With the long holiday weekend ahead of us, here's a recommended training plan for the next three days:
• A longer, easy run on one of the three days. This might last anywhere from 40 to 75 minutes depending on the person. Start off with the lunge matrix before you go. Like last week, there'll be an optional Saturday practice at the Lincoln commuter rail station (145 Lincoln Road, Lincoln MA) at 9 AM when you can get this done if you like.
• A medium length run (30-50 minutes) or an equivalent amount of time spent cross training on another of the days. For my money aquajogging or an elliptical machine are the best options for alternate forms of training, with cycling or rollerblading/rollerskiing also being good options.
• One day off.
Which workout you do on which day is up to you. If you've been meeting me directly at the town beach the past week for aquajogging I'd recommend doing that on Monday if you have access to a pool or pond and the weather allows for it.
See you Tuesday.
Friday, August 29, 2014
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
Getting to know you
I'd like to know more about everyone who's signed up for the team this year, not least of which since it's my first year here and I'm meeting everyone for the first time. Copy and paste the questions below (with your answers of course!) and send them to me at
llayam (at) hotmail (dot) com
1. How many seasons of cross country have you done before this?
2. Do you run either indoor or outdoor track? If so, what events have you done and what are your personal records (PRs)? Do you do any other sports either at the school or outside of school?
3. What motivated you to come out for the team this year?
4. What personal and/or team goals do you have for this season?
5. Were you able to run over the summer? If so, how long would you say your average run was in terms of time? How many days per week did you run on average? If you have a training diary or log bring it to practice sometime soon so I can see it. If you have an online training log let me know the URL.
6. What's the furthest you've ever run in terms of either time or distance?
7. What's the furthest you've ever raced in terms of distance?
8. What other interests/hobbies do you have?
9. Between grape, cherry and strawberry which flavor do you like the best?
llayam (at) hotmail (dot) com
1. How many seasons of cross country have you done before this?
2. Do you run either indoor or outdoor track? If so, what events have you done and what are your personal records (PRs)? Do you do any other sports either at the school or outside of school?
3. What motivated you to come out for the team this year?
4. What personal and/or team goals do you have for this season?
5. Were you able to run over the summer? If so, how long would you say your average run was in terms of time? How many days per week did you run on average? If you have a training diary or log bring it to practice sometime soon so I can see it. If you have an online training log let me know the URL.
6. What's the furthest you've ever run in terms of either time or distance?
7. What's the furthest you've ever raced in terms of distance?
8. What other interests/hobbies do you have?
9. Between grape, cherry and strawberry which flavor do you like the best?
Sunday, August 24, 2014
Training Plan for Week 0: Aug 25-31
The first few days of organized practice are behind us, with school not starting until next month the upcoming week can be devoted to continuing a pattern of training similar to last week. A couple of things to note:
• Overall the pattern this week is A-B-C-A-B-C, where A is a shorter run, B is a medium length run, and C is a longer run. Not everyone will be running all six of those days however, those that are adjusting to the amount of training will go directly to the town beach on Tuesday and Thursday for aquajogging in lieu of running. This leads me to my next point...
• The forecast is for increasing temperatures through midweek, particularly Tuesday and Wednesday. Not coincidentally everyone will be at least stopping by the town beach at some point on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday if only to cool off. Bring your water bottle and carry it with you on your runs, especially the longer ones.
The week's plan as it stands, any changes will be announced on this blog:
• Monday 8/25 - shorter run, 20-40 minutes. Between the warmup and the run we'll be doing hill drills on the short steep slope near the student parking lot.
• Tuesday 8/26 - medium length run, 30-50 minutes (in all likelihood, to and from the town beach) or aquajogging 30-40 minutes. Those that are meeting at the school can add in some aquajogging if they like, I recommend it. Practice at the school starts at 3 PM, Those meeting at the town beach should show up at 3:45. Before leaving the beach, everyone will do a core circuit on the grassy area near the parking lot.
• Wednesday 8/27 - longer run, 40-60 minutes. It's going to be hot, be prepared with your water bottle. Take it slow to start and perhaps slow throughout.
