Why are so many HS coaches stuck in the 90s

who knows · 2026-02-28T22:37:49-05:00

Why do I see so many HS runners running 30-35 MPW with super high intensity? Surely there are many who would perform better especially at 3k and up with more volume?

High School Running

Reply New New Thread

Moderation Moderation Information Moderation Information & Rules

Page 6 of 6

1 5 6

Next Last

2 months ago 03/05/2026 12:08pm EST

re: HScoachinDude

HScoachinDude wrote:
How are you laying out your 60+ mile week for a HS kid that has a full school day?

Well since I had some do this just a few weeks ago, I can answer that question.

Monday 2M w/u, 4M Progression, 2M c/d
Tuesday (late start) 4M Morning on their own, 8M easy at practice
Wednesday 8M with speed development
Thursday Mile Repeats (9 miles total)
Friday 8 Miles Easy
Saturday 14 mile long
Sunday Off

They end up with a little extra each day and it added up to 60. I don't think everyone should be doing this but this is what I had a couple of them do. Laying that out is the easy part.

2 months ago 03/05/2026 12:23pm EST

re: coachy

I am a highly successful coach. My team runs very low mileage.

2 months ago 03/05/2026 12:34pm EST

re: ahoy

ahoy wrote:
I am a highly successful coach. My team runs very low mileage.

What’s your teams top boys 3200,5k and what mileage?

2 months ago 03/05/2026 12:37pm EST

re: who knows

Baseball coach tells a player to take 50 good cuts in the batting cage after team practice and we praise him for it.

Basketball coach wants everyone on the team to come in on Saturday to work on free throws for an hour and he is a great skills developer.

Cross country coach suggests adding a couple of easy morning runs or longer cool downs to boost mileage and the pearl clutchers start screeching about burnout and child abuse.

2 months ago 03/05/2026 12:40pm EST

re: Our Little Joke of a Sport

Our Little Joke of a Sport wrote:
Baseball coach tells a player to take 50 good cuts in the batting cage after team practice and we praise him for it.
Basketball coach wants everyone on the team to come in on Saturday to work on free throws for an hour and he is a great skills developer.
Cross country coach suggests adding a couple of easy morning runs or longer cool downs to boost mileage and the pearl clutchers start screeching about burnout and child abuse.

It is interesting how a basketball player could practice 8 hours per day and they are "dedicated" or a "gym rat" or "driven" but you give distance runners a bit more than some others then you hear the comments. I guess it's because distance runners are usually injured from over use or we have seen the prodgies that have "burned out" or whatever.

2 months ago 03/05/2026 12:52pm EST

re: coachy

coachy wrote:
HScoachinDude wrote:
How are you laying out your 60+ mile week for a HS kid that has a full school day?
Well since I had some do this just a few weeks ago, I can answer that question.
Monday 2M w/u, 4M Progression, 2M c/d
Tuesday (late start) 4M Morning on their own, 8M easy at practice
Wednesday 8M with speed development
Thursday Mile Repeats (9 miles total)
Friday 8 Miles Easy
Saturday 14 mile long
Sunday Off
They end up with a little extra each day and it added up to 60. I don't think everyone should be doing this but this is what I had a couple of them do. Laying that out is the easy part.

That’s actually pretty solid. I’d add another double maybe Thursday morning and maybe one on Saturday or Sunday (4 mi) too.

2 months ago 03/05/2026 12:56pm EST

re: Sub-9:00 guy

Sub-9:00 guy wrote:
coachy wrote:
Well since I had some do this just a few weeks ago, I can answer that question.
Monday 2M w/u, 4M Progression, 2M c/d
Tuesday (late start) 4M Morning on their own, 8M easy at practice
Wednesday 8M with speed development
Thursday Mile Repeats (9 miles total)
Friday 8 Miles Easy
Saturday 14 mile long
Sunday Off
They end up with a little extra each day and it added up to 60. I don't think everyone should be doing this but this is what I had a couple of them do. Laying that out is the easy part.
That’s actually pretty solid. I’d add another double maybe Thursday morning and maybe one on Saturday or Sunday (4 mi) too.

Yes we've done it that way as well. Kind of dictated a bit by school and meet schedule. Late starts on one or two days per week do help be able to hit those occasional doubles.

2 months ago 03/05/2026 1:04pm EST

re: Whatucall

Our top guys do 40. Most of team does 30. Last year we had a 9:09. XC is a little bit misleading because we ran some fast courses the past 2 years. Our top 5 ran from 15:25 to 15:58 but only one guy broke 16 at states.

2 months ago 03/05/2026 1:19pm EST

re: ahoy

ahoy wrote:
Our top guys do 40. Most of team does 30. Last year we had a 9:09. XC is a little bit misleading because we ran some fast courses the past 2 years. Our top 5 ran from 15:25 to 15:58 but only one guy broke 16 at states.

They peak at 40 or they run 40 every week? 9:09 what?

2 months ago 03/05/2026 1:23pm EST

re: coachy

40 for about 1/2 of the season. A 9:09 3200.

2 months ago 03/05/2026 1:28pm EST

re: ahoy

ahoy wrote:
40 for about 1/2 of the season. A 9:09 3200.

and what is their peak mileage?

