My coach recently asked me to take a week off now that the cross country season is over in Canada. I'm a freshman in high school and a girl. The only thing is that I really really don't like to take time off because its hard to get back into the routine of doubles and hard training. I took two days off after the final meet and then did a hard session yesterday. I was thinking that I would just do single workouts each day for the rest of the week. Any advice or thoughts would be appreciated!
A lot of times, coaches are wrong and you shouldn't necessarily listen to them. This isn't one of those times. Take the week off, but don't jump right back into hard training. Rebuild your strength gradually with easy mileage first. If you keep hammering now, you'll find yourself burned out when the important indoor meets come around.
osm wrote:
A lot of times, coaches are wrong and you shouldn't necessarily listen to them. This isn't one of those times. Take the week off, but don't jump right back into hard training. Rebuild your strength gradually with easy mileage first. If you keep hammering now, you'll find yourself burned out when the important indoor meets come around.
Seconded. I used to train 100mpw with doubles and the whole gambit, but I took 2 weeks completely off after each season.
A freshman in HS has a lifetime of training ahead of them.
A break between seasons is normal. Two weeks would be better. Hell play ping pong a couple days a week and you'll comeback as fit as when you left.
Taking a break in training is important training because there will be numerous times you have to get back into the swing of things because of interrupted training.
Learning to rededicate yourself builds mental toughness
... and stopping to smell the roses appeases the soul.
Hi I'm a high school girl as well. Definitely make sure you take at least a week off. After my track season last spring, I made the mistake of not listening to my coach and jumping right into training and ended up injuring my hip and having to miss the first month of XC season. I know it's hard, but it's really not worth it
Won't kill you to do some light jogging or crosstrain (lightly) during your week off. I don't think a whole week or any days off is necessary but that a
Elite runners often take a week or sometimes more off once per year.
absence makes the hear grow fonder
Edward Teach wrote:
Won't kill you to do some light jogging or crosstrain (lightly) during your week off. I don't think a whole week or any days off is necessary but that a
I agree but at the same time I think it depends on the individual.
options wrote:
absence makes the hear grow fonder
Exactly
Just do it. You're 14 and have a long running career ahead of you. Your coach knows what he's doing.
I hear ya wrote:
Edward Teach wrote:Won't kill you to do some light jogging or crosstrain (lightly) during your week off. I don't think a whole week or any days off is necessary but that a
I agree but at the same time I think it depends on the individual.
I concur, but think you should listen to your body. It will give you THE sound advice if you listen to it.
I am a high school coach, and I tell my athletes to take 2 weeks off after a season, and if they feel the need to take a 3rd week off, then they should (we don't have an indoor track season).
Even if you don't realize it, your body benefits from the break both physically (recovery is an important component of training - read up on it) and mentally. Use the extra time to do something else that you haven't had the time for during the season.
Bernard Lagat takes 5 weeks off after the season.
Pics?
But seriously taking a week off it's good for you. Also you're a freshman and already doing doubles? How many mpw are you running?
calling BS on this thread. how many 14 year old girls are running doubles/hard training? no way is the age/gender accurate
You would be surprised I know lots of 14 year old girls that train hard and put in a lot of miles and that includes doubles
Doubles? At your age? Hmmm. Whatever.
Take the time off. Your coach is right.
If it's hard to get back into a routine. Take the time off and work hard to get back in the routine, when the time is right. Mental toughness is very important in this sport.
Do your 14 year-old kids do doubles?
You need to a) take a week off and chill out. b) get a boyfriend.