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Chris Yorges: Boundless Spirit
02.17.08
I'd see him many times before at various XC meets. He's the coach cruising effortlessly from mile mark to the next mile mark with the
boundless energy of a person half his age, all the while shouting encouragement to all of his runners by name.
As a fellow HS Cross Country coach in Oregon, I learned to really appreciate what I saw from Sheldon XC coach Chris Yorges
and how he interacted with his athletes. He made running for Sheldon HS look like it must be the experience of a lifetime
for his runners and also, by the way, looked like he could still outrun all but just a handful of them.
After exchanging some emails with Chris and getting to know him, it turns out when it comes to running, Chris is that one
unique boundless spirit that we, as runners, all aspire to be. So without further fanfare, meet Chris Yorges, XC coach, devoted husband & father,
and, as it turns out, highly successful masters runner.
Question: You're one of the top masters runners in the United States with 12 national titles in the 3000m steeplechase. Describe
your training schedule and some of the secrets to your long-term success.
Chris Yorges: The greatest secret is the blessing to stay somewhat healthy over the years. I've learned that my body can't do the
same volume of track workouts that it used to. I try to have one type of track workout, one tempo run and one long run
each week. I also mix in a spin class and workouts on the elliptical for cross-training.
Running and training has to be fun so I try to find new trails for myself as well as others to explore for long runs on
Saturdays as well.
Question: You've also been very successful as the XC coach at Eugene's Sheldon HS for the past 8
years. Describe your coaching philosophy. Are there any training methods from your personal running that you have been
able to transpose into your program at Sheldon?
CY: We have a mission statement for our program that states that, "The purpose of our program is to provide
positive, life impacting experiences for youth." We believe that our programs success stems from the effort to help each
other to be our best as individuals as well as athletes. Character comes before running. We expect our athletes to give
it their best effort. Success is determined by how much you improve yourself and your level of effort in any given race.
Your place in the race is insignificant compared to if you challenged yourself and met that challenge.
We have many individuals that help coach and each brings their unique personality and life experiences to share with our athletes.
We see our cross-country team as a family and hope that our ties with each other last long into our lives.
Question: Describe your philosophy on "off-season" training?
CY: My philosophy of "off season training." Is there an off season?......I'm half joking. Every runner needs time
off of running as well as time running that isn't intense. I do feel that off season training is paramount to consistent
growth and development. A large part of the equation is having a plan. Plan the amount of time that athletes should take
off from running. Take time to ask and listen to each athletes short and long term goals so that you can help them with a
long term plan. Share with them the importance of the principals of rest, nutrition, keeping on top of their schoolwork
and the consequences of their actions.
I know I'm drifting a bit here but all of this helps with a high school athlete's off-season training. I'm a firm
proponent of building up a runner's mileage over time and allowing them to enjoy their high school experience and if wanted
be excited and fresh to run in college and hopefully for the rest of their life. I have yet to coach an athlete where we
felt the need to do speedwork in the summer. You can accomplish a lot with steady runs on trails and mixing in some hills
and for some, a few tempo runs. During the winter we've had athletes do cross-country skiing, indoor soccer and play on
the school basketball team. It really depends on the athlete and what they want to accomplish.
Question: You worked with some very talented HS runners while at Sheldon. If possible,
describe some of your experiences working with Jeff Randall and most recently Casey Masterson.
CY: Jeff and Casey are great individuals. The greatest part of coaching them has been our friendship. Every
athlete is unique as an individual and Jeff and Casey are definitely their own person. Casey gave us many opportunities
to laugh when it came time for her to be interviewed. I recall telling a camera man that he better be quick at the end of
our District Meet and he gave me a funny look. I think he figured it out later as I saw him and a reporter runnning after
Casey with all their gear in tow trying to ask her a few questions. Casey really cared more about her teammates success
than her own. She had a strong desire to do her best and was content with the outcome. She was an effort motivated
athlete as opposed to an outcome motivated athlete.
I've had the opportunity to be a small part of Jeffrey's life since he was 8 years old. I really respect him as an
individual. My greatest moment coaching him was finding the letter that he had written to me sharing his feelings and
respect for our friendship and the example I had been for him. That letter means a lot to me. I've enjoyed watching his
progress in college and am thrilled at the education he's getting at Columbia University.
Question: Regarding your personal running, what are your goals for 2008? Another 3k steeplechase
title I would assume, correct?
CY: Goals for this year include: Keeping the streak alive in the Steeplechase, running under 4:10 for the 1500,
finishing in the top three at Nationals in the indoor mile and having our 4x800 relay team break the World record.
Note: Chris kicked off his 2008 season with a 4:32.34a for the mile at the
2008 UW Indoor on
Jan. 19th. That time converts to approx. 4:14 for 1500 meters.
Question: What's the hardest aspect of running now as a master compared to when you competed
when you were younger?
CY: The hardest part is staying healthy. Another challenge is fitting everything in. Sometimes you just have to
accept that there isn't time enough in the day. There have been years where my first race of the year was the National
Championships.
Question: Describe your running career in college and immediately following college.
CY: My running career in college involved a lot of self reflection and overcoming obstacles. First things first,
I attended BYU and my distance coach was Sherald James. He is a man I loved then and we are great friends to this day.
My first year ended up being a redshirt year due to an injury (chronic IT Band).
My freshman year ended with the surprise of being on the list of 28 athletes competing at the outdoor
conference championships. I placed eigth in the 3000m steeplechase and scored a point for our team. I was thrilled to have
contributed to our team championship (Western Athletic Champions). My personal best as a frosh was 9:18 for the steeplechase.
Sophomore year was frustrating as I didn't make the travel team for the outdoor conference meet even though I
was ranked in the top 6 in the conference. I was given a team championship ring but have never worn it to this day.
My junior year was my best. Indoors I made the squad for the indoor and outdoor conference meets. At indoors
I placed fifth in the mile and ran a solid leg on our 4x800 relay team which placed second. At outdoors, I placed third in
the steeplechase and was in the lead with 500m to go. I won the steeplechase at the Willie Williams Classic as well as the
UC Irvine invitational.
Senior year was good but suffered some disapointments. I placed fifth in the indoor mile, our 4x800 relay was
third and I placed somewhere 6-8th place outdoors in the steeplechase. I was a four time first team all conference academic team member which I'm proud of.
Immediately after college I trained for the marathon and my debut was a 2:29 at the St. George Marathon. I signed a
clothing sponsorship with ASICS shortly thereafter and was on top of the world. Unfortunately the following summer I
became deathy ill and was bedridden for five weeks, lost my contract with ASICS and that was the end of my shot at
becoming an elite runner.
In the following years I started a career, married my lovely wife Cheryl and we started a family which includes three
beautiful daughters, Whitney(11), Ashley(9), and Nicki(5).
My biggest regret from college is not having enjoyed my experiences more. Our team was loaded with eventual Olympians and
many Olympic medalists from at least three or four different countries. I was always trying so hard to measure up to my
peers that I failed to enjoy the journey as well as appreciate the progress that I had made.
I strive to impart what I learned with young athletes as well as to share with them to appreciate the great blessing that
it is to be healthy and to be able to run. Life and competition is about bringing out the best in ourselves. Success is
relevant to our individual effort and capabilities. Success is knowing that on that day you were prepared to succeed and
that you gave your race your best effort. Winning a race is icing on the cake and is only truly sweet if you maximized
your potential for that effort.
I love running. I love the lessons of life that we can teach through running. I love the unique friendships and
camaraderies that we can build and share through our great sport.
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