| alcoholidays |
| ||
|
What explains a late dip in form for high school 1600/3200 runners? From what I know these kids had a solid base through Feb. In March, they all ran PR's but by early May, they looked tired and stale...fading late race. They were not overaced but did not do any interval longer than 400m after March 10 and spent the last six weeks either racing or doing short reps (200s, 300s, and 400s) close to flat out with almost double the recovery time. |
| tyeyetw |
| ||
|
How many months in a row are they racing without taking some mental and physical time off? |
| alcoholidays |
| ||
|
Resumed training after two week lay off in early dec. Spent Jan-Feb. doing tempos/hills/longer reps (miles, 1200s, 1000s); raced 2-3 times indoors in Feb/March; ran 8 outdoor meets prior to region. |
| RD |
| ||
They should be doing tempos ans long intervals right up to maybe 2-3 weeks out from the end of season. Hell, your last workout (10 days out from a goal race) for the 3200m runners should be something like 5-6 x 1000m @ goal pace. Six weeks of sprint training is ridiculous. |
| alcoholidays |
| ||
|
I agree...but the runners were told doing longer intervals later in the season would not prepare them for the faster pace in the race...and that as they did those longer reps in Feb. there was no need to do them anymore. I just wanted to know whether other high school distance coaches continue to work longer reps up to the last 2-3 weeks as you note and if so, what benefits do 5x1000m bring at this late stage? They should be doing tempos ans long intervals right up to maybe 2-3 weeks out from the end of season. Hell, your last workout (10 days out from a goal race) for the 3200m runners should be something like 5-6 x 1000m @ goal pace. Six weeks of sprint training is ridiculous.[/quote] |
| agip |
| ||
|
Most people can't run so fast so often - sharpening is fine, but running flat out 2/3/400s...that stuff hurts. mile/two mile running is aerobic - the kids are just burned by the stress of running short reps. Mentally and physically. They should go run long and easy to get back their aerobic base |
| You answered it |
| ||
That's your answer right there. Speed is very important for track, but more than once or twice a week is going to cause slower times. There is a reason why at every level, runners run their best at an early invitational and then bomb in the championship season. |
| alcoholidays |
| ||
|
The runners have been told that there is no point in doing longer intervals in the final weeks of the season as they did those in Jan./Feb. and that sharpening is more important now with shorter intervals at 90-100% effort. Yet most of them faded in mid-race at the qualifiers for state...wouldn't this suggest that you need to keep working on your strength throughout the season and not abandon the longer intervals 5-6 weeks from the state champs? |
| Lemon Harangue |
| ||
I see you've used this more than once. My question is who the hell is telling them such incorrect things? Are you the coach or just a spectator? You seem to have some degree of agreement and understanding with the good advice following your original question, which leads me to hope that you're not the coach. If you're a parent or spectator then there's probably not much you can do. |
| ggg |
| ||
|
some killer interval sessions on the track usually help! 10*400 at 800m race pace and 8*200m at full speed. Good luck. |
| jerrry |
| ||
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- alcoholidays wrote: The runners have been told... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I see you've used this more than once. My question is who the hell is telling them such incorrect things? Are you the coach or just a spectator? You seem to have some degree of agreement and understanding with the good advice following your original question, which leads me to hope that you're not the coach. If you're a parent or spectator then there's probably not much you can do. what this guy said. Plus if what you were doing was working you wouldn't have runners worn out - that fact that you do - tells you or should tell you what you are doing is not working. If one or two runners was struggling you might say "it doesn't work for them" but if the majority of your runners are struggling and you or whoever is coaching them can't figure it out + when given a very logical explanation as others have offered here - you still can't accept it...i guess my advise is get out coaching. Sorry to be so blunt but you really couldn't figure this out...and still seem to not want to hear it. then why ask? then what are you doing coaching? seems like you already have your mind made up about the problem and until someone quesses or agrees with what you think the problem is - you are just not going to listen to reason = this is why i say if you are a coach - get out of the business. You are going to do far more damage than good. |
| alcoholidays |
| ||
I see you've used this more than once. My question is who the hell is telling them such incorrect things? Are you the coach or just a spectator? You seem to have some degree of agreement and understanding with the good advice following your original question, which leads me to hope that you're not the coach. If you're a parent or spectator then there's probably not much you can do.[/quote] I'm a parent and you're right...there's nothing I can but watch the train wreck. |