Someone on the team is burnt out already.

She may be exhausted from events outside of training. In any case, 400s seem like unusual training in the middle of july. Maybe the training needs to be evaluated and maybe her training needs to be adjusted. I would think a down week could be more appropriate than a week off.

Why should 400s be unusual in July?

Because it's hot as balls out and you can't recover in between reps well enough. All you should be doing at this point building into cross country season is easy mileage, an occasional long aerobic workout, and strides/100s/200s to work on leg turnover.

For XC? The summer is about building base.

I joined a running club a month ago. I live in the North East/Mid Atlantic USA. We have been having a heat wave that started last Thursday. Yesterday (Monday) we were supposed to have a training session that comprised of 600s/400s/200s. The heat index was 105F at 7PM. The training session was cancelled.

I had left the office at 2:30PM, it was difficult to breathe- It was burning hot and humid.

There is no way I was going to attend a running session in this sort of weather. If the lass is experiencing the same, I can understand.

I’d cry also if I had to do 400s in early July

Why is higher mileage an awful way of thinking?

If she's burning out, the first thing she should do is cut out all of the workouts and just run as many easy miles as she can each week. No pressure, just get out and jog.

Get a comfort dog to run with her.

Your name is runnerjunkie, you've bought in. It seems that she isn't all in yet- maybe she will never buy in. Nevertheless she needs encouragement and as the coach stated maybe a bit of time off to figure things out. Do you know what she does the rest of the day? She might be tired and worn out from the heat and responsibilities. One less rep workout won't ruin her season. Just be an encouraging, positive teammate and try to get the team to bond.

Was this a one day thing? We all have off days.

Who cares about her feelings, what were the splits?

High school coaches assigning 400 repeats in July to get ready for cross country? What could possibly go wrong...

400 repeats? What have you girls been doing?

Not everyone likes or dislikes a particular activity as well as some others do. Maybe she's just in the wrong sport. But that said, you're talking about a high school cross country team(?) It's mid July. Why are you guys doing 400s, or really any sort of rep work now? If your state's rules are like every other one that I know of attending these sessions cannot be required. If I was her dad I'd first have a long talk with her to make sure she really wants to be in the sport. If I'm pretty convinced that she does I'd tell her not to go to these sessions, at least not the ones where there will be intervals, and just run on her own until formal practices begin.

Not sure I am ready to tear this person's training program apart without knowing the full context of what they are doing and have been doing. Many people do some type of repeats in the Summer (see Summer of Malmo).

True. Many people do some sorts of repeats during the summer and also many don't. If someone is breaking into tears during a summer repeat session I'd think s/he should be in the latter group.

Why? Nothing wrong with some 400s at threshold effort with short breaks. In fact, maybe just as good as attempting a 20 minute "tempo" in brutal weather.

I mean, the Ingebrigtsen/Norwegian method training incorporates 4 x 5 x 400 at tempo pace with 60 seconds rest (or a derivation of that) as a base building workout, but then again, they're also in freaking Norway and not the extremely hot and humid continental US in mid-July. For what it's worth, I currently do that workout in my summer base........on a treadmill.........in my basement...........where it's 70 degrees..........and a fan is on.