Lou Snelling was a standout runner for Seminole High School and the University of Central Florida.  This Q&A goes back to his running roots, to elementary school field day, running in middle school, and then joining Coach Bruce Calhoun's program at Seminole High.

Snelling has been a college coach for more than 20 years, and just last weekend, his Bowling Green women's indoor track team won the school's first conference title in more than 25 years.

Calhoun built the boys and girls cross country teams into Pinellas County's best in the second half of his tenure. No matter how well the teams did, the runners treasured their time under Calhoun's tutelage. Learn why Calhoun says "I marvel at myself" -- a rare comment by the coach who never sought praise.

At last, the story of the 1994 Largo Invitational. The Largo boys and Lakewood girls won the races, but that's not what people recall about the day, Oct. 12, at Taylor Park.

"About as bad as it gets," one coach said. Another coach told meet officials that his own team should be disqualified. Come along for the run with the retelling of events from multiple eyewitnesses and participants.

The Boston Marathon is a big deal. It's this weekend. And we found Leto and Largo runners who competed in the prestigious spring race (they aren't the only ones). So, the alternate title could be ATMM Goes to Boston. Hear the words (occasionally of the four-letter variety) from John Brennan (Largo Class of 84) and Matt Heiser (Leto Class of 85). Thanks for coming along for the run!

In early 1979, Mark Altimari didn't know much about Largo cross country. His family had moved recently from suburban Philadelphia to Tampa, and he was a confessed "wrestling dummy" at his new school, Leto High. Then, he met Leto coach Bobby Ennis, "the first adult to truly believe in me," Altimari said. He soon learned more about the rival Packers and more about cross country, and then more about the work it would take to take down Largo.

Belen Jesuit in Miami has won more FHSAA boys cross country state championships than any program. This weekend, Belen goes for the 15th title in program history. Coach Frankie Ruiz's team has its sights on other championships, as it will run at least one other race after the 3A state meet on Friday, Nov. 17 in Tallahassee.

Music: Mini Vandals, Out On My Skateboard

Chris Palmer, a 1984 Largo graduate, was part of three cross country state titles for the Packers in the early 1980s. This episode features Palmer's talk at the start of the Sept. 15 reunion of Largo runners, which came one night after the track at Largo was named for Coach Brent Haley.  Special thanks to Largo's Mike Fowler for the audio.

Welcome to the start of Season 2 of All The Miles Mattered. This is as close to a news episode as you’re going to get for a story 50 years in the making. Last month, at halftime of a Largo High School football game, the track at the stadium got a new name and also a familiar name.

Sound:

Leto's cross country program in the 1980s was on par with Largo's. The Long Red Row won five 4A state titles in the decade, just ahead of the Packers' four championships. Leto had a disadvantage then against Largo when it came to developing talent: It was a three-grade school, and Largo had four grades. So while Largo coach Brent Haley could develop freshman runners, Leto's Bobby Ennis had to wait for them to show up after spending their ninth-grade year in junior high.

That's why the subject of this ATMM bonus episode was so important. His name is Phil Zimmerman, aka Coach Z, and he developed generations of runners at Webb Junior High, sending the "raw material" to Ennis. This episode is mainly an interview with Coach Z, but it also teases another critical moment in the history of the Leto program, one that can be called forgettable and memorable at the same time. Thanks for coming along for the run!

Music: Mini Vandals (Out on My Skateboard; Fingerprint)