2 months ago 03/05/2026 1:45pm EST

re: Our Little Joke of a Sport

Our Little Joke of a Sport wrote:
Baseball coach tells a player to take 50 good cuts in the batting cage after team practice and we praise him for it.
Basketball coach wants everyone on the team to come in on Saturday to work on free throws for an hour and he is a great skills developer.
Cross country coach suggests adding a couple of easy morning runs or longer cool downs to boost mileage and the pearl clutchers start screeching about burnout and child abuse.

OK, here's maybe another split in this "argument."

I suppose that there MIGHT be a few people in this discussion claiming that requiring higher mileage is somehow cruel. But not many, and maybe none. Those would be the people the above comments would apply to.

But I think that most or all of the "High mileage isn't a coaching obligation" view comes from other reasons, like practicality, student preferences, cost/benefit analysis, etc.

2 months ago 03/05/2026 1:49pm EST

re: Runningkids

Runningkids wrote:
Our Little Joke of a Sport wrote:
Baseball coach tells a player to take 50 good cuts in the batting cage after team practice and we praise him for it.
Basketball coach wants everyone on the team to come in on Saturday to work on free throws for an hour and he is a great skills developer.
Cross country coach suggests adding a couple of easy morning runs or longer cool downs to boost mileage and the pearl clutchers start screeching about burnout and child abuse.
OK, here's maybe another split in this "argument."
I suppose that there MIGHT be a few people in this discussion claiming that requiring higher mileage is somehow cruel. But not many, and maybe none. Those would be the people the above comments would apply to.
But I think that most or all of the "High mileage isn't a coaching obligation" view comes from other reasons, like practicality, student preferences, cost/benefit analysis, etc.

Sorry for the long answer. High confidence shorter answer: The opinions of posters who use the phrase "pearl clutchers" can generally be dismissed out of hand. A little reading shortcut.

2 months ago 03/05/2026 2:05pm EST

re: Runningkids

Runningkids wrote:
Our Little Joke of a Sport wrote:
Baseball coach tells a player to take 50 good cuts in the batting cage after team practice and we praise him for it.
Basketball coach wants everyone on the team to come in on Saturday to work on free throws for an hour and he is a great skills developer.
Cross country coach suggests adding a couple of easy morning runs or longer cool downs to boost mileage and the pearl clutchers start screeching about burnout and child abuse.
OK, here's maybe another split in this "argument."
I suppose that there MIGHT be a few people in this discussion claiming that requiring higher mileage is somehow cruel. But not many, and maybe none. Those would be the people the above comments would apply to.
But I think that most or all of the "High mileage isn't a coaching obligation" view comes from other reasons, like practicality, student preferences, cost/benefit analysis, etc.

Some coaches don't want to do the extra work and then claim their team "can't" do more. But in reality those don't want to do the extra that it takes by being there more.

2 months ago 03/05/2026 8:07pm EST

re: ahoy

ahoy wrote:
40 for about 1/2 of the season. A 9:09 3200.

How does a typical week break down?

2 months ago 03/06/2026 1:46am EST

re: coachy

coachy wrote:
HScoachinDude wrote:
How are you laying out your 60+ mile week for a HS kid that has a full school day?
Well since I had some do this just a few weeks ago, I can answer that question.
Monday 2M w/u, 4M Progression, 2M c/d
Tuesday (late start) 4M Morning on their own, 8M easy at practice
Wednesday 8M with speed development
Thursday Mile Repeats (9 miles total)
Friday 8 Miles Easy
Saturday 14 mile long
Sunday Off
They end up with a little extra each day and it added up to 60. I don't think everyone should be doing this but this is what I had a couple of them do. Laying that out is the easy part.

This looks good. Here is what my crew do and will break it into miles:

Monday 5-6 miles w/short speed

Tuesday am 2 1/2 miles PM track 9 miles total

Wednesday 6 miles

Thursday Am 4 miles PM Threshold 9-10 miles

Friday OFF

Saturday Am 1k efforts 9-10 miles PM 3 miles

Sunday 12 miles

I only see them Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday

2 months ago 03/16/2026 6:31am EDT

re: who knows

A great deal of it, I believe, is due to tradition and familiarity. Many high school coaches only teach what they were exposed to as an athlete themselves. If they were runners who only ran high-intensity, low mileage in the 90s, that is what they continue to teach, regardless of whether it is optimal or not.

Page 6 of 6

1 5 6

Next Last

What People Are Talking About On LetsRun

No top threads at the moment. Check back soon.

Reply Replying to

Username

Password

Leave the password field blank to post anonymously.

Post Preview

By posting you acknowledge that you have read and abide by our Terms and Conditions.

Remember me on this device.

Why are so many HS coaches stuck in the 90s

This thread has already been deleted.

You have been subscribed.

Why are so many HS coaches stuck in the 90s

Jump To A Page

Follow coachy

Block coachy

Follow coachy

Block coachy

Follow Sub-9:00 guy

Block Sub-9:00 guy

Follow coachy

Block coachy

Follow coachy

Block coachy

Follow coachy

Block coachy

Follow coachy

Block coachy

Follow coahc

Block coahc

Follow Khushboo

Block Khushboo

Jump To A Page

This thread has already been deleted.

Reply Replying to

You have been subscribed.