"The two most powerful warriors are patience and time." - Leo Tolstoy
arete - attaining excellence through competition

Sunday, June 10, 2018

hail eugene

Hopefully you watched the NCAA Championships on TV last week.  Truly, as always, an awesome track & field competition with some unbelievable performances in inclement weather - wind, rain, even hail! The last thirty minutes of the women's competition on Saturday was magical to watch.  Now, before you go any further, take five minutes to read this story about a competitor who raced in the final of the women's 1500m...


With the training spreadsheets having been sent out, below is some additional info...there are no major changes to the spreadsheet from last year. Basically we'll build up to a full volume week, maintain that level with consolidation weeks every 2-3 weeks, and then taper toward championships. The first phase of six weeks consists of a gradual build up to your full volume mileage week.  During these first six weeks, run easily as you feel, DO NOT worry about paces, and there are no workouts.  One day a week, preferably on Thursdays, do 6-8 strides focusing on being relaxed and running with good technique.  Some mobility and stretching should be included both before and after your runs. Lastly, each week should be supplemented with one to two hours of cross-training.

Each week, starting with this one, mileage for the previous week can be reported through the comment section of the blog.

Sleep and nutrition, as always, are integral parts of proper training.  Sleep times should be as consistent as possible, with at least seven hours each night, and shooting for that magical nine hours fourteen minutes! Nutrition should always include good sources of carbohydrate, lean protein, and healthy fats. Staying hydrated is obviously very important.

Strength & Conditioning will be sent separately.  The summer is a great opportunity to make gains in strength, and also to strengthen weak areas.  For returners, you can to the Taurus general strength circuit twice a week and squats once or twice a week.

The pace chart is included as a tab in the spreadsheets that will be sent. We'll begin to focus on the pace chart a little in the next phase, but mostly we will begin to use it extensively once we get back to school and practice starts.  The golden rule regarding the pace chart is that we ALWAYS look at it thinking about where our current fitness is...we NEVER use it thinking about what our personal bests are or what our goals are.

Lastly, at the end of the season we asked everyone individually "what do you bring to the team". Continue to think about that question.  For those joining the team next year, consider how you would answer that question. At some point you will very likely be asked!

Sunday, June 3, 2018

hayward field finale

This weekend's NCAA Outdoor National Championships will be the last track meet ever held at historic Hayward Field on the University of Oregon campus.  Below is the schedule for the Yellow Jackets!

(all times listed are Pacific time)
Wednesday, June 6
6:14 PM - men's 800m semi-finals
7:08 PM - men's 10,000m final
Thursday, June 7
5:02 PM - women's 100m Hurdles semi-finals
Friday, June 8
6:44 PM - men's 800m final
Saturday, June 9
4:12 PM - women's 100m Hurdles final

Monday, May 28, 2018

two to eugene in two weeks

While next up is a trip to historic Hayward Field in Eugene (aka TrackTown USA) for the NCAA National Championships, for almost everyone it is time for the start of a new season with new goals! We are working on new annual volume spreadsheets and notes, along with recommended summer training, to send out, but for the next 2-3 weeks, it should be pretty simple.  For the first week back, just plan on 3-4 light runs of 3-5 miles. For the second week, plan on 4-5 runs of 3-6 miles.  And then for the third week back, move to 5-6 runs of 4-8 miles.  To keep in sync with our normal routine, plan on Monday's always being one of your off days.  A weekly blog post on Sunday evenings will continue through the summer, so always check back in!  And as in the past, the blog comment section will serve as the way to report your weekly training and we encourage everyone to do that.

Recommended strength-training will also be sent out.  The summer is a great time to work on improving general strength and core strength.  Also, working on mobility and recovery should always be a part of your routine.

We discussed the addition of aerobic cross-training to our weekly training, so let's begin that now with committing a minimum of 60 minutes of cross-training each week.  Aqua-jogging, elliptical, swimming, biking, stair-climbing, walking, rowing...all are good.  Do 60 minutes of one, or do several that add up to 60 minutes.

