I had a front row seat to Pyeatt’s development. He ran at a pretty decorated program in a small Arkansas town that has had some great runners, including a 7:46 4x800 team a couple years ago.
Pyeatt was the #3 guy on a state championship team his Sr year. I remember one day taking him to practice and explaining to him to be great he’d have to run 60+ mpw. He was running 4 days and week and the idea that people did that was amazing to him. He laughed and said NEVER.
Ive moved on in life, but have thoroughly enjoyed following his progress. That same high school program turns a 20+’ kid or two into a 16’ kid every year. They don’t do extreme mileage. They just do the little things right. Proof how quick coaches marginalize their weaker runners and how many diamonds in the rough are out there.