How to convince coach I need more mileage

Run more on your own- not optimal, but other than leaving the team, it could be your best option- such as easy runs before school (if your school practice is in the afternoon). Of course you could try to talk to the coach- some are receptive, some are not.

I would be lucky to get the training you are getting during my practices. My long runs for cross country during practice are about 5 miles, and I get right around 25 miles per week. Not much speed work and not much interval training. And just like you I had a guy on my team that ran a 4:35 mile on that sort of training and my coach used them as an excuse as to why their training was good.

Talk to your coach. Try to reason with them. Do not come off as snotty or condescending. Try to explain to them the successful programs all put in high miles. I did this with both my track and my xc coach. My track coach finally eased up this year and let me run on my own during practice so I was able to put the miles in. My times reflected the miles I put in, so I think I got my track coach to wise up. My xc coach not so much... But i learned to run on my own. The previous poster was right it is not optimal training but at least it is something.

Lastly, be receptive to speed workouts. I do not enjoy them in the least, but a speed workout wont kill you once a week or once every two weeks. I think I got so focused on distance I almost completely refused to do speed workouts and I this definitely angered my coaches a bit.

-Just another high school runner that is entering my senior year

I feel your pain too` wrote:

And just like you I had a guy on my team that ran a 4:35 mile on that sort of training and my coach used them as an excuse as to why their training was good.

Instead of accusing your coach of bad training, maybe you should try to figure out why your teammate is running well on that training and you aren't.

gyb wrote:

I feel your pain too` wrote:

And just like you I had a guy on my team that ran a 4:35 mile on that sort of training and my coach used them as an excuse as to why their training was good.

Instead of accusing your coach of bad training, maybe you should try to figure out why your teammate is running well on that training and you aren't.

The obligatory LetsRun idiot answer.

gyb wrote:

I feel your pain too` wrote:

And just like you I had a guy on my team that ran a 4:35 mile on that sort of training and my coach used them as an excuse as to why their training was good.

Instead of accusing your coach of bad training, maybe you should try to figure out why your teammate is running well on that training and you aren't.

What do you suggest after he does that?

Let's say your suggested research indicates that the 4:35 guy is 1) more fast-twitch, and our OP is more slow-twitch; and 2) the 4:35 guy is vastly more talented and responds well to low mileage while our OP responds better to higher mileage.

What then buddy?

There is also the idea that the guy ran 4:35 because he ran more on his own and never told anyone. Just like Letsrun is full of trolls, there are many people who like the world to think they are good without doing any work. I'm not saying they are on Letsrun all the time and are training perfectly. The point is that if your coach and team help you through the harder parts of the weeks training, adding 3 or 4 miles every day and/or doing a long run on Sunday can make a huge difference.

The situation appears to be similar, the only real difference is that this coach holds himself to even higher regards because this miler ran 4:07 in the 1600 last year and is doing quite well this year. I have already tried to have an intelligent conversation with the coach, all that occurs is he belittles me about being short, young, and light. My automatic response while trying to stay the bigger person is saying that nearly all successful distance runners are very lightweight and short, so that obviously should not have anything to do with this conversation, and regarding age, as politely as I can, tell him that I know through experience that solely running 800m runner workouts makes me more prone to injury versus running high mileage weeks.

I have tried in the past running outside of school and believe it or not, I got maybe a week into adding more mileage like that and some kid in my neighborhood on the team went and snitched on me to the coach. This coach was infuriated to say the least and would not understand that there was a bigger issue going on that was not me running more.

This is easy. Get the additional miles on your own. And get big base during the summer. Your young coach doesn't yet realize that one size doesn't fit all.

Feel your pain wrote:

Run more on your own.

This is my answer. I went to high school in the mid 90s, at the height of the low mileage craze. My coach thought anything over 20 miles a week would cause my body to disentegrate. So I ran an extra 5 to 6 miles at home on my own each night.

Am I a dumb frosh? wrote:

I have tried in the past running outside of school and believe it or not, I got maybe a week into adding more mileage like that and some kid in my neighborhood on the team went and snitched on me to the coach. This coach was infuriated to say the least and would not understand that there was a bigger issue going on that was not me running more.

Then run when/where your teammate won't see you. Run early in the morning or late at night when he's sleeping. Be creative; problem solving skills and deternination will serve you well in this life. Where there's a will there's a way.

I coached at a high school where we had a kid who seemed to be in a similar situation. He did not learn to communicate or respect the coaches and it was a nightmare for the distance coaches. This could be a huge turning point in your life if you let it be.