Take some time also to assess areas of weakness you may have and pick one that you think is most important.  Work intentionally on improving that area so that not only is it no longer a weakness, but that it becomes a strength.  It could be physical, such as weak hips or glutes, it could be lagging aerobic ability, or it could be areas such as confidence, mental toughness, dealing with stress or adversity.  Research it and work on it intentionally, i.e. with purpose, focus, and correctly.  If you need help with coming up with something to work on, contact your coach(es)!

monday (on your own)
40-60' of light aerobic running

tuesday (7:00 PM)
+ 800m:  speed development, 4 x 100 + 2 x 120 + 1 x 150, r= 5', 6'
+ 3000SC & 10k: Threshold run, w= 4800m / m= 6400m
+ strength & conditioning

wednesday (7:00 PM)
400j + lunge matrix wu
+ aerobic running
+ general strength circuit

thursday (7:00 PM)
800j + dynamic wu
+ 6 x 80m fast striding on Cherry St hill
+ light aerobic running
+ 4 x grass strides
+ hip circuit

friday (7:00 PM)
800j, mcmillan wu
+ 800m: speed endurance, 3 x 300
+ 10,000m: AE Power and faster
+ strength & conditioning

saturday (on your own)
light aerobic running
+ stretching
(3000SC - Nashville Music City Distance Carnival)

sunday (time - tbd)
travel to Eugene
#WATT

Sunday, May 20, 2018

destination tampa

What started with the whole team back in August moves to Tampa this week with three men and three women for the NCAA East Preliminary Round!  Competition starts on Thursday and ends on Saturday, so make sure you keep up with the team's results.

For those not going to Tampa, you should be either taking a break or just maintaining some light running through May until the new schedule starts up in June.  Stretching, mobility, and recovery should still be part of your daily routine.

monday (8:30 AM)
800m & 10k:
mcmillan wu
+ 3 x 2 x 200, r= 400j
(set 1 @ 5k-1-2" + set 2 @ 5k-3-4" + set 3 @ 5k-4-6")
3000SC & 5k:
+ light aerobic running or OFF
+ 6-8 x technique strides on grass

tuesday (7:00 AM)
3000SC & 5k:
mcmillan wu
+ 3 x 2 x 200, r= 400j
(set 1 @ 5k-1-2" + set 2 @ 5k-3-4" + set 3 @ 5k-4-6")
800m & 10k:
light aerobic running or OFF
+ 6-8 x technique strides on grass
+ travel to Tampa

wednesday (time - tbd)
800j + dynamic wu
+ 800m & 10k:  light aerobic running + 2-3 x 200 @ RP
+ 3000SC & 5k:  light aerobic running + hurdle drills + strides

thursday (time - tbd)
800j + dynamic wu
+ 800m & 10k:  AM shake-out + PM COMPETITION
+ 3000SC:  light aerobic running + 2-3 x 200 @ RP
+ 5k: light aerobic running + stretching & mobility

friday (time - tbd)
800j + dynamic wu
+ 800m & 3000SC:  AM shake-out + PM COMPETITION
+ 5k:  light aerobic running + 2-3 x 200 @ RP

saturday (time - tbd)
800j + dynamic wu
+ 5k:  AM shake-out + PM COMPETITION
+ 800m & 3000SC:  light running on own

sunday (time - tbd)
aerobic running
+ cool-down exercises
+ recovery strategies

Monday, May 14, 2018

post-season prep

For those continuing, see below.  For those finished, time for a break to regenerate.  Then time to get back to work!

monday (on your own or OFF)
dynamic wu
+ light aerobic running
+ 6-8 x technique strides on grass
(for those off, cross-training is encouraged)

tuesday (7:00 PM)
+ 800 & 1500:  11 x 200 cut-downs, r= 90"
+ 3000SC & 5k/10k: Threshold run
+ strength & conditioning

wednesday (7:00 PM)
400j + lunge matrix wu
+ aerobic running
+ general strength circuit

thursday (7:00 PM)
800j + dynamic wu
+ 6 x 80m fast striding on Cherry St hill
+ light aerobic running
+ 4 x grass strides
+ hip circuit

friday (7:00 PM)
800j, mcmillan wu
+ 800 & 1500: 400, 200, 300, 200, r= 3', 2', 3' + 1600j + 1 x 500
+ 3000SC & 5k/10k: 3 x 3 x 400 cut-down from 5k pace
+ strength & conditioning

saturday (on your own)
light aerobic running
+ stretching

sunday (time - tbd)
long aerobic running
+ cool-down exercises
+ recovery strategies in training room
#WATT

Sunday, May 6, 2018

south florida invasion

"It was shortly after that Cassidy began to notice something very strange in his training: it was nearly impossible to make himself hurt...in the afternoon he thrashed himself through his distance run or interval workout and finished somewhat itchy, as if something were up.  This night he told Denton about this strange sensation of invulnerability.  Cassidy admitted to being very puzzled.

