You Be the Coach

Random notes we've debated:

Runner 3 is coming back from a hamstring injury and was always runner 2 before. We think she's been steadily improving.

Runner 9 is very fast but inconsistent and she makes us mad when she sprints out into first place then dies 1200 meters into the race. She is definitely CAPABLE of always being in top 4.

Runner 6 is also very fast but isn't trying very hard. She ran every race faster last year. She's also capable of always being in top 4.

Runner 7 might not have much more speed. Idk but she seems like she's trying really hard and that's all she has right now.

Runner 4 and Runner 8 are twins and everyone thinks coach likes to keep them together. Lol

Runners 1, 2, 5, 7, and 9 ran all summer. The others did not and I wonder if they'll get more speed back by regionals. I'm not certain but they felt faster to me last year.

My teammates and I are trying to figure out who we think our coach will pick after district (I'm certain we'll make it to regionals because there's only 3 full teams in our district). But at that point he'll have to pick. Historically, he picks the top 7 times(at district) to run regionals and he picks 2 next fastest girls(at district) as alternates. I was looking at past years though and ONE year he skipped the 9th runner to take the 10th as alternate. That girl had consistently beaten runner 9 and I guess had a bad race or something at district. There might have been other times but I only went back 5 years.

To further complicate things, we made it to state last year and all 7 of us returned. I am going to list places and times (by pace for privacy) as well as grade so you can pretend to be the coach.

RUNNER | RACE (place on team)

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1 | 6:20 (1) | 6:31(1) | 6:36(1) | 6:37(2) | 6:16(1) | 6:37(1) ---Jr returning

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2 | 6:43 (2) | 6:45(4) | 6:45(3) | 6:47(4) | 6:32(2) | 6:45(2) ---Sr returning

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3 | 7:01(7) | 6:42(2) | 6:42(2) | 6:35(1) | 6:38(3) | 6:46(3)---Jr returning

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4 | 7:17(9) | 7:03(7) | 7:07(8) | 6:55(6) | 6:41(4) | 6:48(4) ---Jr returning

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5 | 6:54(3) | 6:59(5) | 7:00(7) | 6:49(5) | 6:45(5) | 6:52(6)---Jr returning

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6 | 7:31(11)|7:22(11) | 6:58(6) | 7:03(8) | 6:46(6) | 6:57(7)---So returning

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7 | 6:54(4) | 7:03(6) | 7:12(9) | 6:56(7) | 6:50(7) | 7:02(9)---Freshman

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8 | 7:04(8) | 7:09(8) | 6:53(4) | 7:08(9) | 6:54(8) | 7:01(8) ---Jr returning

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9 | 6:57(5) | 6:443) | 6:57(5) | 6:38(3) | 6:57(9) | 6:49(5) ---Jr (new student)

1,2,3,4,5,7,9

steve red wrote:

1,2,3,4,5,7,9

Wow, that was an unexpected pick. Can you tell me what you based your selection on?

Which one(s) were unexpected?

4 or 9? Or other(s)?

7

It's always so different when you know the people rather than looking at it purely from a mathematical standpoint and that's why I asked here. A completely unbiased opinion.

I actually scored their meets as if it was a cross country meet one point for first two points to score second I added up the points the number one Runner gets Five Points (1-1-1-2-1) their number two runner gets 15 points (2-4-3-4-2) number 3 Runner

also gets 15 points (7-2-2-1-3) runner four gets 34 runner number 5 gets 25 Number 6 gets 42 number 7 gets 35 number 8 gets 37 and number 9 gets 25

steve red wrote:

I actually scored their meets as if it was a cross country meet one point for first two points to score second I added up the points the number one Runner gets Five Points (1-1-1-2-1) their number two runner gets 15 points (2-4-3-4-2) number 3 Runner

also gets 15 points (7-2-2-1-3) runner four gets 34 runner number 5 gets 25 Number 6 gets 42 number 7 gets 35 number 8 gets 37 and number 9 gets 25

I think this is a reasonable way to do it in an objective manner.

I would also consider doing it this way, but only using the district meet and two previous meets.

Another idea would be go double the points at district to add weight to it.

I would just switch 7 for 9. Runner 9 had one bad race all year. It would be silly to not give it to her. As for the rest, I think it is great they run in a pack as they do. Now is not the time to be buddies with your teammates though at least during the races. If you don't want to be questioned don't leave performances questionable to others. As a coach, I would also wonder where is the improvement. Not knowing the courses or conditions it only looks like 4,6& 9 have improved since the begging of the season. Why?

I also averaged the girls times

6-7:08

7-7:01

8-7:02

9-6:51

Please report back and let us know who the coach choose.

Runners 4 and 6 are returners that didn't run at all this summer and so came back to the team slower than the previous season.

Runner 6 is actually still much slower than last year. I really think she has no desire to run. She's only doing it to make her dad happy.

Runner 7 is actually my cousin. That's why I was surprised he picked her. I wouldn't... but as expected everyone is skipping runner 8. 7 ran all summer with me and she's PRd every single race by over a minute.

Runner 8 is twins with runner 4 and she could easily run with her sister but instead she sits on 7 and waits until the last 10m and passes her. Bad news for her that runner 7 was in 8th position yesterday.

I really agree with 1-5, and 9. The real toss up for me was 6 or 7. Last year 5 and 6 blew up at state.

Also, the 5th course is .25 of a mile long and the 6th course was raining, muddy, and is constant turning. That might explain what looks like lack of improvement.

I pick runner #7 (your cousin) who had the same average time as #4.

Out of curiosity which number are you and how many miles per week do y'all run?

I'm 1 and what all do I count in my mileage? Do warmups and jogging time count? Do races count?

I will also note race 1 was a relay where we ran 1.5x2 so the rest in between affected overall paces.

Good job #1!

I have always counted all mileage as I have always been a low mileage guy.

Warm ups, recovery jogs, cool downs. Run to catch the bus, because you're late! Etc etc

My watch shows right under 27 miles last week and I turn it for everything.

That's good. One long run, one speed work out, one tempo/progressive or race day?

Yeah, that's pretty much it!

Track PR's?