High School Scrapbook: Peter De La Cerda

On being a coach

Most high school coaches have some background but if you’re really lucky, you may have a coach like Peter De La Cerda, who was second in the 2000 Olympic Trials marathon, and teaches and coaches in Alamosa, CO.  

"The biggest thing I can give my athletes is the benefit of my experience, in training and racing," he says. "Hopefully, they respect what I’ve done and listen to what I’m trying to tell them." A runner coach can also work out with the team, and push things a little bit in training.

"I have to be careful not to judge kids on my standards, or I can get frustrated," De La Cerda says. "As long as they’re putting in the same time and effort I expect of myself, I’ll be satisfied."

No matter what his athletes accomplish, De La Cerda feels it’s important to put something back into the sport he loves. "Maybe down the road, one of the runners I’ve coached can become one of the best in the world—that would be a really satisfying feeling."