But the Olympian just settled back against the porch step, sipped his coffee and smiled warmly at the miler.

"How nice," he said, "for you to have arrived on time."  - Once a Runner


For those done competing for the season, time for a well-earned and much needed break.  Two weeks, at least ten days of no running.  You can begin light running at the end of the second week, or continue to full two weeks off.  HOWEVER, you should work on stretching and mobility throughout. When you do return to running, keep it very light.  Also, as you return to running, you can add cross-training.  Explore different modes of cross-training, find out what you enjoy doing.

#WATT

monday (8:30 AM)
1500m: 4-6 x 400 @ 105% of RP, r= 3'
10,000m: easy running + 6 x 300 cut-downs, r= 300j
others: off or light aerobic running
+ travel to Miami

tuesday (time - tbd)
+ 3000SC & 5k: 6 x 600 @ CV, r= 200j + 1600j + 2 x 300
+ 800m:  4 x 100 + 2 x 150 + 1 x 200 @ speed endurance, r= 5', 6'
+ 1500 & 10k: light aerobic running or OFF
+ strength & conditioning

wednesday (time - tbd)
1500m & 10k: light aerobic running + 2-3 x 200 @ RP
800m, 3000SC, 5k: light aerobic running + strides

thursday
1500m & 10k: AM shake-out + ACC CHAMPIONSHIPS
800m & 3000SC: in AM, light aerobic running + 2-3 x 200 @ RP
5000m: tbd

friday
800m & 3000SC: AM shake-out + ACC CHAMPIONSHIPS
5000m: in AM, light aerobic running + 2-3 x 200 @ RP
1500m & 10k: tbd

saturday
800m, 1500m, 5000m: AM shake-out + ACC CHAMPIONSHIPS
3000SC & 10k: tbd

sunday
light aerobic running
+ stretching & mobility
+ travel to Atlanta

Sunday, April 29, 2018

exams'18

NOTE: practice time this week will be 8:30 AM on Tue thru Thu.  This should allow you to get to both the 2nd and 3rd exam periods.  If you have an exam during the first exam period at 8:00 AM, TEXT COACH and an alternate time will be arranged.  Also TEXT COACH your mileage from last week.

For those racing ACC's, it is imperative that along with a successful academic week you also have a successful training week.  In order to accomplish this you must manage your week well!  Part of managing the week well also includes moving out of the dorms and moving into the post-season hotel.  Plan ahead!

By now everyone should have signed up for an individual year-end meeting.  If you haven't done so, please go to the google doc link and sign up for a time slot.  The meetings will be brief, but are important, so make sure you are prepared to go over the agenda items listed in the google doc.

#WATT
monday (on your own or OFF)
dynamic wu
+ light aerobic running
+ 6-8 x technique strides on grass
(for those off, cross-training is encouraged)

tuesday (w @ 8:30 AM / m @ 9:00 AM)
+ LD & 3000SC: 800 @ CV + 800 @ Tempo (75-80%)
continuous for 6400m (w) or 6400-10,000m (m) + 3-4 x 200, r= 200j
+ MD: 400, 200, 300, 200 @ AnAe Power, r = 3', 2', 3' + 1600j + 1 x 500 fast
+ strength & conditioning

wednesday (8:30 AM)
400j + lunge matrix wu
+ light aerobic running
+ hurdle drills
+ 4-6 x technique strides
+ general strength circuit

thursday (8:00 PM)
800j + mcmillan wu
+ 3 x 4 x 400 @ AE Power, r= work:rest of 1.0:0.5 / R= 2'
+ 4 x 100 + 3 x 200 + 2 x 300 + 2 x 400, r= 100j, 200j, 300j, 400j
R= 2', 3', 4'
+ strength & conditioning

friday (on your own)
800j + dynamic wu
+ light aerobic running
+ stretching & mobility

saturday (on your own)
light aerobic running
+ stretching & mobility

sunday (time - tbd)
long aerobic running
+ cool-down exercises
+ recovery strategies in training room
#WATT