Training Parameters for Middle School Distance Runners (Going into 6th)

Welcome to the sport of distance running!  As a new runner coming into the sport, it can be difficult to know exactly what it is that you are training for.  In fact, some runners might still be in elementary school (going into the fifth grade), while others might not have a cross-country program at their school (Evergreen Public Schools does not have boys middle school XC, while some private schools do not offer XC).  Therefore, the most important request of all new runners is for your patience.  The dividends of your hard work between June and August will be paid in full in September-November, and possibly into December.  Those fall and winter months are the racing season, and anyone who trains in the summer reaps the benefits of racing well because of their efforts.

Whisper training is can be pretty difficult at times, while other times are less challenging.  The two days of running each week are more than enough to introduce your body into the sport of running.  The midweek day, Wednesday, that we are performing aqua-jogging and cross-training support your running by promoting recovery while strengthening your muscles.  Any work outside of Whisper should be in the form of Play.  Play can come in many forms, but the most important form for athleticism is outside play such as Tag, Kick the Can, Laser Tag, or anything else active and on your feet.  Other forms of play that come to mind are hiking, swimming, or biking.  No matter what the form is, the idea is to remain active through the summer months, while limiting the use of any electronic devices. 

If you have any questions about training, cross-trianing, recovery, shoes, or anythign related, please feel free to talk with Coach Dave at practice.

Training Parameters for Middle School Distance Runners (Going into 7th)

Training with Whisper during the summer months will be more than enough to prepare you for the XC season ahead.  During the first half of summer training, we will spend two days each week running, with a day of aqua-jogging and cross-training in the middle (Wednesday's).  It can be very exciting to be surrounded by so many talented and fast runners at practice, so be sure to be smart while you're away from practice. 

The preferred method of XC preparation outside of Whisper training during the summer for seventh graders is Play in the form of climbing trees, playing tag, rock climbing, playing at trampoline parks, or playing in actual parks.  However, if you have noticed that some of your Whisper peers trained between their sixth and seventh grade year, and you wish to do the same, then it's important to know that there is a process to this, with the emphasis on keeping the runs fairly brief for a number of reasons.  If you do wish to get a run in on your own, here are some basic guidelines for the summer months:

TRAINING:
June: Consistent attendance at Whisper practices is paramount to your progress.  If you attend practice on a regular basis, then you can consider running an extra day each week when you're away from Whisper training. 

July: This means four extra runs during the month of July - one for each week.  Keep the runs around 20-25 consecutive minutes, learning what "consecutive" means.  It means to be consistent, steady, and patient.  If you feel eager to run fast, do so at the end of your run when you can see the finish.

August: Regardless of whether or not you were able to get in an extra day of running each week during July, August is the perfect time to begin or continue that third day.  If you ran three days, consider adding 5-10 minutes on your runs.  If you were not able to get in the third day, then consider reaching out to a teammate so you can tag along. 

Keep in mind that during our group practices, we  will run approximiately four to seven accumulate miles.  Choosing one consistend day each week to run onyour own will be to your beneift.  If you choose to run an additional day  during the week, be mindful that you could be running on back-to-back days, so proper shoes, adequte sleep, quality foods, and appropriate rest the next day is imperative for your growing and recovering body.

Side notes:

  • These runs are totaly optional.

  • Always run with a partner.  Always.

  • Headphones are a "no no" at Whisper, for both safety and running efficiency.

Training Parameters for Middle School Distance Runners (Going into 8th)

Summer Training with Whisper during the months of June and July consists of runs twice each week, with a day of cross-training in the middle (Wednesday's).  This amount of training is certainly enough to condition your body for eighth grade cross-country.  However, if you ran during the 7th grade year and really desire to improve your time from last season and achieve your new goals, then you could be ready for an extra day of training outside of Whisper practice. 

First week of Whisper practice was outstanding!  So many runners from throughout the Vancouver-metro area - what a delight!

First week of Whisper practice was outstanding!  So many runners from throughout the Vancouver-metro area - what a delight!

Keep in mind that during our group practices, we will run approximately four to seven accumulated miles. Choosing one consistent days each week to run on your own will be to your benefit. If you choose to run an additional day during the week, be mindful that you could be running on back-to-back days, so proper shoes, adequate sleep, quality foods, and appropriate rest the next day is imperative for your growing and recovering body.

