How to structure yearly training cycles for a post collegiate?

I'm a post collegiate 800/1500 guy and here is my schedule.

- Early July - downtime

- Late July & August - building mileage

- September - transition into fall training, start workouts

- October & November - prime fall training, cool weather, lots of racing opportunities with road & XC. Focus is on 5k-8k strength.

- First two weeks of December - my peak races of the fall. I usually open with an indoor mile to sharpen, then try to run a fast 3k or 5k the following week.

- Mid-December through Christmas or New Years - some downtime

- January - transition into middle distance training, continue building strength, run some low key indoor races

- February & March - prime winter training, focus still on endurance but speed is starting to come around. Prime indoor races. Goal is usually to run outdoor pr by the end of indoor. No reduction in volume means no peak.

- April & early May - Time to reduce the mileage a little. Start hitting the anaerobic stuff hard. Racing in college meets when possible.

- Late May & June - Peak. Reduced training, racing every week if possible.

Works for me. Helps if you're in a part of the country with lots of road, XC, indoor, and outdoor racing opportunities.

Thanks man. I was thinking along those lines but once I actually sat down and started to type up a plan I kinda went blank. I'm definately a strength based mid-distance guy so i like keeping the endurance work around a little longer. The September to December training is where I need the most help.

It might be a good idea to run some xc races in the fall and then take a little break after those. I see no reason why you can't continue to follow a college-type schedule as long as there are some road races/open xc races for you to run in the fall. Hell, most college meets accept unattached runners. If a spring and fall peak worked for you before, why change it? It's not easy to train year-round and peak only once.