My coach and our team think we have what it takes to win our boys state cross country title next fall. Our school has never won it before. Our coach has asked next year's captains to make a list of what it will take to win. He will have a list also and then we will compare. We will meet in a few days. As one of the captains I have a good idea such as summer training, comittement, and so on. Do you have some specific ideas that your team used that led to success?
Peak for the championship, not for every invitational leading up to it.
Don't get injured. Don't burn out.
Know the difference between training hard and training smart.
One of your current varsity guys will probably not be as good in the fall as one of your current JV guys. Figure out who that JV guy is.
Someone faster than half your varsity team at your school isn't running cross country. Figure out who that guy is.
Figure out which teams are your main competitors and watch them closely. Don't put all your cards on the table until state if you can help it.
You need 5 guys to run fast. Make sure you have 15 or more running every day over the summer.
reality czech wrote:
Peak for the championship, not for every invitational leading up to it.
Don't get injured. Don't burn out.
Know the difference between training hard and training smart.
One of your current varsity guys will probably not be as good in the fall as one of your current JV guys. Figure out who that JV guy is.
Someone faster than half your varsity team at your school isn't running cross country. Figure out who that guy is.
Figure out which teams are your main competitors and watch them closely. Don't put all your cards on the table until state if you can help it.
You need 5 guys to run fast. Make sure you have 15 or more running every day over the summer.
^^^^
find the soccer players with thin legs and quad veins.
Do you have access to 7 forgien transfer students from Kenya?
1- Commit to the plan. Follow your coaches plan and don't waiver based on what anyone tells you on letsrun (including me). If you follow #1 then the rest of these really don't apply anymore.
2- Don't rely on "5". Get your boys numbers up to 9 or 10 committed runners.
3- Start now, be consistent.
4- Address minor injuries and illness right away. It wont "feel better tomorrow" unless addressed today. Rest-Ice-cross train.
Track down Jeff Gillooly and pay him to go all tonya harding on your closest competition.
reality czech wrote:
Peak for the championship, not for every invitational leading up to it.
Don't get injured. Don't burn out.
Know the difference between training hard and training smart.
One of your current varsity guys will probably not be as good in the fall as one of your current JV guys. Figure out who that JV guy is.
Someone faster than half your varsity team at your school isn't running cross country. Figure out who that guy is.
Figure out which teams are your main competitors and watch them closely. Don't put all your cards on the table until state if you can help it.
You need 5 guys to run fast. Make sure you have 15 or more running every day over the summer.
^^^^^^ This is actually great advice and I'll add onto a few of his points.
Your current "top seven" will not be the seven runners that compete at the state meet. Its unfortunate but inevitable......someone will get injured/sick/suspended/etc. THATS OKAY! Focus on the team as a whole and understand that runners 8-12 are almost as important as runners 1-7.
Stress long-term goals. Cross country is weird because you race so many times, but at the end of the day the only race that matters is the state meet. Don't blow your load on crappy duel meets or small invitationals. The best teams in the nation slowly build up and perform when it actually matters.
Be competitive when it actually matters. No need to race your teammates in practice or push the pace on easy days. Focus on staying healthy and being smart with your bodies
Seriously, go talk to some soccer kids. By senior year, a lot of those guys are tired and wanna be done/try something new. My senior year we had 4 great runners but we needed a 5th man. I talked to a friend who was a good soccer player, but he was fed up with the high school program. I convinced him to give running a shot and he ended up being a solid 5th man (he ran 15:43 for 3 miles or something). All I'm saying is you've got nothing to lose!
I think the ethiopians prove that not only skinny legged runners dominate. In fact the Wrs lately have been by thick legged runners.
http://american-trackandfield.com/atf/media/k2/items/cache/55df0111232e1c4fd8c02e91888d2313_XL.jpg
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/24/89/3e/24893e6a4712ab60aa562ba968714629.jpg
