university running only 20 to 30 miles a week.

Hay Doose Moose, tell us how you really feel.

The truth is that it's been proven time and time again that you must run 100+ miles per week as a male and 70+ miles per week as a female. The idea that you can run less and achieve your best is ludicrous.

Zeb Coe did not run high mileage.

He ran more than 40 miles per week you mooron.

It's moron you moron!

That's a horribly ignorant statement.

Stat wrote:

I've become intriged at the prospect of a team actually running 20-30 miles and claiming success. I decided to do a little digging. Actually, AngryTaxpayer is accurate. The Virginia Tech men's team never finished out of the top 9 at NCAA Regionals from 1980 through 1991. Typically, they finished 3rd-7th place with 1987 being their highest placing (4th at NCAA Championships). Since 1991 under Thomas they have finished

2001- 9th

2002- 13th

2003- 15th

2004- 14th

at NCAA Regionals. Based on the tradition of the program they are clearly not getting it done.

Ouch! Not much for such a weak region.

The fact is Coe ran some pretty serious workouts that included respectable mileage. He once did a workout of 16x400M at a HS track in Atlanta and covered the last one in sub 53 seconds.

Jr wrote:

I wnet to VT on a recruiting visit and did't get a chance to speak with a person from the team unless one of the coaches was present. The coaches took us everywhere. I got an e-mail from one of the athletes a couple days latter telling me to go elsewhere. The coaches did not want the recruits to speak with the team. I chose a different school and every day I'm thankful.

That's rediculous for coaches to do.

the spanklet wrote:

Isn't it weird that when someone lists their times and the method of training, if they are low mileage or concentrating on quality work they get called names and told they could have run much faster. If their training has the emphasis on mileage they get applauded. There are different routes to the top, but you don't see the quality mileage guys slagging off the high mileage guys. Maybe some of these people could run a lot faster if they focused on quality. I've run both and the higher mileage route was an easier option, in my opinion.

Oh, I agree. You can be successful on lower mileage, that is my philosophy as well. But 20-30 miles a week (if that is true) is not low, that's housewives do so they can look good at the company picnic. Now, if we wanted to argue 70 mpw vs. 110 mpw, then we could have a "low" mileage discussion. But between 20 and 30? That's baby running.

Craig Miller's gonna do it on low mileage.....Don Vandry in Indiana still has the states best ne mile after a zillion years off 14 mile weeks.....

I say "less is MORE"

Who the heck is Craig Miller and what has he done? Does he run for VT???

Geesh, quite a few angry VT alums in this thread. Let me set the record straight. Ben Thomas did a horrible job mediating between the old and the new athletes when he took over as head distance coach five years ago. He pissed a lot of people off (see first five pages of thread) many of whom are too immature to get over it and jump at every chance they get to stomp on their alma mater. However, just because Ben Thomas could have done a better job interacting with his athletes does not mean he’s an idiot. Come on guys, do you really think a D1 school in a major conference only has its athletes running 20-30 miles per week? This thread must contain all the VT academic rejects (avg SAT > 1200 and much higher in the tech fields … you know, virginia TECH). The distance program may not be top tier, but I believe the women’s DMR team won ACC’s last year, not bad? The guys team has had a few rough years, but there is always someone on the team under 4:10 and 3:52 and couple around 1:51-1:52. I’m sure with a little research you’ll find plenty more D1 quality results. I loved my four years at VT, I enjoyed my time on the track and cross country teams, and I came out with great degree that landed me a great job. If you’re thinking of going to VT take the time to talk with the athletes and coaches and make your own decision, and if you’ve got issues with the coach try taking it up with him or talking with the athletic director. Go HOKIES!

dot

fighting gobbler wrote:

See you at the ACC meet first. Look up at 4 miles and you'll see me way up there in front of your team.

Penn State results. Wow, that VT team is loaded. Men 12th and the fully funded Women place 13th at Penn State with 412 points. Heck that's only 390 more points than DUKE scored. Coach Thomas seems to be tearing up the coaching world.

They are young though. That's because all our upperclass men and women have tired of his crap and quit the team. Still think 30 miles a week will do it coach?

MEN

12. Virginia Tech

1508 54 David Atkiss, Sr 26:24

1513 59 Andrew Montgomery, So 26:28

1517 70 James Scheiner, So 26:36

1512 97 Rider Clauss, So 26:50

1507 98 Paul Ahern, Fr 26:51

1519 103 Jason Vick, Fr 26:54

1518 148 Ian Shreckengast, Fr 27:18

Time = 2:13:07 Places = 378

WOMEN

13. Virginia Tech

2034 42 Tasmin Fanning, Fr* 22:10 5:56

2037 70 Kristin Hart, Fr* 22:37 6:04

2040 80 Natalie Sherbak, So* 22:47 6:06

2035 99 Sam Ference, So* 23:04 6:11

2039 121 Erin Reddan, Fr* 23:22 6:16

2038 125 Nicole Pederson, Fr* 23:26 6:17

2032 141 Jenn Dietz, Jr* 23:40 6:21

Time = 1:53:57 Places = 412

Didn't most of the real teams go to Pre Nat's?

The Tech team trained through this weekends Penn State meet you ass.

[quote]ACC in 2 weeks wrote:

Penn State results. Wow, that VT team is loaded. Men 12th and the fully funded Women place 13th at Penn State with 412 points. Heck that's only 390 more points than DUKE scored. Coach Thomas seems to be tearing up the coaching world. {/quote]

It gets a little more interesting if you look a little harder:

PLACE TEAM POINTS PLACES OF FINISHERS

1 Eastern Michigan 100 5 15 16 22 42

2 American 130 7 23 29 35 36

3 Guelph 146 6 17 24 38 61

4 Duquesne 193 14 34 37 52 56

5 Providence 201 1 2 13 50 135

6 U Penn 203 8 28 44 58 65

7 Duke 217 19 41 49 53 55

8 Speed River Tfc 251 21 27 30 71 102

9 James Madison 279 3 20 57 88 111

10 Penn State 334 26 66 73 74 95

11 Lehigh 355 40 48 51 91 125

12 Virginia Tech 378 54 59 70 97 98

13 Lock Haven 386 62 63 72 90 99

14 Pittsburgh 446 18 39 94 140 155

15 Texas A & M 447 64 69 85 109 120

16 Slippery Rock 501 11 68 100 156 166

17 Buffalo 526 9 93 101 154 169

18 Bucknell 528 45 110 113 122 138

19 Syracuse 565 31 81 104 167 182

20 Kentucky 568 33 60 133 162 180

21 Akron 580 77 106 116 134 147

22 Cornell 583 80 92 108 118 185

Now, I'm not advocating college runners doing 20-30 mpw, and I've already pointed out above that I have high school freshman girls running that much. But, if you look at the results, VT is NOT doing badly, and at least their top female rinner (the only one I bothered to check) is improving over her high school times (one of the top runners in Washington State).

Rojo split his squad, but VT DID beat the Cornell team that competed at Penn State.

VT "trained" through the meet???? What the hell does that mean? They ran 3 miles the day before instead of 2? Training through doesn't mean s***....Colorado trained through the Pre-NCAA meet too.

Those VT boys need to start running some miles.

I'm not suggesting that they'll ever be Colorado, but for f's sake----The Buffs do more on their long day that VT does in a week!