TRAINING:
June: Because of the number of kids still in school during the first week, there is a good chance that many of you ran a total of three days (at Whisper practice), while others ran a total of four.  Likewise, some runners were able to take advantage of the aqua-jogging and cross-training once, while others were able to do so twice.  Regardless, you've begun, and now you're ready to to begin taking on an extra day of running now that July is near.

July: Make a concerted to get in one run on your own each week this month, hopefully doing so on soft terrain. The runs should be 20-30 consecutive minutes, or around 3-4 miles.  Keep it fun.  Keep it social.  Wearing a timing watch is optional.

August: By now, you should be in pretty good shape and ready for XC to begin!  If you are recovering well after your runs and not feeling any post-run soreness, feel free to add another 5-10 minutes to your runs.

Side notes:

  • Headphones: A Whisper Running "no no" for both safety and running efficiency.

  • Always run with someone.  Always.

 

Summer Training Parameters for 9th Grade Distance Runners

Abby (left), Callie (in blue), and Chloe, (in red) will all be moving onto high school this coming 2018 season.

Abby (left), Callie (in blue), and Chloe, (in red) will all be moving onto high school this coming 2018 season.

Going into high school cross country, you'll want to be careful not to take-on too much mileage too soon.  The largest factor in training is your history - how many consecutive months you have actually been training in the last two calendar years.  And by training, one must question the quality of training within your previous middle school program.  If you are coming from a program without much guidance, thus not much actual training in the form of tempos, intervals, hill repeats, steady runs, etc., then you'll want to consider a very conservative approach to reduce the chance of an overuse injury.

TRAINING:
June: Begin June with the simple two days each week with Whisper.  If you were able to attend the two days in the pool that consisted of aqua-jogging and cross-training, then you'll likely get over the initial  soreness faster than those who were unable to attend.  Regardless, consistency is essential, so running twice a week with Whisper can really help with the beginning steps of creating a base for July.

July: In early July you can add a third day of running 25-30 minutes on your own (outside of Whisper - with your HS program or with friends), then by late July be up to 30-40 minutes on that third day.  Between the practices at Whisper and the third day, you'll accumulate 15-18 miles in a week.  The pool workouts will be you bodies best friend.  Here, you'll circulate blood flow to all of the sore areas, promoting healing and recovery.  Win-Win!

August: Once August arrives, you should be ready for a fourth day of running.  The third day should remain at 30-40 minutes, and the fourth day should be 20-30 minutes, again depending on your history - be conservative, humble, and smart. 

These runs on your own should be steady runs and nothing extreme, like intervals.  Keep them low-key, fun, and with your teammates.  It might also be a good idea to alternate days of wearing a timing watch one day, then not wearing a timing watch the next.  

If you experience soreness that seems to not go away, then consider taking an extra rest day, or backing off on the fourth run (reducing the time on the fourth run).  For example: if you run Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and you're achy on two consecutive Monday's, then back-off on one of the previous runs, yet still aiming for four runs in a week.  Of course, this advice is provided you have a solid pair of running shoes that are "Coach Approved."

Most importantly, never hesitate to contact Coach Dave if you have any questions about your preparation for the season ahead.. 

Summer Training Info Night - June 5, 7-8pm at Clark College in OSC 128.

You are invited to come and meet current and future Whisper runners at the 2018 Summer Training Information Night on Tuesday, June 5 from 7-8pm at Clark College in the O'Connell Sports Center!  Representatives from the 2017 USATF Junior Olympic Team will be on hand, along with runners from throughout the Vancouver-Portland area.  Both runners and parents are invited to attend and learn more about the summer running program aimed at getting runners ready for the 2018 cross-country season ahead.  Primary information includes:

  • Highlights of the 2017 XC and 2018 TF seasons.
  • Statistical data supporting the purpose of preseason training benefits.
  • Learn about the 8-9 week 2018 summer training plan.
  • Receive the summer training calendar.
  • Enter a drawing for prizes including Whisper shirts, gloves, and gift cards!

While you're here, please fill out the runner contact form so you can remain connected with important updates within the world of Whisper!

Looking forward to seeing all of the current Whisper runners and meeting many new faces!

Sincerely,

Dave Caldwell

Concentration to Confidence

Concentration games such as Jenga can cuiltivate greater attention span and focus.  Keep games light and fun for maximal results.

Concentration games such as Jenga can cuiltivate greater attention span and focus.  Keep games light and fun for maximal results.

If there is one topic that gets lost in the shuffle of Sport Psychology curriculum, or even discussed at a team practice, it’s the topic of Concentration.  It’s easy to discuss goals, perform visualization, or even say to an athlete “Focus!”  But what does “focus” mean, and how do we get better at it? 

