2:08.5.
Since then nothing faster.
And Keisha ran a
2:04.9 at regional,
just 3/10 of a second
off her record.
It's not even close.
That girl looked
good for 600 meters,
I mean she was right there.
It's a 800 meter race, not 600.
Are you worried about her?
No, sir.
Even if she stayed with me
she wasn't gonna beat
me down the stretch.
Look, coach, we've
got two options here.
Either Keisha runs
like Keisha runs
or we let Brittany take the lead
and Keisha gets her in the end.
Hey, coach, I saw your car.
Hey.
You didn't have to come in
today, all I did was run easy.
I know, I wanted to.
I felt like it was important.
The other coaches said
they're coming to watch my race.
That's great.
Not sure what they're
expecting to see.
Keisha is gonna
make history, right?
Only four time
winner in any event.
That's what everyone's
expecting to see.
Except me and that's
why I'm here today.
I know it would really help
if you felt the same way.
Coach, I run a 2:08,
she's run a 2:04.
I'm not even close.
Brittany, running
isn't just physical,
it's also mental.
You have to believe
you can do this.
It's easy to say.
Do you remember the
story in the Bible
about the blind man Bartimaeus?
He was begging on
the side of the road
when he heard Jesus was coming.
He said, Jesus son of
David, have mercy on me.
And Jesus called for him
and Bartimaeus cast
aside his garment
and Jesus asked
him what he wanted.
He said that he wanted to see.
Jesus said your faith
has made you whole
and he immediately
received his sight.
Jesus said that his
faith made him whole,
but what faith was
he talking about?
A lot of people don't
know that in those days,
blind people wore
a special garment
so that other people would
know that they were blind.
So, when Bartimaeus cast it
aside it was his way of saying,
I'm not even gonna
need this anymore.
That's the faith.
He believes that Jesus
was gonna heal him
before he was even healed.
And I believe you
can beat Keisha.
I really do, but you
gotta believe it too.
Brittany was right with
Keisha for 600 meters in
the regional and Coach
Donnelly told her to pull back.
Why'd she do that?
We don't know.
Brittany?
I don't know, I just
did what she told me.
And then yesterday in our
heat at the national qualifier,
Coach Donnelly told Brittany
to stay with the leaders
and then win it at the
end, which she did.
I ran a 2:10.3.
You run faster than that.
Yeah.
Coach Michaels, we're
not here to complain
about Coach Donnelly, but
perhaps you can give us
some clear direction.
I saw the regional
race and for 600 meters
Brittany was right with Keisha.
She looked great.
Yeah, she did.
And I think it's
the only way to run
the final and have a chance.
It certainly can't be what
Coach Donnelly is hoping for.
Which is what?
That Keisha will go
out slower in the final.
Now, think about that.
The 800 meter champion
for the past three years,
nobody even close to her,
and Coach Donnelly thinks
Keisha's coach is gonna
slow her down for the final.
Why does she think that?
No idea.
Brittany?
I don't know, sir.
We came here
tonight to ask if you
could override Coach Donnelly
and make the decision
for how Brittany
should run her race.
I see.
Coach Michaels, if Coach
Donnelly had never come on
the scene, wouldn't you
advise Brittany to go out
with Keisha and try
and stay with her?
Coach, wouldn't you?
As a former 800 meter
runner and a finalist
in the NCAA, yes, I would.
Would you gentleman
please excuse us.
I wanna talk to Brittany alone.
Told you we could get
him to make a change.
Now, you listen.
I'm still the head
coach of this team,
coaching you distance runners.
We've been together
now three years.
You and I have
accomplished a lot.
So, I'm gonna tell
you how you're gonna
run your race at the national
and I want you to do it
exactly as I'm gonna say.
You understand, young lady?
Yes, sir.
Please, give me you
word as a Christian
that you'll do
exactly as I tell you.
I will.
I want you to run your race
exactly as Coach Donnelly says.
Yes, sir.
- You warmed up?
- Yeah, I'm ready.
Okay, good.
This is what we've
been working towards.
All the training, all the
effort, all the pacing.
Yep.
If this goes the way I
hope than you should be
in the lead at 100 meters
with Keisha right behind you.
Let's hope her
coach took the bait.
What does that mean?
Do you remember
the story I told you
from the golf match
from when I was like 13?
Yeah.
Do you remember what
I said I did wrong?
Um, you were worried
about the other players.
Right and that's exactly
what we tried to do to Keisha.
We want her to run our
race today instead of hers.
Having you run with her for
600 meters and slowing down,
that was get into her head.
Let's hope it worked.
What if Keisha goes out
fast like she always does?
It doesn't matter.
Run the race that way
you've been training,
but if she goes out with
you that's what we want.
Remember it's not always the
fastest runner that wins,
it's the one that crosses
the finish line first.
I've never been so
nervous in my life.
Hey, you've run this pace
for 600 meters in practice,
so you know you
can get that far.
The hill workouts that we've
been doing and Bartimaeus,
they'll get you the
rest of the way.
If I had to place a
bet on the race today,
I'd put my money on Secretariat.
Never been a four time
winner in any event.
I bet Keisha breaks her
record by at least a second.
What's her record?
2:04.6.
2:04.6, okay.
- Maybe she's nervous.
- Yeah.
I don't think our
high school coach
knows how good Keisha really is.
No, she'll find
out in a few minutes.
800 is about to start.
Ladies, take your lanes.
- Good luck, girls.
- All right, Amanda.
- Let's go, Keisha.
- Let's go, Keisha.
- Let's go Kei!
- Woo!
Yeah!
- Go, Brittany.
- Let's go, Brittany.
Good luck, Brittany.
Runners set.
Come on, Brittany.
Come on, let's go!
- You got this!
- Stay on it!
- You got this!
- Great job, Brittany!
- Let's go.
- Stay on it, Keisha.
Let's go, Brittany.
You gotta go now, Keisha!
- Run now!
- Come on, Keisha!
- Hi.
- Hi.
How's Coach Michaels doing?
He's doing fine, but he's
pretty heavily sedated,
so he won't be awake
for a few more hours.
Can we see him?
I'm sorry, but no visitors.
You guys wait here for a minute.
I think she's gonna do it too.
Thanks.
- Hey.
- Hey.
She said that you
could go back there
but just for a minute.
- Okay.
- All right.
Thanks.
To be successful
as a runner it takes
hard work, discipline
and proper training.
And sometimes in order to win,
you have to be willing to lose.
The same is true in life.
Hard work, discipline and
proper training always pay off,
but the most important thing
in this life is to
be willing to lose.
Jesus said it best,
"Whoever will save his life
"shall lose it, but
whoever will lose his life
"for my sake, shall save it."