How does Adams State do it?

Let's get back to the topic at hand. I have always been interested in their training program. When the flotrack series came out I was hoping they might explain a training week a little more but should have known that wasn't likely.

Can anyone who is from Adams or is alumni shed some light for a highschool coach looking to learn?

I have a friend who ran for Adams. From what I can garner, its high mileage right off the bat, even for freshmen. They get enough runners that they can see who responds well. I don't know much else.

SSSQQUIDDD wrote:

chef mzungu wrote:

They do use magic. They have obtained the secret Kenyan recipes for Ugali and Sukuma Wiki, plus the usual triple consists of the traditional Kenyan workout of chasing down a free range chicken to put in the stew pot.

And they have the Magic Squid on their team. Who routinely performs rituals to increase their RBC count.

Vigil once told me it was all the Hatch/Green Salsa they eat...legend also has it that they once had a man with a big sack and that's where all the magic came from?

SSSQQUIDDD wrote:

chef mzungu wrote:

They do use magic. They have obtained the secret Kenyan recipes for Ugali and Sukuma Wiki, plus the usual triple consists of the traditional Kenyan workout of chasing down a free range chicken to put in the stew pot.

And they have the Magic Squid on their team. Who routinely performs rituals to increase their RBC count.

Vigil once told me it was all the Hatch/Green Salsa they eat...legend also has it that they once had a man with a big sack and that's where all the magic came from?

weather wrote:

I like the temperature comparisons. Here's mine

Nobody in Alamosa is running at 3 AM when it's -20F but it's definitely harsh even during the day im sure.

It's interesting that you mention this. When I was being recruited by Adams, one of my first questions (being from California) was "how cold does it have to get before it's to cold to send the team out for a run?"

Coach Martin looked at me dead in the eye and said, "it's never been that cold."

My follow up question was, "well how cold has it been when you sent the team out?"

"22 below!"

While I was there, my personal best for training in the cold was 12 below. So I can tell you first hand that the weather in Alamosa does not matter. We're heading out for our runs no matter what.

What if you put Jan 1 in there instead. Or Feb 1? Thinking Dec is too early in the winter for you to be claiming that Alamosa is colder than Siberia.

Vigil is the real deal...Martin is a joke.

How can you say Martin is a joke? The guy has had tremendous success.

I want to say the coldest I run I ever did in Gunni was -18. Definitely some rough winter memories. At the time that stuff makes you slow as s***, but standing on the starting line - especially for xc, I like to think it helped.

Not sure what your definition of a joke is. Martin is as good as they come imo.

howie wrote:

What if you put Jan 1 in there instead. Or Feb 1? Thinking Dec is too early in the winter for you to be claiming that Alamosa is colder than Siberia.

Alamosa probably is colder than Siberia. Altitude. altitude.

Here is what I have pieced together of Adams Training in recent years.

Typical Week of XC Training:

S - Long Run (15-20mi: start easy w/ second half @ Aerobic Threshold (5:45-6:00 for top guys @ 7544')

M- am 30-35min / pm 60-70min easy + Strides

T - VO2 Work if non-race week (ex: 3 x 4-5 x 2:00 / 90s / 3' or 3 x 3 x 1K / 2:00 / 3') or tune-up session if racing on Saturday (200's / 300's / 400's / 600s @ 3K --> 1mi rhythm)

W - Medium Long Run (12-14mi - often in Mountains)

T - 2 Recovery Runs - similar to Monday

F - Lactate Threshold Work (ex:6-8mi progression run or 2 x 3-4mi or 4mi-2mi-1mi @ progressively faster paces).

S - Recovery Runs similar to Mon/Thu

A few differences from Vigil's Approach:

Coach Martin has talked a lot about the importance of disguising hard work - resulting in more Fartlek Workouts (surges of 30s - 4:00) instead of traditional measured interval workouts. He has also talked about the importance of not pushing Threshold workouts too hard. Lastly - they seem to be using more combination workouts, especially in Track Season.

Ive long been interested in adams and how they train.

Here is a sit down interview Batt did with Milesplit that I think gives great insight into the program.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ

With Denver in a cold snap of single digit lows and teens for highs, I pulled up the forecast for Alamosa. Mid 50's.

I don't doubt that it is a cold as hell winter region, but found it interesting that it must occasionally be the opposite.

What do you mean by "combination workouts"?

ObamaMama wrote:

What do you mean by "combination workouts"?

Mixing tempo paces and faster paces, 5k pace with 1500 pace etc.

Example: 800m repeats where you go 600@10k and the last 200@1500. Or 4 mile tempo, 4x400@1500-800 pace. Essentially workouts that prepare you to change gears in a tactical race scenario. I don't think they do either of the workouts I just mentioned exactly, but they're along those lines.

Early season you'd be more likely to find true tempo workouts or true 5k workouts but as the season progresses, there are varied paces to prepare for championship racing.

So why are Chandler Ried and Julian Florez not racing this year? Injuries I assume but figured someone has insight.

comeone wrote:

They have talent. And they have coaching....And the fact that they have like like 30+ guys on the team!

^ This.