i am a sub 14 guy and i rarely run any miles under 6 minutes on an aerobic day, usually its between 6 20 and 6 40 pace and my tempo pace is much faster (5 10- 5 25 for 8-10 mile tempos, 4 45-5 00 pace for 4-5 mile tempos).
i am a sub 14 guy and i rarely run any miles under 6 minutes on an aerobic day, usually its between 6 20 and 6 40 pace and my tempo pace is much faster (5 10- 5 25 for 8-10 mile tempos, 4 45-5 00 pace for 4-5 mile tempos).
Well, the times are also pretty slow. I ran mid-16's and was one of the slowest on my DI team. But then again, my coach didn't suck.
It's kind of fun to think about this, the same way a train wreck is fun to think about. I was wondering what your coach thought a tempo run would be -- 6 minute mile pace IS the pace I do some of my tempo runs at, and I'm about the same speed as you over 5k.
Sounds about right - but what track reps/intervals are you also doing?
You have to start thinking longer term.
Clearly the coach is clueless.
Clearly you need to run easy on your easy days.
Clearly you need to ignore him.
Do that. All summer long do it. As soon as he is watching you, make it look like you are running hard or give him a mile at the pace he wants but do anything you can to deceive him and run your own pace. In the end, you need to run easy on easy days no matter what. If it means you don't get to race with the team, then do your best to take it through official channels and get the situation corrected. If that doesn't work you need to run and race on your own. Transfer if you simply must compete in college.
But in the end you have to think longer term. If you want to continually succeed in your running, you need to train smartly, not stupidly.
The man is simply a fool. Ignore him at all costs. You have my sympathy
If he needs to run and race on his own Im positive there are enough of us to help, support, guide and motivate him on this site to help him succeed and prove his coach wrong- what an achievement for internet and teamwork eh?
The bad news with taking the advice of doing whatever you want or cutting back on the pace once you are out of the sight of Coach Clueless is that you will have some back-stabbing brown nose fellow runner (teammate) rat you out to the Coach after practice. It will come from the one that you least expect and it will happen when you least expect.
Again, speak with the Coach in private and let them know of your commitment to the team and your loyalty to the sport and if he insists you race during practice and run yourself into the ground ask him, "Why?"
Don't be a whiner or a complainer. If you are just an 18-year-old Freshman you will lose in any confrontation with a Coach. I know you are right and would like someone to acknowledge that you are right, but I think you would rather stay on the team and if you are able to succeed in that goal you will be better off in the long run. Remember you are an endurance athlete, so you must endure!
How good of an actor are you?
Most teenagers are good at putting on an act and sucking up to adults when they want something, so I say try out your thespian skills on your distance running coach who thinks running sub six everyday is the way to go.
Ask for a private meeting in his office. There you can check if he has any books on distance running on his shelves. Feign interest in his training philosophy and ask to hear more and can he recommend any good books so you can read more about his running sub six success formula?
Try to keep a straight face and without cracking up ask him if he has any books by Lydiard or Vigil or Daniels. Tell him you really want to learn more.
I guess what I am trying to say is get something in writing from him so you can try to figure out what his source of information is for subjecting you and your teammates to such an illogical training plan.
RUN YOUR OWN MILEAGE, AND IF HE WON'T LET YOU COMPETE ENTER UNATTACHED AND BEAT EVERYONE ON THE TEAM. THAT'LL PROVE YOUR POINT.
doubting Thomas wrote:
I guess what I am trying to say is get something in writing from him so you can try to figure out what his source of information is for subjecting you and your teammates to such an illogical training plan.
and then...
the413miler wrote:
and then...
patience grasshopper...
the kid has a lot to consider between now and when he returns to school in the Fall. Between now and then he can consult with the Asst. Coaches or his teammates via e-mail.
His problem Coach might even enlighten him as to their madness or methods before he has a chance to schedule a meeting like I suggested. He should be okay if his Coach actually has some running books on his office shelves (books that demonstrate he has both knowledge and some historical perspective on the sport) and as long as problem Coach doesn't tell him he got the idea from an article he saw in Runner's World magazine.
If he decides to have a sit down with his Coach after school starts up again and the outcome is not good then he will act, react or overeact.
The choice will be his on whether he should file a complaint with the A.D. or quit or just keep running like problem Coach has told him to do until he gets injured.
...and if all else fails he can again turn to Gerry the Jogger for advice...
and then...
I'm an incoming freshman, and I wouldn't be suprised if we were on the same team. my coach has me going from 30 mile weeks, which I ran all through HS to 80 mile weeks, on singles, with absolutly no recovery mile in the 7s and only singles. What are the chances i get hurt? 90%?
to the OP, can you give me the first initial of the coach's last name, or the first initial of the college's name?
lol, as i was the only freshman last year on the team, i would really rather not give out any more information on this thing. I doubt this is the same team, he told me a few weeks ago before we left for summer that he didn't recruit any guys this past year. Maybe that has changed over the past few weeks, but if you have known you will be attending the college for some time now, we are both just $#!T cup the creek.