The importance of concentration is most valuable for runners when finding their perfect gate within peak performance.  The discipline it takes to sustain a fast, uncomfortable pace makes it easy to back-off, but what we really need to do is focus with greater intensity.  Here are a few fun exercises you could play at home, and others to encourage your children to perform on their own. 

  • Board games or concentration games such as Jenga, or even blindfolded Jenga.

  • Learning or playing a musical instrument.

  • Teaching children to cook.

  • Brief bouts (starting with once daily for even just a few minutes) of meditation.

  • Completing a Concentration Grid, Sudoku, or Crossword Puzzle (remember those?).

  • Reading (any form of literature, but it helps if they enjoy what they’re reading).

Less than playful ways of strengthening one’s ability to concentrate:

  • Cleaning their bedroom!

  • Cleaning any room for that matter! 

Things that take away from the ability to fully concentrate or concentrate for long periods of time:

  • Screen time, such as video games, television, iPads, iPhones, etc.

One of the beautiful benefits of keeping children engaged with healthy habits such as sports, recreations, or hobbies, is it takes away opportunities for lesser healthy habits to become part of their daily routine.  To draw your family closer, meanwhile strengthen a child’s ability to concentrate, is by setting a family goal of forbidding any screen time during the evening hours, particularly before bed.  Not only is this good for the brain (development), but it will help everyone sleep better, and whatever was performed the night before (reading, homework, fun games, etc.) will be retained into long-term memory storage. 

The Origin of the Flush

Recently I was told a story of a young girl participating in the high jump during the 2017 track season.  As the young girl approached the high jump bar, she would stop, turn around, and approach it again, only to repeat this action until time was up, leading to a scratch.  Three scratches later and she had a "no height" beside her name.  She left the event, walked to the infield, sat down, and began crying. 

Fast forward to last week where a runner from Whisper inquired about performance nerves, wondering how to remain focused under pressure.  A multisport athlete, her confidence wanes as intimidation grows as events and games near.  Admittedly, this runner “got a little mental” thus inhibiting full potential in performance. 

Stories and events such as these quickly remind me that our kids are kids, and as talented as they are, they are also human, filled with feelings, thoughts, emotions, and passion.  These factors can easily be overlooked by focusing only on the physical aspect of training, meanwhile ignoring the human element within training and performance. 

There are several ways we can work though these sorts of performance anxieies.  Over the last couple of weeks at practice, we have talked about focus, concentration, and goals, which can help provide a centered-focus during practice interval work, and ultimately, racing.  Last Saturday, we did a brief meditation session, focusing on breathing and Progressive Relaxation Training exercises.  Another strategy regularly discussed at practice is the use of “flushing the toilet,” which is an idea cultivated by Ken Ravizza, a Sport Psychologist at Cal State Fullerton.  Ravizza’s flush enables one to flush out negative thinking, only to then bring in fresh, concentrated thinking for the present task, i.e., the present interval.  It’s a concentration/focus strategy that encourages rational, goal-centered thinking in the present moment. 

Like most things in life, these strategies are actual skills one can acquire and practice over time, being sure to take a baby-step approach toward skill confidence.  The first step is creating a goal, and as previously stated, we have worked heavily on the skill of Goal Setting.  If your child has not yet set a goal for the 2018 track season, be sure to check out the Winter Training Sport Psych Implementation blog, which provides a summary of the first six weeks of training, as well as a brief discussion and example of what Goal Setting looks like through the lens of Coach Dave.  Every runner has their own lens, so the example on the blog can be modified to fit ones goals and personality.

Winter Training Sport Psych Implemtation

Over the past few weeks of practice we have been talking a lot about setting goals for the 2018 track season ahead.  To get to the goal setting process, however, there was a lot of work to be done in the prefacing weeks.  Here is the basic timeline of events that has happened over the first six weeks of training:

