Unionville High School coach Mark Lacianca (@LacUVille) earned notoriety, appearing in Runner’s World, for his implementation of cross training on the way to two NXN berths. Lacianca and his cross training methods also receive mention in the recently released Amazing Racers by Marc Bloom, which dissects the Fayetteville-Manlius dynasty.  

In the past few years, Coach Lacianca has led the charge to implement changes to the traditional dual meet model moving instead to a more athlete friendly Supermeet which provides better opportunities for training and racing. He argues that athletes often over race during the traditional league meet season and sacrifice valuable training in the process. 

Coach Lacianca ([email protected]) produces leaders throughout his program with running groups and watch leaders to help foster an interconnected and positive culture. Moreover, a major focus on the team drives their shared purpose. Unionville places an emphasis on the 4x800 relay in the spring and pack running in the fall - conversations routinely revolve around the team because, “It’s a lot more fun when you’re bringing everyone along.”

A Run On Culture Podcast is designed to learn from dedicated local runners and coaches to discover the secrets behind their culture of success.   In future episodes we'll interview local high school runners, coaches and community runners.   The Run Culture Podcast is a new side project put together by Scott Burns the head coach at Downingtown West High School.

YouTube: https://youtu.be/JaNVwhsGVJA  

Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-run-on-culture/id1506857114 

Naomi Hillen finished 15th overall at the PIAA AAA Girls State Cross Country Championships this past November.  She captured a big win at Lehigh's Paul Short Run in the White Division running a personal best 18:37 in a dramatic kick to the finish against Pennsbury's Tatum Lynch.  As a sophomore, Naomi became the first Pottsgrove individual Pioneer Athletic Conference league champion in over 20 years. 

In this episode of A Run On Culture, Naomi shares her advice to girls thinking about switching from soccer to cross country as well as what keeps her motivated to continue training during the current shutdown.  With only 5 girls on her team every runner really does count, but that hasn't stopped Naomi and her teammates from building strong bonds and leaning on each other to reach their goals.  She also replays her big Lehigh win, a let down at her district meet and a triumphant state meet which she attributes to her grittiness and fight. 

A Run On Culture Podcast is designed to learn from dedicated local runners and coaches to discover the secrets behind their culture of success.   In future episodes we'll interview local high school runners, coaches and community runners.   The Run Culture Podcast is a new side project put together by Scott Burns the head coach at Downingtown West High School.

Podcast: https://youtu.be/lsM4W8kFJNA 

In Episode 6 of A Run On Culture we talk with Coach Greg Bielecki of the La Salle College High School Explorers.

Since joining the PIAA in the fall of 2008 La Salle Cross Country has 11 top 10 finishes, 8 top 5 finishes, and 4 top 2 podium finishes at the PIAA Cross Country State Championship Meet. In 2013 their DMR (Andrew Stone, Levi Hardy, Jack Magee, and Tom Coyle) won the Penn Relays Championship of America. They have captured three Distance Medley Relay Indoor State titles since 2008 and La Salle XC/T&F has won a combined 21 Philadelphia Catholic League team titles.

Greg lets us dive inside the La Salle culture and explains his program philosophy as well as how he is training his team during the Covid-19 crisis. We compare that current training to what a typical outdoor training season might have looked like. Then Coach Bielecki describes the feeling of winning both a Penn Relays Wheel and a Cross Country State Championship. Inevitably it all comes back to an inclusive environment that focuses on hard work and the process over results.

At Haverford College, Greg was a 3x NCAA All-American, including a National Championship in the DMR. In addition, he is a 3x Top Philadelphia finisher at the Broad Street Run and holds a marathon PR of 2:29.

Explorers Virtual Mile (Wed May 6 - Sun May 10, 2020)  - www.RunSignUp.com/ExplorersMile

A Run On Culture Podcast is designed to learn from dedicated local runners and coaches to discover the secrets behind their culture of success.   In future episodes we'll interview local high school runners, coaches and community runners.   The Run Culture Podcast is a new side project put together by Scott Burns the head coach at Downingtown West High School.

