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The human body is often compared to a machine. I'm guilty of using the analogy, telling an athlete “You're a machine!” It is my way of saying that they just keep going and going.

Reality is that a machine pales in comparison to what the human body can both produce and endure. Machines are fairly predictable. They are built to work within certain parameters. For example, if I buy a Ford SVT Mustang Cobra with the Supercharged V8 and a Displacement of 4601 cc, I can expect a top speed of 155 MPH. I can't expect it to do 170 MPH and if I push it to the limit

every day I know that three years down the line it just won't perform as well.

But I also know that the human body doesn't react the same as a machine. The more it is overloaded the better it becomes (to some limit of course and that is the art – not science – of coaching).

So when I find a freshman that can run 65 seconds in the 400M, it may truly be their total capacity for that year or that time. But it is expected that with maturation and physical stress her top speed will improve, not lessen.

What prompted this revelation is a copy of senior captain Leah Seward's personal statement which accompanied her application to Brown University.

She just gained early acceptance. It was no surprise. But her insights spoke highly to her understanding of human nature; how important it is to seek goals and work to achieve them. Physical performance has transient limits. The best you can do today is not necessarily the best you can do tomorrow.

The importance of preparation is highlighted in her quote, “Each time I practice I realize how my body and mind intertwine to push me to the limits of what I can achieve.” The unspoken extention of that is that the limit is a moving and unknown target.

The point I would like to make, now that I'm finally getting around to it, is that for the human body the limit of performance is governed more by the mind than the body. It is the mind that determines how hard the body will push. Given that level of stress, the body will respond accordingly.

The greatest benefit the human body has over the machine is the ability to think. The challenge to all athletes is to not let the mind limit what the body does.

The Hockomock League Jamboree was last Saturday and the only surprise for me was the depth displayed by some of the traditionally non-dominant teams. It just keeps getting harder and harder to win.

But let me put it in perspective for you. I was recently talking to a “Massachusetts Coaches' Hall of Fame” member and he was jealous that NA got to participate in the Hockomock League. He realizes that his teams are less prepared for state level competition because of weak competition within their own league. So maybe it is tough, but when you've made it through a year in the Hockomock League you are ready for anything.

Now on to different subjects:

Lenny Harmon may have turned 40 but that doesn't diminish his competitive instinct. When you have been a New England Champion and multiple school record-holder you don't just go quietly into the night. He is considering making an assault on the two-minute half-mile. Recovering from injury, he is pain-free and ready to rock. His daughter is a 200M runner and I'm sure we'll be crossing paths when he watches her at Reggie Lewis this winter.

S-I-L Matthew Taylor is coaching some freshman distance runners at Georgetown in preparation for the Junior National CC Championships in Vancouver, Oregon. Feb. 12 is already highlighted on my calendar. Qualifiers will compete in France in the World XC meet.

This is a reminder to Indoor Track parents from NA that there is a boosters club. Letters have been sent home with the athletes. Money raised by this club has helped in many ways. Already this year they have provided extra shot puts and a training manual that is being used by the throwers. Throwers will also be getting an indoor practice ring, something that has been sorely missing. Other goals are to provide funds for the banquet, including awards. Spring track and indoor track will be combining to fund a new digital camera for meet pictures. I have bought the last two, but with the help of the parent's group we should be able to get one that will provide quality pictures, both for the web-site and the highlight DVD.

The high school Foot-Locker Championship was the end of the high school season. Chris Barnicle was the highest placing athlete from Massachusett's.

The college season doesn't really kick in until after the holidays but Sam Robbins has already run a PR 5:22 in the mile. Marcus Vaughn put in a day of practice on our track yesterday and can't wait to compete for Syracuse. The hurdlers were held out of the first meet. Now that I'm coaching indoors again I'll have a little less time to devote to college meets, so I'll be relying on my readers to update me.

Congrats to Franklin coach Pat Sweeney for his small part in bringing another distance runner into the world. As always, he takes the credit for the hard work of a female. I know how that is!

Finally and on a sadder note. Two important people in the world of track and field have passed during the last week. Famed distance coach Arthur Lydiard was in the middle of a US tour. He was doing what he loved - preaching the gospel of hard work. An indication of how he was thought of is contained in this letsrun.com message board thread.

More local and more closely felt was the death of Frances Hanley. She was the matriach of Stoddard Drive and delivered a generation (10 children) of distance runners to both the boys' and girls' track team - including numerous captains. She was well loved. The thoughts and prayers of the North Attleboro track teams and track alumni are with her and the Hanley family.