McMillanElite :: Community Involvement

Service Calendar

July 31, 2008 Flagstaff, AZ

On a sunny and warm afternoon, McMillanElite athletes made their way to Hart Prairie, just west of the San Francisco Peaks. Normally, this excursion would be for a long, steady run in the beautiful Aspen groves that are commonly found on this side of Flagstaff. However, on this occasion, they were given the opportunity to speak to a high school running camp about the importance of a solid core and strength training routine.

As they arrived, they were greeted by more than fifty runners from two high schools in the state of Arizona; Flagstaff High School and Chaparral High School out of the Phoenix area. Soon the presentation began and the young runners demonstrated their eagerness to learn through their attentiveness and knowledgeable questions.

Once the presentation was over, the McMillanElite athletes were able to speak one on one with the runners as they both enjoyed lunch in the main cabin. This was not just a learning experience for the high school athletes, but for the McMillanElite team as well. Any chance made available to this team is taken sincerely and with full appreciation of the impact that can be made every time they make appearances. Overall, the presentation was a success as young runners were introduced to the significance of core & strength training by elite athletes who care enough to take time out of their day to demonstrate their desire to impact the sport in a positive way.

Earlier in the week, Coach Greg McMillan made the same journey to the camp to speak to the athletes as well. It is a truly special occassion for young runners to come into contact with a high caliber coach such as Greg and the athletes were very receptive to the lesson he provided.

McMillanElite would like to thank Trina Painter, Head Cross Country Coach of Flagstaff High School, for allowing us to be a part of this event.

Four Corners Introductory Altitude Camp
June 23 - 25
For three days, 29 high-school runners from the four corners region attended an introductory altitude camp and McMillanElite athletes were there to help.

Brianna Torres, Andrew Middleton and Jordan Horn led two runs for the talented Native American runners on the trails surrounding the NAU campus and beyond. It was a very educational experience for the athletes since they were able to run with elite athletes from Flagstaff, watch a VO2max demonstration, learn about training principles and nutrition from famed Coach Jack Daniels and received an inspirational Olympic presentation on the value of Respect.

It has been McMillanElite's honor to be a part of the camps put on by the Center for High Altitude Training at Northern Arizona University. Helping young athletes realize their potential and give them the direction they need to succeed is an important aspect of our core philosophy. We would like to thank the Center for High Altitude Training, Natalie Harlan and Sean Anthony for the ability to volunteer and for their tremendous support of our program.

Jr. Olympic Skills Competition Day
May 5 – 9 was Olympic Week in America and Northern Arizona University’s Center for High Altitude Training celebrated on Thursday, May 8. McMillanElite Athlete Andrew Middleton served as the 'starter' for the 50m Dash event, in which nearly one-hundred runners participated.

Local 5th and 6th graders from South Beaver and DeMiguel Elementary Schools had the opportunity to participate in the Junior Olympic Skills Competition for soccer, track and field at NAU’s Lumberjack Stadium. This free grassroots youth participation program allows boys and girls, competing separately, the opportunity to showcase their athletic abilities in Olympic events.

Visit www.jrolympicskills.com to learn more about the Junior Olympic Skills Competition. Winners from this local qualifying event will advance to a regional competition in Anthem in June.

Click here to read the full press release from NAU Center for High Altitude Training.

Kids on the Run!
Sechrist Elementary on Thursday afternoons is where you will find McMillanElite Athletes. Every week, young students rush out of school to be a part of the the Kids on the Run Program. Trina Painter, the leader of this club, has given kids the opportunity to be physically active and make running a fun sport. Jumping through hoops, crawling over barriers and racing around the playground all energize the students and give them the physical activity they crave. McMillanElite Athletes are there to give encouragement, teach proper running form and hand out healthy snacks at the end of a long, but fun, workout.

Mike Smith shares at Coconino High School
Teaching younger generations and giving them inspiration to reach their dreams is important in building a foundation for a better world. When McMillanElite Athlete Mike Smith was approached with the opportunity to speak to a group of young adults, he met the challenge will full interest and made it special for the high schoolers. Both Coconino HS and the Center for High Altitude Training were very appreciative of the time and message Mike Smith brought to students.

NAU Track & Field Meets:
McMillanElite Athletes regularly volunteer at Track & Field meets held at the Walkup Skydome hosted by Northern Arizona University. As part of giving back to the community, McMillanElite Athletes have enjoyed volunteering their time and energy to assist in the production of several indoor meets this winter.

Friday Night Challenge (1/25/08)
Mountain T's Invitational (2/2/08)

Native American Youth Clinic

On a sunny Tuesday afternoon at the NAU Track and Field Complex, McMillanElite Athletes had the opportunity to reach out to a community outside of Flagstaff. High School Athletes from Northern Arizona schools such as Hopi and Tuba City made the trip to Flagstaff for a day filled with inspirational and educational events. Before noon, the athletes had the privilege of hearing from one of the most decorated Native American athletes of all-time, Billy Mills. Mills, who was the 1964 Olympic Gold Medallist at 10,000m in Tokyo, spoke to the young runners about his life and his training, sharing stories to inspire these young adults.
After a quick lunch, the athletes made their way to the NAU Track for a short afternoon workout and instructional session with Coach McMillan and McMillanElite. Having been kept indoors all day, the runners were eager to stretch their legs. Before they knew it, Coach McMillan had them running laps, practicing breathing techniques and their cadence (the number of foot strikes in a given period of time). McMillanElite athletes were there to guide the runners along, shouting encouragement and tips for better performance. Once the workout was finished, a question and answer session began.
The afternoon was a great experience for both the Northern Arizona High School runners and McMillanElite. It was amazing to see the talent in this group and the potential they all possess. Working with young runners is always an honor and McMillanElite wishes to thank the runners for their visit and eagerness to learn as well as the NAU Center for High Altitude Training for allowing us to be a part of this great event.

Sechrist Elementary - DARE Program

After a quick lap around the playground, McMillanElite athletes talked with the students about the importance of staying away from drugs.

As part of our commitment to live a well-balanced life, McMillanElite enjoys giving back to the community through service activities such as the Sechrist Elementary DARE Program.

Four Corners/The Peaks - High School Cross Country Meets

McMillanElite athletes volunteered at Flagstaff's two largest cross country meets. Brianna Torres, Mike Smith, Brett Gotcher, Mike Hanlon and Greg McMillan donated their time and energy to assist with the production of these two meets working as course officials and awards presenters.

Along with community involvement, McMillanElite strives to support distance running for younger athletes through volunteering at races, mentorship and volunteer coaching positions at local schools.

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