new coach wrote:
I currently have them running 10 min easy, 5 min rest, 10 min easy. What are the advantages of doing it this way compared to a straight 20 min run? What way would be better? Also, how much time would you recommend adding each week to that? 5 min per day?
You are waay wimping out those kids if your only having them run 10 minutes without stopping. That's more like a gym test than actual track training(even if it is the "start"). First of all, you are afraid of "high" mileage. Any good coach should have most of them running about 10-15 miles per week to start off and 15-20 as they progress. At max base phase maybe 25 mpw. If you have an exceptionally talented kid take them aside ask them how their liking track and maybe ask them if they want to do more mileage. If they REALLY want to improve, let them do mileage that is actually somewhat high.
The real fact of the matter is is that your students will not succeed with a small base. If they want to actually get them good for High School you have to get them on higher mileage and if one of them wants to do hardwork and Wants to improve than let them do that and don't hold them back. It's usually those people that overall do the best in HS.