Hello, we got a new coach this year. We were use to averaging 70-80 miles a week with good quality workouts. Now the coach is telling us that quality is more important and we need to knock down the miles to 50 miles a week. Some of us disagree but dont know how to go about this situation. What do you guys think about it?
collegeeeerun wrote:
Hello, we got a new coach this year. We were use to averaging 70-80 miles a week with good quality workouts. Now the coach is telling us that quality is more important and we need to knock down the miles to 50 miles a week. Some of us disagree but dont know how to go about this situation. What do you guys think about it?
Just run on your own outside of practice. Your in college now, time to start thinking for yourself.
A lot of coaches and programs have seen success with the lower mileage. There is no one size fits all when it comes to distance training.
Suggestion: act like a man and go have a face-to-face discussion with your coach.
cheap old guy wrote:
A lot of coaches and programs have seen success with the lower mileage. There is no one size fits all when it comes to distance training.
Suggestion: act like a man and go have a face-to-face discussion with your coach.
You are right I will talk with my coach. But if we're already getting in quality workouts with that mileage wouldn't it make sense to keep that stimulus
That is a good question to raise with your coach.
There are positives and negatives to both sides of the mileage argument. That's why you and your coach should discuss how the change in training will affect you.
cheap old guy wrote:
A lot of coaches and programs have seen success with the lower mileage. There is no one size fits all when it comes to distance training.
Suggestion: act like a man and go have a face-to-face discussion with your coach.
Do this. Approach it like an adult and ask and be respectful. It'll show some leadership abilities and that you have the desire to get better. Don't do this in front of a group, because it sounds like you're undermining their authority. Approach it like "I'm used to running extra miles - and it's a little weird for me to do so. Is there anything else I can be doing?"
It seems to me that the programs that have success with fewer miles are the ones that never really had larger amounts to begin with or maybe just didn't have the athletes that could handle college level training programs. I'm sorry, but if you are "racing" 8k-10k at a higher level consistently, 50 miles a week won't get you through the competitive season at your best the last month, conference/regional/national meets.
That being said, as a coach, I would certainly be willing to modify for various ages and talent levels depending on the individuals rather than lumping them all into the same program. I can't see an 18 year old average incoming freshman doing the same volume, intensity and quantity as the 22 year old all american. I've coached long enough to know a talented underclassman can achieve as high as an experienced upperclassmen on race day with modified training programs appropriate for their level of readiness. You don't want that talented pony tired in November.
A good coach has to be a good communicator about this openly and consistently and have the ability to process all kinds of feedback. Ideally, if this can happen, he/she can maximize the potential of the team each year and have a progressive program that athletes understand and buy into. I just don't get the one size fits all mentality. Personally, I was more of a 800/1500 runner that loved to compete in cross country. I just couldn't do the mileage/volumes that the older guys could for about 2 years. Nor was I able to compete at their level without the 2 years of consistent, injury free training needed to adapt to that level. Luckily, my national champion coach knew what he was doing and knew how to build a sustainable program given the limitations he had on recruiting, scholarships, budget etc... I was lucky to have him as my coach and be a part of a program that believed in developing talent through hard work. As a result, I learned a great deal in my time with him because I spent a lot of time in his office getting answers to the "why" of what we were doing rather than just the what and how.
From there, 28 years later, I'm still doing all I can to learn and improve the design, delivery and assessment of the program. That's what it comes down to if you want to know how good you can be, now as an athlete and possibly in the future as a coach who wants to help others find out how good they can be.
Now go invest in yourself and spend some time learning from each other during this transition. If your coach is athlete centered rather than an egomaniac, you'll have fun working together.
Best of Luck
collegeeeerun wrote:
Hello, we got a new coach this year. We were use to averaging 70-80 miles a week with good quality workouts. Now the coach is telling us that quality is more important and we need to knock down the miles to 50 miles a week. Some of us disagree but dont know how to go about this situation. What do you guys think about it?
Quit simple as that - either quit or shut up and run. If you are unhappy or think you can coach yourself better than drop off the team and train yourself
He can talk to the coach but it won't change his mind. He obviously doesn't agree. I don't think anything the coach says will change his mind.
collegeeeerun wrote:
Hello, we got a new coach this year. We were use to averaging 70-80 miles a week with good quality workouts. Now the coach is telling us that quality is more important and we need to knock down the miles to 50 miles a week. Some of us disagree but dont know how to go about this situation. What do you guys think about it?
Perhaps you don't know squat!!
Contrary to the popular belief of most runners especially smart ass teens quantity of mileage will not make you a faster XC or middle distance runner.