• Thursday 8/28 - shorter run or aquajogging, 30-40 minutes. Practice at the school starts at 3 PM, Those meeting at the town beach should show up at 3:45. Before leaving the beach, everyone will do a core circuit on the grassy area near the parking lot. The coaches hope to begin distributing uniforms to registered athletes today at the end of practice.
• Friday 8/29 - medium length run, 30-55 minutes, with a conscious effort to progress the pace over the course of the run. This is the closest thing we've done yet to an organized, structured hard workout. The idea is that the pace starts out quite slow and the last 5-10 minutes are at or close to a race effort. I'll explain in further detail after the warmup, but a good description of this style of running can be found here. Hill drills like Monday between the warmup and the workout. We hope to continue distributing uniforms today.
• Saturday 8/30 - longer run, 45-75 minutes easy. Once again we'll meet at the Lincoln commuter rail parking lot for those that can make it; otherwise, do this run on your own. If your family's travel plans make running today inconvenient or impossible, do the run tomorrow instead.
• Sunday 8/31 - off.
See you Monday afternoon!
• Overall the pattern this week is A-B-C-A-B-C, where A is a shorter run, B is a medium length run, and C is a longer run. Not everyone will be running all six of those days however, those that are adjusting to the amount of training will go directly to the town beach on Tuesday and Thursday for aquajogging in lieu of running. This leads me to my next point...
• The forecast is for increasing temperatures through midweek, particularly Tuesday and Wednesday. Not coincidentally everyone will be at least stopping by the town beach at some point on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday if only to cool off. Bring your water bottle and carry it with you on your runs, especially the longer ones.
The week's plan as it stands, any changes will be announced on this blog:
• Monday 8/25 - shorter run, 20-40 minutes. Between the warmup and the run we'll be doing hill drills on the short steep slope near the student parking lot.
• Tuesday 8/26 - medium length run, 30-50 minutes (in all likelihood, to and from the town beach) or aquajogging 30-40 minutes. Those that are meeting at the school can add in some aquajogging if they like, I recommend it. Practice at the school starts at 3 PM, Those meeting at the town beach should show up at 3:45. Before leaving the beach, everyone will do a core circuit on the grassy area near the parking lot.
• Wednesday 8/27 - longer run, 40-60 minutes. It's going to be hot, be prepared with your water bottle. Take it slow to start and perhaps slow throughout.
• Thursday 8/28 - shorter run or aquajogging, 30-40 minutes. Practice at the school starts at 3 PM, Those meeting at the town beach should show up at 3:45. Before leaving the beach, everyone will do a core circuit on the grassy area near the parking lot. The coaches hope to begin distributing uniforms to registered athletes today at the end of practice.
• Friday 8/29 - medium length run, 30-55 minutes, with a conscious effort to progress the pace over the course of the run. This is the closest thing we've done yet to an organized, structured hard workout. The idea is that the pace starts out quite slow and the last 5-10 minutes are at or close to a race effort. I'll explain in further detail after the warmup, but a good description of this style of running can be found here. Hill drills like Monday between the warmup and the workout. We hope to continue distributing uniforms today.
• Saturday 8/30 - longer run, 45-75 minutes easy. Once again we'll meet at the Lincoln commuter rail parking lot for those that can make it; otherwise, do this run on your own. If your family's travel plans make running today inconvenient or impossible, do the run tomorrow instead.
• Sunday 8/31 - off.
See you Monday afternoon!
Friday, August 22, 2014
Update on practice Friday 8/22 and Saturday 8/23
Good morning!
The first day of practice went quite well aside from the head coach showing up 10 minutes late. Those of you who were there yesterday are aware of the fact that we'll be visiting the town beach today, either directly at 3:45 or after meeting at the high school at 3:00 and running over. If you're going to be aquajogging as part or all of today's practice, you should bring a towel and wear a bathing suit or shorts suitable for the water. The intermittent rain won't keep us from the lake. Thunder or lightning, in the unlikely event it happens, is another matter.
