Really cool full diary from NAU's #1 runner. He talks about all of the 2017 XC training and the races. Definitely worth a read.
Really cool full diary from NAU's #1 runner. He talks about all of the 2017 XC training and the races. Definitely worth a read.
I read it this morning. Enjoyed it. A few things that struck me:
1) I found it interesting that he viewed NAU as underdogs in 2016 and said again in 2017 that they were an "undoubtable underdog" (page 5). They were ranked #1 in the country for most of the 2016 season and the entire 2017 season. I think some athletes just want to view themselves as underdogs and will manufacture that mindset if necessary.
2) I thought it was interesting that they ran their long runs -- sometimes as long as 20 miles -- the day after a hard effort or race.
3) The plan to push the pace at NCAAs was hatched well before the meet -- Baxter mentioned it as early as November 3, but it could have been determined even before that.
Great find - thanks for sharing!
It is interesting about the long runs, but this seems to have been common place years ago.
I'm curious how many schools do this, vs. taking an easy day between a race and the long run?
Most schools and runners I ran against in college all had long runs on Sundays. Regardless if they raced or not.
Very cool that you can tell that the TEAM culture and TEAM chemistry are very important to them and to Coach Smith. Very cool to see.
Everything else in that publication just proves that young men can still work hard.
And, it was notable that the team chemistry didn't just happen from day one. He wrote that the first week or two was a different feeling and then once the workouts started getting tough, the camaraderie grew organically.
Also, the push the pace plan started the first visit to Louisville when they went through the first mile in 4:33 and kept on the gas.
Well done Mr. Baxter. Great piece of writing!
I liked how he reframed the heavy winds to be in their favor as they took the pace out. They certainly ran as if they didn't care.
Running with the Lumberjacks. Mr. Baxter, thank you for your hard work on this. A pleasure to read.
I especially liked the ten mile warm down after a 23:15 8k in Louisville after Pre-Nats. Wow.
I ran in college and a five mile warm down was considered crazy.
Long Run Follower wrote:
Great find - thanks for sharing!
It is interesting about the long runs, but this seems to have been common place years ago.
I'm curious how many schools do this, vs. taking an easy day between a race and the long run?
Yes, and the word is commonplace, and it has been that for 70 years.
Classic Smith. Long run right after workout. Same with squats. He puts the work together and the rest together.