College track and cross county

*edit* tone is supposed to be: to be

Typo

College coaches are pretty strict. They also have big egos. They almost never listen to their athletes training input. Just warning you.

Advice- Go to a school with a coach that listens ( I doubt you will find that)

Being that each coach will take a slightly different approach to training, the best general thing you can expect and do in preparation is increased mileage. The sooner you begin that process, the better off you will be at the collegiate level. Just make sure you make a plan and adhere to it. Don't just bump your mileage with random methodology.

Good Luck!

Dogman wrote:

Being that each coach will take a slightly different approach to training, the best general thing you can expect and do in preparation is increased mileage. The sooner you begin that process, the better off you will be at the collegiate level. Just make sure you make a plan and adhere to it. Don't just bump your mileage with random methodology.

Good Luck!

Thanks I know about the 10% thing and what not. But what pace? Just curious

ProsperCC wrote:

Thanks I know about the 10% thing and what not. But what pace? Just curious

Ah, the pace! You will most likely get a wide range of answers on this question, but I would suggest you run between 65-75% or your 5K race pace. I am guessing that you will be running in a HS program over the next 2-years and would recommend that you work with your coach or at a minimum, let him/her know what you are doing so that they can adjust your workouts according to the increased mileage so that you can avoid injury.

A coach SHOULD find out what a high school athlete has done before but why in hell would they listen to an 18 year olds training input on what they think they need? That is absurd.

hippy wrote:

A coach SHOULD find out what a high school athlete has done before but why in hell would they listen to an 18 year olds training input on what they think they need? That is absurd.

I would hope that if a HS runner went to his/her coach to discuss how to prepare for collegiate running, that the coach would indeed not only listen, but work with that runner to help them achieve their goals. I listen to all my athletes and have learned a lot in the process. Not training tips, but insights into thier mental developments in the training process.

I would agree with runnergirl in the sense that a HS runner should seek a coach that will listen, but they need to understand that listening may not facilitate a change in training.

"Coach, I really like doing boxjumps instead of interval workouts. My coach always had us do boxjumps in highschool. On easy days I like to sit in the sauna instead of run. You are over training me."

Kidding right? wrote:

"Coach, I really like doing boxjumps instead of interval workouts. My coach always had us do boxjumps in highschool. On easy days I like to sit in the sauna instead of run. You are over training me."

"Runner, I appreciate you sharing that with me, but here are the physiological reasons why I do what I do and here are the physiological reasons why what you like to do is inappropriate in the big picture plan I have for you."

The bottomline is that in college the athlete has the final say......they can leave a college team for another.

Dogman wrote:

ProsperCC wrote:

Thanks I know about the 10% thing and what not. But what pace? Just curious

Ah, the pace! You will most likely get a wide range of answers on this question, but I would suggest you run between 65-75% or your 5K race pace. I am guessing that you will be running in a HS program over the next 2-years and would recommend that you work with your coach or at a minimum, let him/her know what you are doing so that they can adjust your workouts according to the increased mileage so that you can avoid injury.

So if I run 18:30 5k what I would do 65% of that pace?

ProsperCC wrote:

So if I run 18:30 5k what I would do 65% of that pace?

Just figure your mile pace and multiply by 1.35. For you at 18:30 5K, your mile pace is 5:57 so your 65% or RP would be 8:02 mile pace. That may seem really slow, but you are building base so it really is appropriate. Remember that pace is only a part of the equation along with how far you run. Just a rule of thumb to keep in your back pocket, if you run less than 35-40 minutes you are basically wasting your time. Unless of course you are doing speed work, which you are not. Again, I encourage you to let your coach know what your are doing if for no other reason than to become aware of your competition dates so that you don't do something inappropriate just prior to it. The summer is a great time to make big gains in your mileage because you won't have any other running agendas to conflict with your goals.

Dogman wrote:

...so your 65% or RP would be 8:02 mile pace.

Sorry! The above should have said, "...so your 65% of RP would be 8:02 mile pace."

I didn't want to confuse you.

8:02 mile? Cool thanks for that

I have heard something similar to what you say, that runs under about 30 minutes aren't really worth it. Could you explain why that is the case? Are you saying that if I am doubling, it would be better to do two runs of 45 minutes that one 30 minute run and one 60 minute run?

aeriplane wrote:

I have heard something similar to what you say, that runs under about 30 minutes aren't really worth it. Could you explain why that is the case? Are you saying that if I am doubling, it would be better to do two runs of 45 minutes that one 30 minute run and one 60 minute run?

Without going into detail your example is correct. There are basically no aerobic gains made in that sub-35 run. In my mind, that is the definition of "junk miles" because they really don't do anything. Many of my athletes used to do that just so they could say how high their wkly mileage was, but if you really break it down by quality, you could discount their mileage my 20%. If you were my athlete, I would much rather have you run one 90-minute run than a 30 and 60. The excuse I used to get a lot was that they didnt' have time for a 90-minute run, but if you really analyze the time dedicated, the actual run time is still only 90-minutes regardless, but with just one run you eliminate the extra shower and re-dressing.

JMHO