It is the first Monday of May, and therefore time for the monthly mentor highlight. Previous installments have celebrated peer and professional mentors. This month, an impactful coach and educator deserves recognition as he concludes an extraordinary career of over 40 years. I am grateful to have benefited from Jay Farrow’s influence, leadership, coaching, and mentorship over many of these decades as an athlete, colleague, and friend. We can all learn from his grace, candor, and belief in human connection.

It was unclear whether my legs or lungs hurt more as we finished the third hill repeat on a freezing, winter afternoon in the late 1980’s, the Pennsylvania sun quickly disappearing over barren fields. I loved wrestling and hated running.

It is an understatement to say I lacked endurance, always the caboose on our daily team runs. Soon the whole squad was (once again) waiting for me at the top of the hill, and as I struggled to maintain momentum, Farrow, our varsity coach, retreated down the slope to encourage me on the final climb.

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