Tomorrow we'll be having an optional practice on the trails in Lincoln, leaving from the commuter rail parking lot. We'll meet at 9 AM and hit the trail soon after that. This is NOT a mandatory practice, I won't be taking attendance or holding grudges if you can't come, but you're encouraged to join us. There are miles and miles of trails, and the area is a favorite with runners from all over the Greater Boston area. The address for your GPS is 145 Lincoln Road, and the commuter rail lot is an area just off the main parking lot with numbered spaces. If you get there and can't find us give me a call at 617 two eight three 4591. If you can't make it to the practice in Lincoln, please try and get in a run slightly longer than the run you did at yesterday's practice over the weekend. This can be either Saturday or Sunday depending on what suits your schedule. Don't forget to do the plank and lunge matrix before starting out, and the post-run stretching routine afterward.
The first day of practice went quite well aside from the head coach showing up 10 minutes late. Those of you who were there yesterday are aware of the fact that we'll be visiting the town beach today, either directly at 3:45 or after meeting at the high school at 3:00 and running over. If you're going to be aquajogging as part or all of today's practice, you should bring a towel and wear a bathing suit or shorts suitable for the water. The intermittent rain won't keep us from the lake. Thunder or lightning, in the unlikely event it happens, is another matter.
Tomorrow we'll be having an optional practice on the trails in Lincoln, leaving from the commuter rail parking lot. We'll meet at 9 AM and hit the trail soon after that. This is NOT a mandatory practice, I won't be taking attendance or holding grudges if you can't come, but you're encouraged to join us. There are miles and miles of trails, and the area is a favorite with runners from all over the Greater Boston area. The address for your GPS is 145 Lincoln Road, and the commuter rail lot is an area just off the main parking lot with numbered spaces. If you get there and can't find us give me a call at 617 two eight three 4591. If you can't make it to the practice in Lincoln, please try and get in a run slightly longer than the run you did at yesterday's practice over the weekend. This can be either Saturday or Sunday depending on what suits your schedule. Don't forget to do the plank and lunge matrix before starting out, and the post-run stretching routine afterward.
Sunday, August 17, 2014
Preseason practice schedule - starting Thursday August 21st
The official start of practice will be this coming Thursday the 21st, followed by practices on Friday 8/22 and an optional practice Saturday 8/23. The following week practice will be held Monday through Friday 8/25-29, with an optional practice on Saturday the 30th.
All weekday practices will be held at the high school starting at 3 PM, meeting near the track.
Saturday practices are strictly optional and will start from the Lincoln MBTA commuter rail parking lot (145 Lincoln Road). Time TBA. We're using this location because it's the trailhead for miles upon miles of trails and open space in Lincoln and Concord, including the Walden Pond area and Mt. Misery.
Remember you need to be registered with an up to date physical before you can practice with the team.
All weekday practices will be held at the high school starting at 3 PM, meeting near the track.
Saturday practices are strictly optional and will start from the Lincoln MBTA commuter rail parking lot (145 Lincoln Road). Time TBA. We're using this location because it's the trailhead for miles upon miles of trails and open space in Lincoln and Concord, including the Walden Pond area and Mt. Misery.
Remember you need to be registered with an up to date physical before you can practice with the team.
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
Just over a week until practice starts - check the status of your physical!
Hope everyone's had a good summer so far, and that your training has gone well. As of this writing 13 people have registered, hopefully that number will increase over the next 8 days!
Part of the registration process is having a current physical on file. Your physical is valid for a year from when it occurs. Some of those who have registered have physicals that have either expired or will expire between now and the end of September. If you have any questions about the status of your physical, you can confirm them with the Athletic Director Mr. Cass. He can be reached at 508 348 7488. If necessary, please get your physical updated so you don't end up missing any time once the season begins next Thursday.
-Coach Mayall
Part of the registration process is having a current physical on file. Your physical is valid for a year from when it occurs. Some of those who have registered have physicals that have either expired or will expire between now and the end of September. If you have any questions about the status of your physical, you can confirm them with the Athletic Director Mr. Cass. He can be reached at 508 348 7488. If necessary, please get your physical updated so you don't end up missing any time once the season begins next Thursday.
-Coach Mayall
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