August 9, 2026
"Toughness is having the space to make the right choice under discomfort” —Steve Magness, Do Hard Things
Last Friday, a runner went out too fast in a 4-mile race. Predictably, the pace began to slip in the second mile and deteriorated further in the third. A short walk at the beginning of the final mile provided enough recovery to finish the race strong. This morning, another common situation presented itself: a long run started later than planned, putting the runner in considerably more heat than necessary. As the heat began to take its toll, an extra cycle spent in the shade at a road crossing provided just enough relief to finish the run without needing to walk.
These situations illustrate an important distinction: real toughness isn’t simply enduring pain or forcing yourself through discomfort. It’s being able to stay calm enough to make a good decision while you’re uncomfortable. Sometimes the right decision is to push through. Sometimes it’s to back off. The tough part is having the discipline to know the difference—and the courage to make the right choice.
Coach Browning
Pancake Recap
Our annual freshman and newcomer pancake breakfast was a great success. We had a huge turnout with 21 of our 26 freshmen in attendance. Thank you to all of the parents who contributed some of the food and those brave souls who showed up to be our line cooks and flip pancakes: Jason Lommel - one of our returning parents and veteran flipper led on griddle #1, Ally Reeves flipped our gluten free station at griddle #2, Deidre Galley was our dynamic flipper moving griddle station #3 to the pantry after they blew a fuse, and Robin Howton - one of our Senior parents (senior as in she is a parent to a senior not an elder) who took griddle #4 with a the vibe of a 4th year veteran. Shout out to Becky Nelson and Tanner Cole for serving up the food and tackling cleanup. We could not have done it without all of you!
PVXC Sponsorship Update – August 9, 2026
Great news — we are more than halfway to our fundraising goal!
We are grateful to the 25 donors who have helped us reach this point, including several who do not currently have a child in the program. At the same time, with more than 120 runners registered, there is still an opportunity for many more families to participate at a level that works for them. Every donation small or large matters.
Our coaching staff is deeply committed to the culture of this program and to helping our athletes grow into resilient, focused competitors and good humans. Our girls and boys teams are positioned to be strong contenders for a state title, but reaching those goals requires resources beyond what basic team fees can cover.
We also want our athletes to have bright futures beyond PVXC. That is why we remain committed to building and sustaining the PVXC Scholarship, which is awarded to seniors who have truly lived the experience of this program. Over the past four years, we have awarded more than $27,000 to fifteen athletes. With continued support, we aim to dedicate 20% of funds raised this year toward the Class of 2027 and help ensure this opportunity continues for years to come.
Please consider giving. If each remaining family contributes at the Pup Shark level of $100, we can reach our goal in true PVXC fashion — as a team.
Below is the updated list of sponsors, with recent donors shown in bold.
True Blue Sponsors - $2000+
Hotspot Shield (Feather Family)
Great White Sponsors - $1000
The Lommel Family
Burr & Forman (Graham Family)
McCabe | Ronsman
Chatraw Family / Till CFO
Sand Shark Sponsors - $500
Killoran Family
Novus Freight Solution (Scott Family)
Barket Family
Precision Turf
Pro Leather Refinishing (Carrouth Family)
The Skaret Family
The Zarczynski Family
The LaVasser Family
The Dreckman Family
The Hoag Family
Marciani Family /MGI
The Vadeboncoeur Family
The Fukushima Caffrey Family
WheelHouse
Seacoast Bank / Bovee Family
Angel Shark Sponsors - $300
The Beshany Group at Merrill Lynch
The Cain Family
Anonymous
Pup Shark Sponsors- $ 100
Anna Shea
Running total: $16,450.00
Goal: $27,800+ by August22
Donate here: https://www.hometeamsonline.com/teams/default.asp?u=PVSHARKSBC&s=htosports&p=registration&formID=212548
ALL IN – ALL OUT – ALL SEASON
PVXC
With gratitude,
The Coaching Staff
UPCOMING EVENTS
PVXC Car Wash
Saturday,
August 15 | 8:30 AM–12:00 PM
Smith Eye Associates
120 A1A, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
Our annual PVXC Car Wash is one of our biggest team fundraisers, and attendance is mandatory for all PVXC athletes.
What to Bring & Wear
- Water for yourself
- Shoes (required)
- Shorts and a T-shirt
Freshmen and first-year PVXC athletes: Please bring an old beach or bath towel that will not be returned.
Schedule
- 8:30 AM – Athlete arrival and setup
- 9:00 AM – Car washing begins
Bonus Perks
- Donuts for all PVXC athletes
- Donation-only car wash (though $20 still has
a nice ring to it!
) - BOGO Special: Buy one wash, get one for another $20!
- Want the VIP treatment? Coaches will wash your car for a $100 "Benjamin Special."
And
remember... we firmly believe that a wet car is a clean car! 
Thank you to Laurent Killoran, Stephanie Marciani, Purvi Sanghvi, Jim Colteryahn, Rob Graham, and Bridget Barket for your help in making this a great event!
Questions?
Stephanie Marciani - [email protected]
Volunteers Needed – Help Make This Season a Success!
It takes a team to support our team! The PVXC season runs best when our amazing parents pitch in, and we're so grateful to everyone who has already volunteered. If you haven't had a chance yet, we'd love to have you join us!
We're currently looking for help with:
Chip
& Bib Distribution
Help get our runners race-ready by assisting with chip and bib pickup at meets.
Parent Tent
Coordinator
Organize a SignUpGenius for parents to bring breakfast treats and coffee to our
early morning meets. The parent tent is a favorite gathering spot and a great
way to build community while cheering on our runners!
Pasta
Party Hosts
A fun way to support the team! If you live in a neighborhood with a clubhouse
or gathering space (Plantation Oaks, Sawmill Lakes, Fairfield, or similar),
you're a perfect candidate to host a team pasta dinner. A group will be able to
help with everything else - you just provide the space and will be reimbursed
for any costs!
Booster
Meeting Liaison
Attend the monthly Booster Club meeting at PVHS on Mondays at 7pm, take notes,
and share important updates with our coaches.
Whether you can help once or throughout the season, every volunteer makes a difference. Thank you for helping make PVXC an incredible experience for our athletes! Please contact Stephanie Marciani - [email protected] or 203-623-2502 if you are interested or have questions.
