Is my HS XC coach trying to burn out my team?

i_eat_fast wrote:

Last year during XC season, I was not good and I felt a lot of pain while running. Fast forward to track season, and I\'m running great.

This year during XC season, I am not feeling good at all and I\'m running with a lower pack. The difference is we are doing 3 workouts a week instead of 2, and running 30-50 minutes every day that we aren\'t working out. There isn\'t much rest involved except on Sundays where we could run, cross train, or take the day off. Does 3 workouts seem like a lot/too much/just right for a HS team? I would love to hear your opinions/experiences. It seems like everyones getting a bit worn out and our XC season has just begun!

How much did you run over the summer?

I would say it depends on where you are coming into the season with your conditioning. You didn't give any details about your preparation for the season to begin. So, maybe your coach is either assuming too much or you are speaking about the whole team when really it might just be you and a few of your friends that didn't get in many miles over the summer. The reason I say this is because after a kid has a fall season, some winter running and a solid track season, it's completely possible that they could just loaf all summer and take a big step backwards. So yeah, you might feel like you are being overworked. In your defense, a coach should customize the workouts no matter where you are when you start the season if neither of you are willing to work together through the summer months.

Pace yourself well. Don't bust a gut, just run the workouts comfortably hard. Control your breathing, don't get too out of breath. Go easy on the easy days. Eat well, sleep well, the best races are to come.

Did you run over the winter and not run over the summer?

3 workouts does not have to be too much. How hot has it been?

i_eat_fast wrote:

Last year during XC season, I was not good and I felt a lot of pain while running. Fast forward to track season, and I\'m running great.

This year during XC season, I am not feeling good at all and I\'m running with a lower pack. The difference is we are doing 3 workouts a week instead of 2, and running 30-50 minutes every day that we aren\'t working out. There isn\'t much rest involved except on Sundays where we could run, cross train, or take the day off. Does 3 workouts seem like a lot/too much/just right for a HS team? I would love to hear your opinions/experiences. It seems like everyones getting a bit worn out and our XC season has just begun!

Haha you sound just like a kid from my HS XC team, and our coach is doing the same thing. 3 workouts a week. Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday Race. Monday and Wednesday used to be 5-6 mile hard runs, practically as hard as you can go, timed. Now we are beginning 400 meter repeats with 800 meter rests in between.

Coach knows what he is doing with adding in more workouts during the season, but if you are keeping miles up close to the summer miles, than that's stupid.

30-50 minute runs on non-workout days is nothing really. You are probably running too fast. Run easy days EASY and hard days HARD. 8:00/mi pace on easy days is not uncommon for 17:xx runners.