All The Miles Mattered

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The coach who created a Florida distance-running dynasty, the rise of a friendly rival, and the fleet-footed antagonist who flamed out too fast.

Neil Amato


    • Mar 13, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 20m AVG DURATION
    • 28 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from All The Miles Mattered

    Calm and measured and wise

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2025 27:11


      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. Thanks for coming along for the run. This is one of three episodes posting today, all with a focus on Seminole.  

    Unintentionally charismatic

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2025 32:13


      Come along for the run! This episode, one of three being released today, includes Q&As with several Seminole High runners and the words of their coach, Bruce Calhoun. 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.  

    'Quite the day there at Taylor Park'

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2025 47:09


          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.

    largo lakewood taylor park
    Boston Marathon 2024 Special

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2024 34:05


    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!

    November 1980: The Letter

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2024 15:29


    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. The events of fall 1980 on cross country courses in Pinellas and Hillsborough counties didn't end Altimari's interaction with Largo. Instead, a letter created a lifelong bond. This episode of All The Miles Mattered goes in-depth on the mail sent to Altimari after the state meet in 1980, which in 4A boys competition was decided by 3 points.  

    Belen's book not yet finished

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2023 31:51


    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. In this episode of All The Miles Mattered, Ruiz talks history, his call to Coach Brent Haley in 2019, his runners' quest for 15, and more.   Music: Mini Vandals, Out On My Skateboard

    Chasing 15: A closer look at 1983 Largo

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2023 32:17


    This episode of All The Miles Mattered, the third of Season 2 and the 22nd if you count the trailer, has a lot of familiar voices in the story of Largo, Leto and the challengers to those programs' dominance in cross country. It also has a new one, from a challenger the dominant 1983 Largo team never saw. It's a voice from 2,000 miles away, a coach who expected maximum effort from his runners. The episode also takes a deeper look at just how good the Packers were, how that famous five-across photo came about, and how the returning Largo runners dealt with a new teammate. Come along for the run! Music: Mini Vandals (Out On My Skateboard, Inconsciousness), Bob Bedell (acoustic version of Video Killed The Radio Star)

    Out There With My Brothers

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2023 17:09


    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. Music: Is This Really Happening (Track Tribe)

    Track Tribute, Reunion Reminiscing

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 5, 2023 22:08


    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. It was the first of two nights honoring Coach Brent Haley. Come along for the run! Sound: Turn3 Productions Largo High School PA Music: Mini Vandals (Out On My Skateboard) BK Productions

    Coach Z: Muscles and magnetism

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2023 28:46


    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)

    I Wanna Be One of These Guys

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2023 23:46


    The formal structure of All The Miles Mattered concluded with the end of the Largo-Leto rivalry in the late 1980s. But the lessons from those programs and other runners carry on today. In the second of two bonus episodes are clips that didn't make it into the main show. You'll hear the voices of Tommy Hampton, Pat McDonough, Trey Culbertson, Nick Radkewich, and others. Photos mentioned are on my Instagram page or on the public All The Miles Mattered Facebook page. Music credits: Out On My Skateboard by the Mini Vandals; BK Productions

    No Ribbons at the Mile

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2023 18:52


    The formal structure of All The Miles Mattered concluded with the end of the Largo-Leto rivalry in the late 1980s. But the lessons from those programs and other runners carry on today. Here is the first of two bonus episodes, with clips that didn't make it into the main show. You'll hear the voices of Chris Palmer, John Perlette, Dan Middleman, Keir Breitenfeld and others. Photos and videos mentioned are in posts on the All The Miles Mattered Facebook page, or you can email me at neilamato@gmail.com. Music credits: Out On My Skateboard by the Mini Vandals; BK Productions

    Episode 15: Camcorders and Calendars

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 13, 2023 15:45


    Largo and Leto were set for a showdown in the state cross country meet at Dunn Airport in 1987. The Packers had the state's top runner; the Long Red Row had impressive depth and recent history on its side in the state meet. The day ended with a course record, a Titusville toast, and a vow never to lose again. Thanks for coming along for the run! Music credit: Good Friend, Audionautix; ATMM theme by BK Productions

    Episode 14: A slight 'nother gear

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 6, 2023 15:56


    On May 10, 1986, at Showalter Field in Winter Park, neither of the two favorites in the state meet 2-mile race won. The race was supposed to be another LeValle-Letchworth showdown. It's tough to say at this point in the story that any Largo runner could be overlooked, but Pat McDonough was a sophomore running against a stacked field that evening. He ran eight just about perfect laps to secure an unforgettable victory.   YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_69-Dy-hl8   Music credits: Out On My Skateboard, Mini Vandals Slowly Until We Get There, Joey Pecoraro  

    Episode 13: We're gonna be state champs

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 30, 2022 15:45


    Michael LeValle didn't run for Leto or Largo, but he's an important part of the story in the mid-1980s. He expected to have Roger Letchworth and Pat McDonough right on his shoulder. That didn't happen at the 1986 state cross country meet. What did happen at that meet: A familiar name comes back from injury, and the Long Red Row comes back from region-meet disappointment to take the lead for most championships in the decade. Music credit: Out On My Skateboard, Mini Vandals

    Episode 12: Van Cortlandt Park

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 23, 2022 15:52


    Countryside's 1986 team was loaded: It had Roger Letchworth and Chip Backus, both major Division I college prospects, along with a bevy of talented runners just behind them. This is the story of the Cougars' unforgettable trip to an iconic course in New York, the site of a big invitational. It was, briefly, record-setting, and now it's time to set the record straight.    

