GVH Coach Mike Reif answers your questions about Training & Racing
(Contact Mike at coachmr@rochester.rr.com)

Recent Background:
Since 1996 Mike has been the head coach of the Genesee Valley Harriers.  GVH has approximately 100 members including many of the elite Open and Masters distance runners in the Rochester area.

GVH members are provided a written year round training plan, coaching and management of practices on a weekly basis. Workouts are tailored to individual levels of running fitness and interests.   The program is modeled after reknown coach Dr. Jack Daniels¹ approach to distance running. Training programs are structured to accomodate any level of runner with a serious commitment to running.

Mike has had the good fortune of serving as a Coach at the US Olympic Training Center ­ Lake Placid, with USATF sponsored distance running camps since 1991. He has participated in approximately 30 one week long camps in Lake Placid with elite high school and collegiate distance runners. Dr. Daniels has been in attendance as a clinician for many of these camps, thus Mike has had intensive training directly from him.  In addition, Mike works alongside sports psychologists, nutritionists, exercise physiologists, athletic trainers, physical therapists, biomechanists and other successful coaches at these camps and locally. His specialties have become bio-mechanics and endurance training program development.  

Team and Individual Successes:
The Genesee Valley Harriers have enjoyed considerable success in cross-country and distance running since its establishment in 1996. Three USATF National MastersTeam Championship titles have been won to date. Numerous individual national championships have been won in Masters Cross Country and Track and Field.  Many Upstate NY XC Series team and individual championships have also been won by GVH members. In addition, many GVH members have been very successful in local, regional and national level competition at road racing and in track events.

Most notable was GVH Mens teams winning back-to-back USATF National Master's 5K Cross-Country Championship in 1998 and 1999 (Ages 40-49). The 40-49 year old men were also Runner-ups at 5K in 2000 and at 8K in 2001. In 2001 the Veteran Men (50-59) took Runner-up honors at the USATF National 6K XC distance. Numerous Individual National Master's XC and Track Championships have been won by Tim and Charlie McMullen since 1996 and many other GVH members have been on the award stands as well.

GVH Open Women have won the Upstate NY XC series team title several times and in 2000 won the Ontario Provinal XC Championships. The Master's Womens' Team were National Master's 5K XC Team Champions in 2000, 5K XC Runner-ups in 1999 and 8k XC Runner-ups in 2001. Individual National Championship XC titles have been won by Carolyn Smith-Hanna,  Laurie Kinsella, and Mary Shaver. Smith-Hanna, age 51, established World Age Group records in the Indoor and Outdoor Mile, set an American age group record for 800 meters indoors in 2001, has won over ten individual National titles and was named USATF Masters XC Runner of the Year in 2000 and 2001. She was also named the 2001 Track and Field Age Group (50-59) Runner of the Year and 2001 Age Group (50-59) Runner of the Year by USATF.

Each year GVH establishes lofty goals for its various teams and for individuals. By following a structured,  scientifically based training plan and by working hard as a group, most of those goals are attained and/or exceeded.     

Coach Reif's Running Highlights:
1962 Member NYC Queensborough JHS 4 x 110 yards Championship Team
1965 NYC High School XC Championships- 5th Place
1967 Member Millrose Athletic Association (NYC) National AAU 30K Championship Team (3 man), 11th individually
1967 Placed 73rd at the Boston Marathon in 2:44 at age 18
1967 Established 200 Hour World Relay Running Record for 12 Man Team
    (Team Captain - ran 235 miles in 7 days)
1967, '68 Member AAU 20K Eastern Regional Championship Team
1967 -'68 Broke 4 Collegiate XC course records in NY Metro area
1968 Championship Team Member SUNY at Brockport State XC Championships (SUNYAC )
1996 Third Place Team Member, USATF National Masters 5K XC Championships (40-49)
2001 Runner-up Team Member, USATF National Masters 6K XC Championships (50-59)
Forty plus years of fun and championship level XC, track and road races

Education:
USATF Certified Coach
Associates of Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Mechanical Technology
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Physical Education and Biology
Master of Science (M.S.) in Physical Education
Certificate of Advanced Studies (C.A.S.) in Education Administration

Occupation:
Director, Regional Early Childhood Direction Center and the Neonatal Follow-up Program (Employed by Monroe #1 BOCES collaboratively with the University of Rochester)  and Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Rochester Medical Center

Co-Owner, Innovative Edge Sports - with wife Sandie. Innovative Edge Sports primarily provides team sports apparel with creative designs, logos and embroidery to local athletic teams, high schools, colleges, business and other community groups. Screen printing and/or embroidery on tee shirts, sweatshirts and other athletic apparel is the main product. Innovative Edge sponsors a Summer Cross Country series of races and the Section V High School Cross Country Championships.  When time permits Coach Reif provides individualized coaching services and also conducts an eight week series of Clinics and Track workouts for the Greater Rochester Track Club each spring.

Honors:
1965 -  Eagle Scout, Boy Scouts of America
1986 - 90 - Appointed by Governor Mario Cuomo as Chairman of the NYS Developmental Disabilities Planning Council
1988 - 90 - Elected Secretary of the National Association of Developmental Disabilities Councils
1986 -  Awarded the "Jefferson Award" for Outstanding Public Service Benefitting a Community by the American Institute of Public Service and the City of Rochester
1988 - Awarded "Citizen of the Year" by the Perinton Chamber of Commerce

Philosophy: Running is a way of life. Have fun while becoming the best you can be.

Contact Mike at: Coach Reif <coachmr@rochester.rr.com>

Coach Michael Reif
Genesee Valley Harriers &
Innovative Edge Sports
65 Steele Road
Victor, NY  14564
716-377-1041