wejo-- best post of the new year, baby!!!
ah-- ritz remains to be seen and stamps had/has more potential than odlaug...
wejo-- best post of the new year, baby!!!
ah-- ritz remains to be seen and stamps had/has more potential than odlaug...
You are 100% correct. We need to do something about this junior level problem (see below).
This is only MOSTLY true. It would completely true except that our junior runners are doing MUCH better in the area of base-building than they were 10-15 years ago, or even 5-7 years ago (although they are still WAY overraced). The biggest reason for the slight upsurge in sub-9:00 HS 3,200m runners (and the slight upsurge in sub-28:00 adults) is the Internet. Because of mailing lists and forums (such as the old TnF Media and this one), young runners (and even a few of their formerly clueless and stubborn coaches) are finding out what runners in this country did when we WERE competitive. The HSers of 5-7 years ago are maturing into adults and are now able to handle the needed training load that their counterparts 10-15 years ago could not. If you say, "Internet information is still not going to be enough to bridge the gap", you are correct. We need to do quite a bit more. Also, I have been willing to demonstrate to those who will actually give it a chance and stick with it (instead of blindly bashing it with hollow words) that I have a post-college training program which IS the closest step we have toward that "innovative" one you're referring to, although even it is not "incredible" enough to completely overcome our poor junior development.
This is the truest statement you have ever made on this forum. If you have answers on how to REALLY eliminate the overcompetitive jr. high and HS running (especially those ruinous and WORTHLESS post-season meets) and implement a GOOD club system, many of us would love to hear those ideas. My immediate question is this: What's to prevent the clubs from being run by the same screwballs who are currently ruining our junior runners? I see makeshift track clubs all over the place already, and they do the same $#!+head "training" that the high schools do. What's even worse, they're doing it AFTER the regular season, thereby getting more anaerobic interval B.S. on TOP of an already destructive regular season!
So, in short, the club idea is the right one IF and ONLY IF we can get real COACHES (not just loudmouths with stopwatches) to be in charge of the clubs. This, in my book, is going to require still more EDUCATION. That's what I (and others from back in the day) have been trying to provide since the inception of the mailing lists and running forums. It's not a complete fix, but it has been somewhat successful, and it's certainly a step in the right direction. Do YOU have any ideas as to 1.) how we can continue this educational process? and 2.) how we can make sure (if we can get a club system in place) the people calling the training shots actually know what they're doing?
As far as junior development, I spent a number of years collecting data on the most successful high school runners and ADULTS America has ever had, and it turns out the answers to the problem of development are SLIGHTLY different than you might think. Of course, we know that developing endurance is paramount, and that RELAXED high mileage is a huge part of that. The best high school runners we've ever had did a lot of mileage in high school, and the best adults we've ever had did a lot as adults. When I started crunching the numbers I had available, I fully expected the best adults to have also run consistent high mileage in youth. But to my surprise, that wasn't the case. Most of the best adult runners did have PERIODS of high mileage in HS, but they AVERAGED only MODERATE mileage! They also had periods (notably during their competitive seasons) of reduced mileage. And (as any experienced runner would expect) MOST of their training was aerobically-based. In short, they PERIODIZED. In practice, this does cause a reduction in fitness level during the low mileage periods, but it ALSO seems to allow for better FUTURE development. This is a roundabout way of saying that NOT too great an emphasis should be placed on achieving awesome performances in HIGH SCHOOL; rather, HS competition results should be downplayed in favor of saving your best for later. I'm sure you, Mr. "Ah", would agree with that, and you in fact have virtually said that yourself.
In terms of high school mileage and intensity, we can paint a very clear picture as to what is needed for optimal long-term development. Low mileage, high intensity running in HS provides the LEAST chance of future success. High mileage, high intensity provides the next best chance (although these runners tend to be the best during HS, they normally do NOT improve much later). Low mileage and low intensity gives the next best chance, only marginally better than high mileage, high intensity. High mileage, low intensity yields the next best chance, and this turns out to be an extremely good option. However, moderate overall mileage with PERIODS of high mileage, coupled with predominantly low intensity gives the BEST chance of future success. SOME tough anaerobic training is not a pure evil, either. In fact, it seems to actually be GOOD for long-term development if young runners include SHORT stages (4-6 weeks) of intense training (this includes a LIMITED racing schedule) a couple of times per year. Technique development and a cursory amount of ALACTIC speedwork are also very good for junior high runners.
THIS is the kind of information that needs to be made COMMON KNOWLEDGE if we are going to successfully implement a club system in this country. Mr. "Ah", you have some excellent ideas (apart from the "just give up" angle), and if you have answers on HOW to set up the club system and do away with overemphasis on competition in youth, then I'm your man on devising the training programs. Youth development is the area in which I've spent MOST of my scrutiny of training systems nationwide and worldwide, and I INSIST on being at the vanguard of developing proper youth running programs. Until we do the right things with our youth, our chances of being the best in the world as adults are about as likely as finding an elephant dangling over the edge of a cliff with its tail tied to a daisy!
JK-
I am currently pounding out 90-110 miles a week, work full time as a teacher, have a girlfriend, have lots of bills including car payments and student loans... I think the only possitive moving out there would to become a better runner (and the rent would be cheeper, as I live in the Bay Area out here in California and pay an amazing $1250 for my 1 bedroom bachalor pad). Now looking at what you have planned is very interesting and seems like a great idea. As for you deserving pay I agree... after all college coaches get paid, as I'm sure most post-collegiate coaches do as well (While I believe Gags is out at Palo Alto for the love of the sport, I doubt he is paying for it out of his own pocket). So my question is this, how much money are you asking for your services? Also, as many out of college with financial obligations will one be able to work say 8-3 and still work in your program? For the majority of commited runners out there I doubt having parents pay their way is very realistic. Just wondering your thoughts.
well, flagstaff is very expensive for such a small town (60,000 people is SMALL!!) rent is rather high and the jobs don't pay all that well. yousee, a lot of people are just happy to slack by here so they are willing to work for pennies. this just keepd the average salery of the "work force" down. whatever..... i have lived here for 2 years solid now, and it is rad. i dont really run anymore, but when i was runing a fair bit (80 miles week/no doubles) i loved the trails. sure they have snow on them now, but a few months of the road never killed anyone. i never did the hi low stuff cuz i had school and a job and, well was not that seriious. i was content running 3x3200 in the 10:20 to 10:40 range sucking wind and feeling like a fat turtle. but i guess the other stuff works. my neighbor does fine with it. only drawback is racing.....you could be in great shape but inorder to race you have to drive atleast 2:30...it's not like philly or nj or new england where there are good races every 3 weeks. BIG DRAWBACK!!! You never get to REALLY RACE!!!
that being said, i live in a 4 bedroom house with rent at 280 each.....sure it is rusty, but that is how my "dirtbag climber" roomates like it. we actually have 2 rooms free in the spring?? i can usually get people jobs working in a wearhouse patching rafts and other colorado river odds and ends at 9bucks an hour....rambling here.....so if you want to move out here the cheap housese are there, the jobs are there, the only thing is if you get your own place youare f***ed $$$$.
plus, looks llike a good ski year...THE HELL WIHT RUNNING!!!!!!!!!
check this out, it is some local people...