    Episode 11: Roger

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2022 15:57


    The legend of Roger Letchworth started with his second-place finish in the state cross country meet as a sophomore, and it continued with his national age-group records for 10K and 15K. Letchworth was on fire in the 1986 cross country season; the flame was extinguished rapidly.

    Episode 10: The perfect race

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2022 15:48


    In sports, perfection is rarely reached. The nature of competition is that it is messy: Shots are missed, interceptions thrown. In cross country, perfection is possible in team scoring: the perfect 15. That moment occurs in dual meets with some regularity; it rarely happens in championship races. For Largo in 1983, it happened two consecutive weeks. This is the story behind the show's cover image, along with stories about the results, cultural changes of the 1980s, and the 1984 Largo-Leto trip to Wet N Wild. Music credit: Bob Bedell; interview with Largo Band of Gold director Bob Cotter found on YouTube

    Episode 9: Deland Airport

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2022 15:44


    "We try harder" wasn't just the slogan of rental car company Avis. It was adopted by the Leto cross country program as it tried to break through against Largo. In the early 1980s, the stage was set for the Long Red Row. Hear the recall of Coach Ennis and others, specifically about that November 1982 day in Deland. Music credits: Largo Band of Gold, BK productions, UT Vol marching band  

    Fishing, Stinging, Winning

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 25, 2022 15:28


    Basil Magee ran a nation-leading time in the mile his senior year at Largo. Two years earlier, he had never even run the mile in a track meet. Magee's rapid rise, his rivalry with a future Olympian, and the birth of the Long Red Row are the focus areas of this episode. Music: Walk With Me by Track Tribe. YouTube of the Kinney race in 1979: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jI87ye5pew0  

    An All-In Kid

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 25, 2022 15:45


    MyLan Moffat was a dominant distance runner from the outset at Largo. Moffat won state 4A track titles in the mile as a freshman and sophomore. A competitive streak and a desire to put in daily work were two reasons she ran ahead of the competition. This episode also features a sneak peek at a key plot point in the story. Footage credits: Vision Cable, N.C. State University, Olympics.com. Music credit: Finland by Track Tribe.  

    Episode 6: He wanted to build something

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2022 15:43


    Coach Bobby Ennis wasn't much older than his athletes when he started coaching at Leto High School in the late 1970s. His teams quickly set a standard for success in the Tampa Bay area and throughout the state. This episode takes a look back at how his team concept was formed and how he connected with the runners who would become the Long Red Row. Music credit: You Are The Only by Track Tribe.

    Episode 5: The Roadrunners

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 17, 2022 15:22


    Coach Haley built a culture at Largo, an expectation of success. He also was willing to share running advice with anyone. But it's not a past-tense thing. Coach Haley continues to give workouts and advice to anyone willing to listen. Music credits: "Control" by I Was Totally Destroying It, used with permission; "A Certain Podcast" adaptation by BK Productions

    Episode 4: Wanted to win the meet

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 10, 2022 15:46


    Before Brent Haley became the leader of the cross country program at Largo, he knew had the makings of a coach. How and where he found out was surprising. Music credit: "Good Friend" by Audionautix; Haley interview credit: FL Runners

    Episode 3: 1975

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 3, 2022 15:40


    Brett Hoffman, Mike Warre, Bob Braman, three runners who grew up amid the running boom, met on the new course at Largo's Taylor Park in a highly anticipated and hotly contested 3-mile race. The times they ran in fall 1975 came from the miles they ran in training, sometimes earning them more than funny looks when they hit the road at odd hours. Their recollection of that era and the times they posted show why all the miles absolutely mattered. Music credit: "Summer of 1984" by RKVC

    music largo rkvc taylor park
    Episode 2: Thousand-Mile Summers

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 27, 2022 15:41


    Largo coach Brent Haley rode the wave of the running boom in the United States in the 1970s. He recruited in PE classes, he created a T-shirt incentive program and he got runners, year after year, summer after summer, to develop the will to prepare for greatness. It wasn't just Largo guys who were putting in the miles, as current Florida State coach Bob Braman and former sportswriter Bill Ward explain. Oh yeah: One of the guys in this photo is nicknamed Moose. Music credit: "Love" by John Gillespie, used with permission; Bill Rodgers footage by Ambrose Salmini  

    Episode 1: The Lore of Largo

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2022 15:44


    Why did one otherwise nondescript suburban high school achieve otherworldly success in boys cross country in the 1970s and 1980s? This is the start of a show about the coach who created a distance-running dynasty, the rise of a friendly rival across Tampa Bay, and the challengers who made a run at the ruling teams, one led notably by a fleet-footed antagonist who flamed out too fast. Music credit: Ditch Diggin' by Jingle Punks; Largo Band of Gold

    Episode 0: Trailer

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 16, 2022 3:33


    Come along for the run by subscribing to All The Miles Mattered wherever you get your podcasts. Episode 1 coming soon!

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