If it were true 150 mile per week runners would be running away (no pun intended" with all the victories which is just not true.
He can talk to the coach but it won't change his mind. He obviously doesn't agree. I don't think anything the coach says will change his mind.
Run Doctor wrote:
collegeeeerun wrote:Hello, we got a new coach this year. We were use to averaging 70-80 miles a week with good quality workouts. Now the coach is telling us that quality is more important and we need to knock down the miles to 50 miles a week. Some of us disagree but dont know how to go about this situation. What do you guys think about it?
Perhaps you don't know squat!!
Contrary to the popular belief of most runners especially smart ass teens quantity of mileage will not make you a faster XC or middle distance runner.
If it were true 150 mile per week runners would be running away (no pun intended" with all the victories which is just not true.
Troll or you seem happy with your 30 minute 8k PR off of 15 mpw. Slow runs make slow runners right?
collegeeeerun wrote:
Hello, we got a new coach this year. We were use to averaging 70-80 miles a week with good quality workouts. Now the coach is telling us that quality is more important and we need to knock down the miles to 50 miles a week. Some of us disagree but dont know how to go about this situation. What do you guys think about it?
Ah yes a kid telling a coach how to coach my favorite type of athlete.
Son look up what the "Law of Diminishing Returns" means. Since you will be too busy telling the coach how to do his job I'll give you a simple explanation:
At a point the amount of miles you run each week will provide less and less benefit to the point where there will be no benefit for the extra training you do. In fact as you increase mileage you increase the risk of injury or burnout.
read Jack Daniels and he will explain it to you as well.
Sure you can talk to him but do you think after you speak your mind he's going to say, "You know you are write Jimmy and I am wrong I am going to change my coaching philosophy just because you think you know best."?
Come on Jimmy grow up and shut your mouth.
Do you think the quarterback of the football team tells the head coach how to run a practice.
When you grow up and get a job see how long you last when you start questioning the boss because you think you are smarter and more experienced than him.
Old Fart....... wrote:
It seems to me that the programs that have success with fewer miles are the ones that never really had larger amounts to begin with or maybe just didn't have the athletes that could handle college level training programs. I'm sorry, but if you are "racing" 8k-10k at a higher level consistently, 50 miles a week won't get you through the competitive season at your best the last month, conference/regional/national meets.
That being said, as a coach, I would certainly be willing to modify for various ages and talent levels depending on the individuals rather than lumping them all into the same program. I can't see an 18 year old average incoming freshman doing the same volume, intensity and quantity as the 22 year old all american. I've coached long enough to know a talented underclassman can achieve as high as an experienced upperclassmen on race day with modified training programs appropriate for their level of readiness. You don't want that talented pony tired in November.
A good coach has to be a good communicator about this openly and consistently and have the ability to process all kinds of feedback. Ideally, if this can happen, he/she can maximize the potential of the team each year and have a progressive program that athletes understand and buy into. I just don't get the one size fits all mentality. Personally, I was more of a 800/1500 runner that loved to compete in cross country. I just couldn't do the mileage/volumes that the older guys could for about 2 years. Nor was I able to compete at their level without the 2 years of consistent, injury free training needed to adapt to that level. Luckily, my national champion coach knew what he was doing and knew how to build a sustainable program given the limitations he had on recruiting, scholarships, budget etc... I was lucky to have him as my coach and be a part of a program that believed in developing talent through hard work. As a result, I learned a great deal in my time with him because I spent a lot of time in his office getting answers to the "why" of what we were doing rather than just the what and how.
From there, 28 years later, I'm still doing all I can to learn and improve the design, delivery and assessment of the program. That's what it comes down to if you want to know how good you can be, now as an athlete and possibly in the future as a coach who wants to help others find out how good they can be.
Now go invest in yourself and spend some time learning from each other during this transition. If your coach is athlete centered rather than an egomaniac, you'll have fun working together.
Best of Luck
Know good knowledge and experience when you see it. Best information on this thread, period.
50 miles a week...
I understand that a lot of people come on here to vent about their coaching and the knee jerk reaction is to put the 18 to 20 year old back in their place...but 50 miles a week, in the summer? 7 to 8 miles a day, that's bush league.
I do not consider myself a high mileage coach, but there are no teams out there that have success with an average summer week of 50 miles for men. It is important to be safe and individualized, but 70 to 80 a week is not over doing it for an established runner who wants a shot at breaking 25 minutes.
Two a days, young man, but I am never an advocate for sneaking around. Have a candid conversation with coach.
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