exam week

Last week of the semester - good luck with your final exams! As previously mentioned, there is no organized practice this week. Do your best to follow the training schedule outlined below. But at a minimum, do your best to get in the volume for the week even if it's just with easy aerobic runs. Check back with the blog for subsequent weeks of training during the semester break. Continue your recovery strategies and iron supplementation. And please don't forget to text your weekly mileage totals.

monday
OFF, no running

tuesday
dynamic warm-up
+ aerobic running
+ 4-6 x technique strides
+ mcmillan stage 2 core

wednesday
mcmillan warm-up
+ aerobic speed fartlek
(short, FAST, runs of less than 30 seconds with plenty
of easy running between - run with good technique)
+ hip circuit

thursday
dynamic foot drills
+aerobic running

friday
mcmillan warm-up
+ strong aerobic running @ 80%; w= 6-7 mi, m= 8-9 mi
+ mcmillan stage 2 core

saturday
aerobic running

sunday
long aerobic running
+ cool-down exercises

dead week

Two weeks remain in the academic semester - dead week and finals week. Since the coaches will be attending our annual convention for the better part of finals week, this week will be the last week that we see you at practice before the holiday break. So let's make it a great one! It will be cold so make sure you dressed appropriately at all times.

We will devote this week to the 85% anaerobic threshold and we will do so in two ways - first, on Tuesday we will engage in anaerobic threshold intervals; then on Friday, we will execute a classic anaerobic threshold run. The venues haven't been determinded yet, but either or both the track and park cinder loop will be utilized. Pace close attention to how you feel during both of these workouts. And in keeping with the progressive return to running, Monday will be an OFF day with no running.

mon - OFF, no running
tue - anaerobic threshold intervals @ 85-88%, 3-4 x 1600, r= 1'
wed - aerobic running, technique strides, supplemental exercises
thu - aerobic running + fast striding (+ some steeplechase work)
fri - anaerobic threshold running @ 85%, 3-4 miles
sat - (on your own) aerobic running
sun - (time - tbd, mid-morning) long aerobic running at mountain

back to work

Time to get back in the routine of practice - hopefully the last two weeks have been a little relaxing and rejuvenating. We have three weeks until the end of the semester - two weeks of class and one of exams. Finish the academic semester in the same manner that you should finish races - strongly. Good luck!

Our first indoor meet is this Saturday - some of you will be competing. If you know you want to compete in this meet, please let me know. We will determine and notify those on travel squad.

In the next three weeks, let's...

- return our aerobic endurance to mid-October levels, thus setting the stage to take it even higher in the subsequent six weeks. As we approach the semester break, everyone must understand the 80% and 85% levels of effort and learn how those efforts FEEL.

- revisit our individual recovery strategies; including daily health, nutrition, and sleep.

- confirm our commitment to iron supplementation.

- learn the exercises for Stage Two core.

- recommit to our core values from our first team meeting this fall.

- for some, include two weight workouts each week to improve leg strength.

- for some, learn the hill training circuit; how it feels, what it does, etc.

***AMENDED (due to weather) weekly schedule:

mon - aerobic running, technique strides, supplemental exercises

***tue - OFF, no running

***wed - aerobic farlek on park cinder loop;

5' + 4' + 3' + 2' + 1' @ 85%, r= 5', 4', 3', 2', 1'

thu - aerobic running, fast striding 6-8 x 100m

fri - strong aerobic running @ 80% on park cinder loop

(some middle-distance runners will do hill training circuit instead)

sat - (on your own) aerobic running

(some will compete at Indoor T&F Meet)

sun - (time - tbd) long aerobic running

thanksgiving week

The second week of the transition period is listed below - 5 days of running this week. We will meet for practice on Tuesday only. The OFF days are not optional - no running. Try to do some sort of recovery strategy every day, i.e. stretching, foam rolling, core and/or hip strength, etc.

*make sure you are taking your iron supplement!

monday - OFF
tuesday - aerobic running + technique strides + general strength
wednesday - aerobic running (no practice until monday)
thursday - aerobic running (thanksgiving)
friday - OFF
saturday - aerobic running
sunday - long aerobic running @ 70-75%

transitions

Sorry for the late and short post. We'll meet on Monday @ 3:30 for practice and go over the schedule for the next few weeks.

mon - 3:30PM, warm-up and recovery
tue - off
wed - off
thu - aerobic running
fri - off
sat - aerobic running on own
sun - aerobic running on own

if weather = : ) and fitness = ^, then times = !!!

With everyone deeply immersed in academics, it's certain that the very Tech-like title to this post is easily understood. The goal is simple. This week, everyone is better than they have ever been before. Fitness, weather, mental toughness, intelligent racing, and opportunity all come together in the next several days.

Seven men and seven women will be selected in the next couple of days to represent all of us at the regional on Saturday. The 1600 on Monday will sharpen everyone for a great effort later in the week. But the 1600 will NOT be used to select who will travel. It is not a race to beat one another. Challenging but manageable paces will be targeted; strong finishes are desired and teamwork in the homestretch will be the order of the day.

Enjoy the week!

mon - (on track) 1 x 1600 fast + 6 x 100 on grass
tue - aerobic running + technique strides + supplemental work
wed - w= OFF, w/ recovery work; m= OFF or light running
thu - aerobic running + light strides
fri - travel + light aerobic running on xc course
sat - race; w= 6k, m= 10k
sun - tbd
(women's team is helping at Girls on Run 5k + recruits on visit)

non-race group:
wed - light aerobic running + strides
thu - (3:30PM) 5000TT
fri - aerobic running on own
sat - OFF
sun - tbd

lessons

"Don't demand or expect that events happen as you would wish them to. Accept events as they actually occur. That way peace is possible."
- Epictetus, from The Art of Living

I spent some time today going back to the powerpoint used in our first team meeting this year. And specifically to the slide in which a mission statement, a vision, and core values were outlined. I encourage you to also, there's a lot of good stuff there that we must stay focused on. The quote above speaks to one of the core values - patience.

The weekend past is done, some went as we had hoped, some did not. We must learn from both. And both will make us better. Our focus now is to use the upcoming opportunity to move our program forward, to become the vision we desire. That must be the focus of not just the seven who will race, but the focus of all.

Weekly schedule below, subject to change pending weather:

mon - aerobic running + technique strides + supplemental work
tue - aerobic running + 4 x 150 (w/ 2 x 30m sprints; i.e. f-s-f-s-f)
wed - (6:00 AM, on track)
w= 3 x 2000, r= 4'; m= 3 x 3200, r= 5'; + general strength
thu - aerobic running + light strides
fri - (in PM) 10-12 x 300, r= 300j
sat - (on your own) light aerobic running + recovery
sun - (9:00 AM departure) medium long aerobic running at river

non-XC group:
tue - (3:30 PM, on track) 3-4 mile AT run @ 85%
fri - speed development, or maybe 300's w/ group