  • Week 1: I’d love to say the energy was palpable, but it’s been this way every week.  The kids started with a bang and haven’t slowed down.  We did a solid workout at McKenzie this week, performing eight 300m + 100m intervals with calculated rest intervals.  Little did they know, we’d perform this same workout in during week six to assess and discuss the progress made to this point.
  • Week 2: This was the first week we began connecting the body with the mind.  On Tuesday night we used a metronome set at 180 beats per minute to emphasize stride frequency, meanwhile highlighting the importance of how the foot should strike the ground upon landing.  The 180 beats per minute is a standard cadence for strides per minute during fast interval work.  Combining foot strike with the metronome cadence was pretty advanced, but I think the kids got it.
  • Week 3: Thursday night the kids ran fifteen 200m repeats while being video recorded from the side to assess gate.  Gate includes foot strike, hip placement upon foot strike, torso posture, and arm swing.  Analysis starts at the feet and goes upward through the body, so providing cues about foot placement and hip placement tends to trickle upward through the spine.  A few tinkerings down below (the feet) can fix a lot of things at the top (shoulders, head, etc.). The following practice, on Saturday, we spent the first 30-minutes reviewing the video so all of the kids could see themselves on film.  This video is also posted on the blog.
  • Week 4: Tuesday was a pretty good track workout, followed by a 600m time-trial.  I had talked with Pacer Hillary earlier in the week to discuss the idea of running the time-trial, but I didn’t want to waste a practice only running a single interval.  Also, it’s important that the kids learn how to run on tired legs, much like what they’ll experience around lap 3 of the mile, which is why we did the workout prior to the 600m.  I’m pretty confident in saying that every runner ran at, or 1-4 seconds faster, than their pace of their fastest 800m from the 2017 season.  Reflecting upon that now and it just seems crazy, but it also tells you of the untapped potential in these kids – what they’re missing out on (being pushed) and learning to work harder at running than they ever thought they could.  Super cool stuff!
  • Week 5: With faster racing times comes faster intervals and on Thursday night we ran a 200m, 600m, 400m, 600m, 200m.  My thinking behind this workout was to mimic the speed of what I think is their current goal mile pace might be.  They struggled, but I think they learned a lot when we discussed this workout the following practice when we brought up the sport psych topics of Focus and Concentration.
  • Week 6: Thursday night we repeated the week one McKenzie workout, 300m + 100m, which the kids destroyed!  Across the board, the groups ran faster, while some kids moved from Team Awesome (Hillary’s group) to the middle pack with Pacers Alex and/or Paige.  We also had a few runners from Alex and Paige’s group join Pacer Micah/Braeden’s group, which was pretty darn special!  On Saturday (2/24) we began practice with a discussion around the topics of Goal Setting, Focus, and Concentration during practice, and what that means in competition. 

This leads us into week seven.  The team meetings are the most opportune time to get us all on the same page when it comes to implementing the sport psych stuff – Goal Setting, Focus, Concentration & Meditation.  Though we spent 35-minutes on these topics, the meeting could have easily gone another hour.

The use of a flashcard is an excellent way to begin the goal setting process, which can lead to enhanced concentration and focus during practice and competition.

The use of a flashcard is an excellent way to begin the goal setting process, which can lead to enhanced concentration and focus during practice and competition.

This past week the kids were provided flashcards and asked to create three goals for the track season ahead.  For events over 400m, they were asked to include paces (per 100m, 200m, or every lap) so they can begin connecting the dots between practice goal paces and race goal paces.  It can feel as though I’m speaking Greek in these meetings, so I’m posting an example of what these goals can look like on the flashcards. 

An example of Coach Dave's goals.

An example of Coach Dave's goals.

Keeping these goal cards in a place where the kids will look frequently – on a mirror, in a wallet, on a wall – can help with ones in-race focus, which is the primary objective. 

As a finishing note, it’s important to ask your kids about their goals.  Doing so reinforces their commitment to running, as well as your commitment to their success.  Also, it’s important to help them through adversity.  Not every runner will accomplish their goals (remember, it took Shalane Flanagan 17 years to finally win the New York Marathon), so helping them revise their goals early in the season can help with any frustration.  Knowing their goals will also give you something to calculate when you're cheering them on from the sideline, providing some sense of what they might be thinking and experiencing during their race(s).  If you find yourself in-over-your-head around the discussion of their practices, their performances, their goals, etc., never forget that I am their coach and their goals are also my goals.  I want to encourage you to reach out to me at any point in the season if your child is struggling with anything related with their sport/event.  On the flip-side, I also want to hear about their successes, so I can help reinforce the connection between their hard work and their earned results.

Video Analysis from Winter Training

Uploaded by Whisper Running on 2018-02-04.

Sorry about the background noise.  This practice provided an excellent opportunity to record some of the runners during Winter Training.  The workout was 15x200m with 60-second rest intervals.  We spent the next practice in a classroom so the kids could see themsevels on the big screen to better internalize how they run and how they can improve.  From there, we went straight to practice and tried to practice some strategies aiming to improve gate.