YouTube: https://youtu.be/WJTUpoAiJqE

In this episode of A Run On Culture we talk to Ben Datte and Holden Betz from Downingtown West High School. Ben and Holden were the number 3 and 4 runners for the 2019 PIAA AAA State Champion Whippets finishing 25th and 26th overall. We get to hear their story of the state meet and what it felt like to win a title, as well as their take on culture. I ask Ben about his choice of Appalachian State University to continue his running career and Holden tells us who he thinks will help Downingtown West get back to the top next year.   

Henderson Virtual 3200m - www.RunSignUp.com/Hen32    

A Run On Culture Podcast is designed to learn from dedicated local runners and coaches to discover the secrets behind their culture of success.   In future episodes we'll interview local high school runners, coaches and community runners.   The Run Culture Podcast is a new side project put together by Scott Burns the head coach at Downingtown West High School.

YouTube: https://youtu.be/ISvhCw4jS50

In this episode of A Run On Culture we talk with the varsity girls from West Chester Henderson High School including Amanda Kelly, Liesl Scherrer, Caroline Miller and 2x NXN Qualifier and 2018 XC State Champion Jenna Mulhern. The girls tell us about their training during the Covid-19 crisis as well as their thoughts on virtual racing. Amanda Kelly fills us in on what it's like to be coached by her dad, while Jenna discusses the NXN experience.  All of this and more makes for a fantastic conversation with one of PA's all time best programs.   

Henderson Virtual 3200m - www.RunSignUp.com/Hen32   

A Run On Culture Podcast is designed to learn from dedicated local runners and coaches to discover the secrets behind their culture of success.   In future episodes we'll interview local high school runners, coaches and community runners.   The Run Culture Podcast is a new side project put together by Scott Burns the head coach at Downingtown West High School.  

YouTube: https://youtu.be/SzDgm_GVvaE

In this episode of A Run On Culture we talk with Timothy Marcoe, the head coach at Owen J. Roberts High School. In a short time as head coach, Tim has put together an impressive program. Both his boys and girls teams made it to the Pennsylvania State Cross Country Championships in 2019 led by young up and coming runners. Freshmen Claire Zubey went on to finish 5th at the PTFCA Indoor State Championships Mile in an impressive 5:05.42. Coach Marcoe discusses how athletes like Liam Conway (2018 Indoor Mile State Champ - 4:15) helped pave the way for future success and how that might help guide him in developing young stars like Zubey and Damiani. We also discuss the importance a steadfast dedication and passion that a coach needs to bring everyday. 

A Run On Culture Podcast is designed to learn from dedicated local runners and coaches to discover the secrets behind their culture of success.  

In future episodes we'll interview local high school runners, coaches and community runners.   The Run Culture Podcast is a new side project put together by Scott Burns the head coach at Downingtown West High School.

YouTube Video:  https://youtu.be/dYHy_EuawTs

Reagan and Lauren Flannery are high school seniors at Downingtown West in Pennsylvania. Both girls were part of the District 1 AAA Championship team in Cross Country. Reagan went on to earn a 6th place medal in the Mile (5:06.04), while Lauren ran the 1200m lead-off leg (3:47) in the Distance Medley Relay which placed 5th at this year's PTFCA Indoor Track & Field Championships. Reagan and Lauren share their insights into what has helped them succeed in high school including insights into why culture was an important piece of that success. 

The Run Culture Podcast is a podcast designed to learn from dedicated local runners and coaches to discover the secrets behind their culture of success.  In future episodes we'll interview local high school runners, coaches and community runners.   The Run Culture Podcast is a new side project put together by Scott Burns the head coach at Downingtown West High School.

YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/vw3mxhTSTJw

In our first episode of the Run Culture Podcast I interview Kennett High School (PA) Head Coach John Ramagano to learn the secrets that have made him a successful coach.   The Run Culture Podcast is a podcast designed to learn from dedicated local runners and coaches to discover the secrets behind their culture of success.  In future episodes we'll interview local high school runners, coaches and community runners.   The Run Culture Podcast is a new side project put together by Scott Burns the head coach at Downingtown West High School.

YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/2kT6LA9pG9Q