You have tried talking to the coach and you say he belittled you. You might rightfully feel that way, but I say try again and dramatically alter your approach. Communication in difficult situations like this is one of the best things you can learn because I PROMISE you will be in this same spot in many other areas of life and definitely in a couple jobs with the same feelings toward your boss.

It's just a fact that most the time if you approach someone older and in charge with complaints they will be defensive and difficult. But you have to learn to communicate bc you both have the same goals. Go in there and express these things:

1) your commitment to the team

2) your desire to be the best runner you can be

3) and ASK HIM TO HELP YOU DO THAT

Ask questions where your tone and mannerisms genuinely express a desire to learn from him. Like you need his help, bc that's what he wants to do even if it doesn't feel like it. Keep your palms up on your lap (physical trick to stay calm) and just express that you are disappointed with your own progress and want to get better and to come up with a plan to improve. If you act like you know all the answers at any point the conversation will most likely be over. Learn how to lead him to where you want. Be honest and humble. You might think you know everything, and are probably right in the general sense, but he will have some good points.

Talk to wise people you trust on how to do this. Don't give up on communication. It is essential to any good relationship.

Hope that helps.

I am not a big mileage guy and normally say trust the coach.

But individuals in a group should not all train exactly the same way.

Kind of ironic that you join a team to improve your running and possibly get hampered by that new training as far as your personal goals.

(yes, this is how you use the word "ironic")

If this coach really discourages adding distance to the runs and doing and extra runs on your own then it may be in your best interest to not be on the team next year.

Do all of the running you want and run road races.

If you run some good 5K times over the next year, the coach may wise up and let you back on the team your junior year and train the way you want to.

If not, forget team running. You can get all of the personal fulfillment you need running on your own if it's distance running you like.

As mentioned by others, add more volume on your own. One way to do this is with doubles. Start doubling on non-workout days and add more as you get stronger.

Am I a dumb frosh? wrote:

All we did during cross country was the occasional slow distance run, easy runs and 400's at goal mile with occasional 6x800 at 5k (workouts were 3-4 times a week). I believe it is safe to say that this was not optimal coaching and quite frankly I believe I could have done better myself.

Going into indoor and outdoor, the same thing occurred except with even further reduced mileage and added speed-work such as 200s at goal 800 pace (I prefer longer distances, I do not enjoy whatsoever any event shorter than the two mile).

Trust your instincts and run extra, easy mileage on the side. If you're doing 3-4 speed workouts a week already, make sure you keep that extra mileage easy (i.e. it should feel like a jog... literally, just jog). Not every coach out there understands what it takes to train for long distances where a mix of volume AND intensity is key.

What if he already did that? wrote:

gyb wrote:

Instead of accusing your coach of bad training, maybe you should try to figure out why your teammate is running well on that training and you aren't.

What do you suggest after he does that?

Let's say your suggested research indicates that the 4:35 guy is 1) more fast-twitch, and our OP is more slow-twitch; and 2) the 4:35 guy is vastly more talented and responds well to low mileage while our OP responds better to higher mileage.

What then buddy?

But he hasn't already done that.

I don't know why you are being hostile about this, I'm just trying to help. I also don't understand why you are so determined for the OP to be less talented than the low-mileage guy. It could easily be some other difference that the OP and you are missing.

You guys are just focused on everyone else being wrong instead of accepting the possibility that you don't know how to train.

just do morning runs

or anywhere you can get miles you need

but run them the right way

no junk miles

!!

respect your coach and keep his practice the way he wants it

do it on your time !

Thank you for your help, it does appear to be an issue with communications that I should try and address personally. It seems as that I will have to learn how to be around people and not just be a typical, antisocial, driven distance runner with a perfect GPA to be successful...

Trollus Maximus wrote:

As mentioned by others, add more volume on your own. One way to do this is with doubles. Start doubling on non-workout days and add more as you get stronger.

Good advice, but I know somebody doing this and his problem is that the coach does not tell the runners when the workouts will be. Each day they find out when they finish the warmup (a few laps plus stretching). Sometimes they only do weights, some days will only do plyo, some days are "games" that involve moving around (but not running), some days they will run up to 4 miles, and some days they will do track intervals.

But I think your advice still applies- run the doubles anyway, because it's better than saving yourself for a workout and then finding out there is no workout and no running.

Perfect spelling and grammar as a freshman? At any rate, do the extra mileage and weekly tempos on your own, but this coach is doing something right for track athletes. A 4:07 1600m does not happen by chance. He is assigning a lot of high speed workouts for 800-mile, and that kind of workout is not going to be bad for two milers either. You could even do some of those at 2M pace and add some intervals. A 4:07 guy will also run a good two mile. And you'll be more likely to be recruited with a fast mile and 800m time. Listen to your coach and do his workouts, but build a strong summer base.