No two ways about it, it's a miserable morning for anything, except maybe sleeping in.

But if you ask Fayetteville-Manlius cross country coach Bill Aris about the weather, he'll say it's perfect.

"This is a gift that you've got right now," he told his teams as they gathered underneath a tent to escape the chilly Saturday morning drizzle.

Bill's been coaching Hornet harriers for almost 30 years, and that's a lot of motivational speeches.

"Yes, you are fatigued at the end of a long week," Aris continued. "Yes, it showed in the time trial yesterday. I expected that, but I made no excuses for you."

And those speeches have produced trophies, and a lot of them: 19 state championships, and 12 more national titles. And, that's what's dragging these teenagers out of bed on a rainy, Saturday morning, to be part of a tradition that's not for everyone.

"Are you guys a little nuts to be out here?" was a question asked to the runners.

"Some people might think that," answered sophomore Anthony Otis. "We like this kind of stuff though."

"Wouldn't you rather be in your warm beds?" I wondered of a group from his girls' squad.

"Nahhhh," they responded in unison. "This is what Saturdays are for."

And nowadays, Saturdays are also for taking your temperature, something Coach Aris has to do for each of his runners before setting them off on a 90-minute workout during which they'll cover about 15 miles.

Who said you can't teach an old coach new tricks?

"That's just the way things are," said the 65-year-old Aris. "It's just one of those years. It's not just one of those years, it's a different year, compared to anything I've ever experienced."

It's different because his runners are wearing masks this year. It's also different because there are no state championships or national championships to get ready for, two more casualties of the coronavirus.

So instead of hauling heels up hills for hardware, these Hornets are reaching for a higher goal.

"Success is about trying to inspire kids to their full potential," said Aris, who did just that some 45 years ago, transforming what he calls an 'average Joe' high school athlete into a marathoner.

For Bill Aris, coaching cross country has never been about teaching kids how to run faster. It's about teaching them how to work harder, to challenge them to push themselves to their limits — to learn some life lessons, on the run.

"I've always felt that the stronger and better a kid can become, mind, body, and spirit, through running on our teams and in our program, the better citizens they can be, and the more they can achieve in their life," Aris said.

And possibly, even to learn how to appreciate another cold, damp, October Saturday morning in Central New York.