My athlete has already started Summer of Malmo. My question is, if she gets up to say, 45-50 miles a week, what does she do once the season starts? She is obligated to do what the coaches prescribe, which seems like pretty standard in-season stuff and racing, but they tend to not go above about 30 to 35 miles a week. Sometimes even 25. Should we keep up high mileage throughout most or part of the season, perhaps an easy morning run to keep the mileage higher? We'd like to maintain and improve on her summer gains of course. Thank you.
I would supplement the in-season work with easy mileage to try to keep it in the 45-50 range throughout the season. You will really start to notice a difference once championship season arrives and she keeps improving her performance every weekend while others stagnate. Additionally, if you find that she responds well to the slower tempo work and the coach doesn’t have them doing much during the season and just focuses on fast intervals, a weekly threshold session will do a lot
As a current xc coach, I’d also say let the coach know what she ran all summer. A good coach will take that into consideration and keep her mileage higher in-season, a bad coach will disregard it. Communication is usually good though.
I would supplement the in-season work with easy mileage to try to keep it in the 45-50 range throughout the season. You will really start to notice a difference once championship season arrives and she keeps improving her performance every weekend while others stagnate. Additionally, if you find that she responds well to the slower tempo work and the coach doesn’t have them doing much during the season and just focuses on fast intervals, a weekly threshold session will do a lot
This. But be sure to keep most of that extra mileage very easy. Just let the time pile up. As SSP said, it will make a difference at the end of the season, but even more than that, it will make a difference next spring, and next year, and beyond.
When in doubt, though, take a down week. Always better to err on the side of caution.
When I meet elite middle and long distance runners, I ask them their 400m &/or 440yd. personal best. Often, middle distance & long distance runners don't post their 200m & 400m times. Steve Hoag some time in the 00's told me he was a 55.xx 440 yard man. I am sure George Malley was considerably faster than Steve Hoag at 400m &/or 440yd. Physiologists say T&F talent is measured at 200m &/or 220yds. Kids, you should ask George Malley his 400m &/or 440yd dash times from age 12, 15 & 17. A person has the greatest opportunity to improve 200m & 400m ability while young. You have your entire twenties to log mileage.
First, I agree that young people should work on speed over distance. But by the time they get to high school the die is cast in that regard. You aren't going to run fast 5k's working on your 200.
Second, we are not training for the elite level. We are training for the high school cross country season. There's no reason to wait til the 20's for anything.
First, I agree that young people should work on speed over distance. But by the time they get to high school the die is cast in that regard. You aren't going to run fast 5k's working on your 200.
Second, we are not training for the elite level. We are training for the high school cross country season. There's no reason to wait til the 20's for anything.
Good thing for S. Coe you were not there in the mid-1970's to advise him. S. Coe improved his 400m personal best considerably during his teens.
U.S. used to produce the most elite 800m athletes, 1930's through 1950's. Lydiardism ruined U.S. in 800m. Lydiardism frightened away U.S. potential 400m & 800m athletes. We are so close now! U.S. at least consistently gets U.S. men to 800m final recently. If U.S. made it a mission for all to max out their 200m & 400m ability, 800m medals in every Olympics and W.C. would be a certainty. What does the U.S. have to do to earn 5000m medals today?
This thread is about George Malley and his training. I don't know George M's 400m &/or 440yd. personal best(s). We know George M. has a 1500m P.B. of 3:42.xx. I assume his 400m personal best is in the 49.xx to 51.xx range. Isn't that important to know if George M. is giving training advice?