Should xc runners be doing warmups and cooldowns before and after distance runs???
Should jr. high and high school runners be doing mile warmups and cool downs before and after runs that are very long for them at the beginning of the season??
should they be doing this to get more milage in?
I believe that most runners warm up in the first few miles of a long run by starting slowly. A cool down can be achieved by jogging the last mile, although many runners like to finish moderately fast.
If you're asking whether separate warm ups and cool downs are the most effective way to increase mileage on long run days, the answer is no, it would be better to increase mileage with doubles or longer uninterrupted runs.
If you're looking a reason to tell your coach that your friends on the internet disagree with him, forget it. A mile warm up and cool down won't hurt you, and he might be doing it to make sure you're regrouping as a team or to make sure you're stretching before and after.
I beleive it is different for HS and MS runners. For a MS runner a half-mile is sufficient warm-up and cool down. And I really wouldn't stress the mileage too much at that age.
Why do elite runners always go through a rigeurous warm up/down and stretching routine- to prepare mind and body (warm up muscles etc), so whats the difference for xc and hs runners. They need to be taught to train like all other runners from an early age.
Of course, but he's not talking about before workouts and races, just normal runs. I don't think anyone really sets aside a separate warmup and cooldown for a regular daily run.
in high school, we used to run for a little bit and then stretch out while the coach talked to us