argument with coach- i dont get her logic

You said it yourself. The sprinters are able to measure 300m accurately because of lane markings. If you run from the lane marker in lane 5 for one revolution, its still 400m. You can do a distance workout in lane 8 if you wanted to.

Well your problem is simple: You're dealing with a woman. There is no being rational or logic involved.

It is well known that distance gets lane one. Sprinters don't like that lane anyways. Besides, they take 10 min recoveries so why can't you share?

As for her logic it is this: she could give a shit about distance races. Sounds like the USC coach but then you said HS...

There really is no logic there, and actually it goes against most common knowledge that distance runners always get the inner lanes and sprinters stick to the outside. Your coach sounds like a real dumbasz, which would explain the weak times as well.

You came her to be validated because you failed to stick up for yourself.

Everyone here knows the sprinter could've used the markings in the outer lanes. But don't take your training so god damned seriously unless you're Jim freaking Ryun.

Has no one else noticed that OP doesn't know how a track works? There are staggered starts for a reason.

I am not sure what other peoples problem is, 1000m reps are not going to be easy to measure using a staggered start. Anything over 400 is not going to work. I also get why you feel like the coach is being unfair OP and maybe she was. Maybe she will change her mind one of these days. But, for now you are right to apologize to her. People saying you need to stick up for yourself are idiots in this case - you don't know her reasons and why should you add to her stress. Also just figure out what distance it is that you run... i.e. what is 2.5 laps in lane 5, or what is 3 laps in lane 5? It is simple to calculate. Once you do that you can figure out the pace and the rest does not matter. Who knows, maybe your coach even thinks it would be good for you to just run by feel. Maybe you are a bit of a worrier and she has the bigger picture in mind?

If there's nothing you can do then you have to stop being a victim, suck it up and do the workouts.

What sprinter would train in Lane 1's turns?

In the big scheme of things, the lane you are (or are not) makes zero difference.

Sure it would be good to use lane 1, but you are over reacting.

Be thankful that you get to run your intervals in the outer lanes, which is less stressful on your legs.

Mojo Jerkin wrote:

Be thankful that you get to run your intervals in the outer lanes, which is less stressful on your legs.

This, and it really is irrelevant what distance you are running if it is 400 meters or 420 meters. You should Run by feel, and have a good enough understanding of where you are by a few meters or so. This is mostly because you want to have specific splits and exact distances to precision, but it is more of a detriment in many circumstances. There are D1 teams who have done workouts in every single lane as a tempo run, it keeps you from being to strict on arbitrary splits.

The point here is SHE IS RIGHT. You have NO NEED to be in lane 1 for 1ks or 1600s. Fortunately, the sprinters do have a need to run in lane 4+ just like you do on the days you run 200s.

Go ask the best sprinter if he likes running in lane 1 or if the curves are better in lane 4. When he tells you lane 4, ask him to ask your coach to let the sprinters move to the outside lanes.

justsomeoldcoach wrote:

In the big scheme of things, the lane you are (or are not) makes zero difference.

Sure it would be good to use lane 1, but you are over reacting.

^This.

OP, are you running 55-70 MPW? If not, why not? Are you doing some long runs of 12-15 miles? Are you doing any doubles? Are you lifting and doing core work? I realize that's all hard to do on a team with a weak distance program, but most of that is under your control. Can't lose sleep over things you can't control, especially when there are almost for sure some things that ARE in your control that you can do better.

Hey guys OP here. Thanks for all the responses. What I'm getting out of them is that my coach doesn't have any logic really of having the sprinting squad in the inner lanes, but I'm completely overreacting and should just run my workouts in the outer lane. I get the fact that I'm overreacting, and that's part of the reason I'm going to apologize. I should learn to just "feel" my pace, and I do agree with that. However I don't think running a 1600 meter will hurt my knees too much, I just don't think I'm going to fast. Totally get what you guys are saying about being a stress on sprinters joints though.

I guess the ironic thing is that the sprinters have more of a reason to be on the outer lanes than the distance runners have a reason to be on the inner.

One other thing about my coach is that this year she agreed to allow the sprinters and ld guys take turns using the inner lanes, so we get them every other day. However for the 3 years previously it had always been sprinters in inner. It was only a conversation I had with her last year that got her to switch it up.

No I'm only around 30 mpw. My long runs are 10 to 11 miles. I would do more but our long runs at track are at maximum 2 to 3 miles, and by the time I get home I usually have to start on hw. I'm a junior in high school getting ready for college.

I know that for the most part I have poor coaching, and I train on my own by doing much longer runs to compensate for that.

There's nothing magical about running 1600m intervals or 1000m intervals. If you're doing 4 lap intervals in lane 5, then you're running ~413.5 meters each lap. Use a spreadsheet and figure your goal paces for 1654m or 1034m. It's only a minor pain to set up the spreadsheet the first time.

If you really need to check your 200/400m splits to check pacing early you can still do that by the markings in your lane, or figure your goal time for 206.25 meters.

Running by feel is fine when you have enough experience to make proper judgements, but I think that is rare for most high school runners.

I think your coach is wrong in her thinking, but it's just not a big deal.

troubled long distance runner wrote:

No I'm only around 30 mpw. My long runs are 10 to 11 miles. I would do more but our long runs at track are at maximum 2 to 3 miles, and by the time I get home I usually have to start on hw. I'm a junior in high school getting ready for college.

I know that for the most part I have poor coaching, and I train on my own by doing much longer runs to compensate for that.

You're only running 30mpw and you're stressing about what lane you're working out in? God help you.

troubled long distance runner wrote:

No I'm only around 30 mpw. My long runs are 10 to 11 miles. I would do more but our long runs at track are at maximum 2 to 3 miles, and by the time I get home I usually have to start on hw. I'm a junior in high school getting ready for college.

I know that for the most part I have poor coaching, and I train on my own by doing much longer runs to compensate for that.

Going to have to call you out on this one, brother. 2-3 miles a day with a long run of 11 miles on the weekend just isn't going to cut it -- if you have talent, you can do ok with that, but you won't find out where your talent can take you on that. Certainly there's no room there to be blaming your coach for anything, even if her logic is flawed. Not trying to be a dick here, but we often are faced with situations in life that are not ideal. When you can't control that situation, you grin and bear it and affect the part of your life that you CAN. I understand homework is important...it is THE most important thing in our household...more than running, more than chores. BUT, you can run a lot more than you are and still have time for homework.

How can you run more each week?

1) Ask your coach if you can run longer at practice. The rest of the team doesn't have to, but you want to. I DOUBT the answer would be no. Build up slowly to prevent injury. Put in an extra 30-40 minutes a day running...you can do that, and it will make a BIG difference.

2) If #1 doesn't work, get up early 2 days a week and go for a long run. You will end up doing doubles that day, but if the second run is 2-3 miles, big deal.

Regarding homework, take advantage of any study halls if you have them. Do extra preparatory work on the weekends.

Troubled long distance runner wrote:

I have decided to apologize to her for my act of *deviance* since she has been good to me in other regards ...

I think you meant to write, "defiance".